Gig Blog
The Bleu Note
10/08/08
Setlist:
Smokestack Lightning
Sugar Sweet
I Ain't Got You
Blues With A Feelin'
Tennessee Woman
Highway Chile
On The Road
The Big Fat
Drinking Wine
Mojo In A Bag
Dirt Cheap Blues
One-Room Country Shack
Route 66
I'll Be Seeing You
Some Day
The low-down:
Smokestack Lightning's shorter-than-usual set was a slow-burner: the
band ramped up the energy gradually through the whole gig. Though the
top-notch sound setup made for a confident start, the end of the first
set was a bit of a low point. However, from One-Room Country Shack to
the end the band put in maximum energy, peaking with an exhilaratingly
wild take of Some Day, propelled by Robert Higgins' near-psychotic
drumming.
Mother Reilly's
09/08/08
Setlist:
Smokestack Lightning
Sugar Sweet
I Ain't Got You
Blues With A Feelin'
Tennessee Woman
Prison Break Song
Highway Chile
Help Me
On The Road
The Big Fat
A-Flat Minor Blues
Drinking Wine
Mojo In A Bag
Sunday NIght
Cold Dinner Blues
Dirt Cheap Blues
One-Room Country Shack
Route 66
I'll Be Seeing You
Cold To The Bone
Some Day
School Day
The low-down:
Despite having to write off the first tune due to sound issues, Smokestack turned in a powerful performance on this Friday night in Rathmines. Newer tunes like Tennessee Woman had some serious energy and it was easy to build a rapport with the attentive crowd. Interestingly, the usual roof-raisers like Country Shack and Some Day were rather muted, and it was the psychedelic Cold To The Bone that dominated the last set.
The Czech Inn
19/07/08
Setlist:
Loving With A Feeling
Blues With A Feeling
Help Me
Dirt Cheap Blues
On The Road
The Big Fat
Highway Chile
Sugar Sweet
Prison Break Song
Smokestack Lightning
Story Of My Life
Tennessee Woman
Route 66
Ab- Blues
I Ain't Got You
Sunday Night
Cold Dinner Blues
Jackson
Mother-In-Law Blues
I'll Be Seeing You
One-Room Country Shack
Drinking Wine
Cold To The Bone
Some Day
School Day
Johnny B. Goode
The low-down:
This gig was a pleasure. Though the Czech crowd took some time to be won
over, the warm vibe, helpful soundman and excellent organisation meant
it was plain sailing all the way. With some Smokestack fans dropping in
to ignite the cheering, each set ramped up the heat like a runaway
fission reactor.
The Bleu Note
17/07/08
Setlist:
Loving With A Feeling
Blues With A Feeling
Help Me
Dirt Cheap Blues
On The Road
The Big Fat
Highway Chile
Sugar Sweet
Prison Break Song
Smokestack Lightning
Story Of My Life
Tennessee Woman
Route 66
Ab- Blues
I Ain't Got You
Sunday Night
Cold Dinner Blues
Jackson
Cold To The Bone
One-Room Country Shack
Drinking Wine
Some Day
School Day
The low-down:
For once the big-budget sound setup in the Bleu Note let the band down -
a half hour of frenetic fiddling led to a decent work-around for the
inexplicably mute PA system, but Smokestack Lightning were frankly on
edge for the first few tunes. However the tension seemed to do good
things and the end of the first set was something of a high point. All
in all, this gig was an interesting challenge!
Mother Reilly's
30/05/08
Setlist:
Lovin' With A Feelin'
Sunday Night
Help Me
Dirt Cheap Blues
Smokestack Lightning
Highway Chile
Sugar Sweet
Mojo In A Bag
Prison break Song
I Ain't Got You
One-Room Country Shack
I'll Be Seeing You
A-Flat Minor Blues
On The Road
Blues With A Feeling
Cold Dinner Blues
Statesborough Blues
Jackson
Story Of My Life
Drinkin' Wine
Cold To The Bone
Some Day
School Day
Route 66
The low-down:
Playing to a crowd of strangers, Smokestack
Lightning smoothly ramped up the energy to a
jammed-out, rocking finish. The expressive lead
guitar work of Dave Byrne together with frontman
Sean Plunkett's extended harp improvisation and
the mystifying rhythms of Robert Higgins' drumming
all pointed to new and exciting territory for the
band.
JJ Smyth's
06/05/08
Setlist:
Smokestack Lightning
Sugar Sweet
Sunday Night
Lovin' With A Feelin'
Jackson
I Ain't Got You
Dirt Cheap Blues
Story Of My Life
Route 66
Mojo In A Bag
Drinkin' Wine
Help Me
Cold Dinner Blues
I'll Be Seeing You
One-Room Country Shack
On The Road
Some Day
The low-down:
It was a pleasure to be back in JJ's - Dublin's most authentic jazz bar
- to host another Blues Club jam session. Though the crowd was small,
the band had a blast - and the second set was nothing short of
pyrotechnic.
Ruaille Buaille
23/03/08
Setlist:
I'll Be Seeing You
Smokestack Lightning
Blues With A Feeling
Highway Chile
Sugar Sweet
On The Road
Route 66
Mojo In A Bag
Jackson
Statesborough Blues
Sunday Night
The Big Fat
Ab- Blues
I Ain't Got You
Help Me
Some Day
Cold Dinner Blues
One-Room Country Shack
Loving With A Feeling
Prison Break Song
Drinking Wine
Dirt Cheap Blues
School Day
The low-down:
Smokestack's first gig in this salubrious city centre venue was tight
and groovy. Despite a rather muted vibe (it was Easter Sunday, after
all) the band stomped through the classics with confidence. As usual, On
The Road, One-Room Country Shack and Some Day were stand-outs.
The Bleu Note
21/02/08
Setlist:
Mother-In-Law Blues
Highway Chile
Blues With A Feeling
Sugar Sweet
On The Road
Jackson
Lovin' With A Feelin'
Cold Dinner Blues
I Ain't Got You
Sunday Night
A-Flat Minor Blues
Mojo In A Bag
School Day
Help Me
Drinkin' Wine
One-Room Country Shack
Dirt Cheap Blues
I'll Be Seeing You
Cold To The Bone
Route 66
Some Day
Johnny B. Goode
The low-down:
The third gig in as many weeks in this vibey city centre venue was again
a comfortable affair for Smokestack Lightning. Despite a couple of
broken bass strings the band kept up a nice rapport with the crowd right
up to the closing trio of rock 'n' roll favourites.
|
