Gary Moore's got the blues

Gary Moore

Wolverhampton Civic Hall

Concert review by Bob Greaves

With a thunderous roar from his guitar merging into welcoming cheers from the crowd, blues man Gary Moore takes to the stage at Wolverhampton's Civic Hall.

Backed by a keyboard player, bass player and drummer, Gary assumed all rhythm, lead and vocal duties in front of a full house of adoring fans.

The former Thin Lizzy and Skid Row guitarist has graced the stages of the world with his solo act for the past four decades, initially with his heavy rock material, with albums such as Corridors of Power and Wild Frontier, before taking a side-ways step into the blues arena from 1990, with albums including Still Got the Blues and Blues for Greeny.

His power-trio Scars album illustrated his continuing versatility and unpredictability.

As a die hard rock fan, who watched Gary back in the 80s stabbing the air with his clenched fist, leaping off the stage Van Halen-style and grinding out sublime solos in front of an enormous wall of Marshall stacks, I would be tempted to say that some of the energy and dynamism has been lost in recent times.

This though, would be to ignore the musical progression of the man. To embark on a solo career and sustain it over many years is hard enough of itself, without the added challenge of changing genres and making that work equally well.

Gary's work is still wowing and wooing the crowds, who in Wolverhampton at least, didn't pass-up the invitation to clap and sing along and get dancing in the aisles.

Bad For You Baby is Gary's latest album and some of the new tracks were performed, along with a wealth of both his own and cover blues material, including Since I Met You Baby, Mojo Boogie, Too Tired, More Than You'll Ever Know and Walking Through The Park. The show finished with one of his most recognisable pieces, Parisienne Walkways.

The theme may have been 'The Blues', but as the show went on, there were also plenty of flashes of Gary's sumptuous rock soloing, pinpoint musical timing and oodles of sweet guitar tone that have stayed with him through all his incarnations. The fire is clearly still burning.