ShareSeasick Steve performing his A Trip, A Stumble, A Fall Down On Your Knees Tour at The Royal Concert Hall Nottingham on Sunday 10th November 2024.
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
With the release of his latest album, A Trip, A Stumble, A Fall Down On Your Knees, Seasick Steve was at the Royal Concert Hall on Sunday night, spinning his traditional bayou blues and playing them on guitar, banjo, harmonica, diddly bow and stomp box.
It’s been a number of years since he first appeared on Jools Holland’s Hootenanny television show, bashing wildly at a three string guitar and spinning yarns of his life busking, sleeping rough and jumping freight trains through the Mississippi Delta. But ten years later an unauthorised biography exposed his background for what it was, a session musician playing in funk groups and singing backing vocals. But this had no effect on the crowd because whatever his past, he remains a fantastically compelling and charismatic live performer.
Joined on stage by drummer Dan Magnusson, guitarist Luther Dickinson and harmonica player Richie Prynne, Steve sat on a chair at the front of the no frills stage surrounded by old battered amplifiers and began the evening with the brilliant My Donny. Continuing an incredible evening of his own brand of blues rock, his rich weathered voice was put to good use on the likes of Diddley Bo, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl and Started out With Nothin’.
There were a number of songs from his new album like Backbone Slip which was pure groove, Move To The Country which certainly had the crowd’s attention whilst Funky Music had them swaying and singing along. But there were plenty of fans favourites too, such as Walkin’ Man and Dog House Boogie all played on a plethora of homemade battered guitars.
The only disappointment was that his customary late start meant that the box office closed before the show started and his late finish saw some of the crowd having to leave early to catch public transport home. But he did deliver a two hour set that showcased his soulful and rich voice that was genuine and refreshing. The whole night was testament to the fact that for Seasick Steve, success and acclaim do not necessarily mean losing your individuality because he still has bags of it.