In with the A&R In Crowd
Dan Patlansky (with Stevie Nimmo) – Stereo, Glasgow, 12th May 2023
Dan Patlansky (with Stevie Nimmo) – Stereo, Glasgow, 12th May 2023
In recent conversation with Dan Patlansky, this reviewer and the noted South African blues-rock musician discussed the fact that in an era of music where designated A&R (Artists & Repertoire) personnel and major label support backing are a thing of the past for 99% of those plying their trade in music, that A&R role is now taken over by the audience, with whom many an artist can gauge what’s working, what isn’t and if they have, to use the technical term, their shit together.
Such A&R audience reaction is part of Dan Patlansky’s current UK tour (as is the club venue itinerary, where the blues truly lives, breathes and sweats).
And that’s because Patlansky, along with his South African brothers in musical arms – the tight and grooving rhythm section of drummer Andy Maritz and bassist Greg Van Kerkhof – are showcasing songs that will feature on his next album, currently scheduled for the spring of 2024 (Patlansky is a firm believer in road-honing and/ or rearranging new songs (dependent on audience reaction) before taking them in to the studio).
That all makes perfect road testing sense but it’s still a brave decision, especially when you are 1) opening a tour in Glasgow (where audiences will quickly give you the honest truth about what they see and hear, in this case at a packed Stereo venue in the city centre) and 2) you’re following Glasgow blues rock royalty…
Such A&R audience reaction is part of Dan Patlansky’s current UK tour (as is the club venue itinerary, where the blues truly lives, breathes and sweats).
And that’s because Patlansky, along with his South African brothers in musical arms – the tight and grooving rhythm section of drummer Andy Maritz and bassist Greg Van Kerkhof – are showcasing songs that will feature on his next album, currently scheduled for the spring of 2024 (Patlansky is a firm believer in road-honing and/ or rearranging new songs (dependent on audience reaction) before taking them in to the studio).
That all makes perfect road testing sense but it’s still a brave decision, especially when you are 1) opening a tour in Glasgow (where audiences will quickly give you the honest truth about what they see and hear, in this case at a packed Stereo venue in the city centre) and 2) you’re following Glasgow blues rock royalty…
Stevie Nimmo needs no introduction to blues rock fans in the UK or Europe.
Suffice to say the older Nimmo sibling, along with brother Alan (first as The Nimmo Brothers and now King King, where the elder Nimmo has since joined the King King ranks) are "well kent" and well-loved in these here parts, and further beyond.
Such is the King King schedule however Stevie Nimmo seldom has the chance to get out his acoustic guitar for an intimate solo show; this special guest support slot thus became a rare and welcome opportunity to catch the big-voiced, blues & Americana loving man in action.
Fair to say he had the audience on side from the first chord struck on the opening number, his respectful and warming acoustic interpretation of 'Good Day For the Blues' by Storyville (one of Stevie Nimmo’s favourite bands and tracks).
Elsewhere in the 45 minute set Nimmo Brothers nuggets such as the Nashville-tinged lament 'If You Need Me (Call My Name)' dovetailed nicely with a tasteful, guitar solo-less rendition of 'Little Wing' and, to close proceedings, 'I’d Rather Go Blind.'
(Beth Hart has taken complete ownership of the latter in recent years, but Stevie Nimmo put some big dollops of vocal soul into his own version).
Stevie Nimmo in Glasgow is a hard opening act to follow but Dan Patlansky has slowly and assuredly won himself a strong, appreciative and dedicated following in the UK, proven by the roar that welcomed the trio on stage, only to be surpassed in volume by the quick-fire burst of lead-in guitar, bass & drums that gave Andy at the sound desk (who did a great job on the night for both bands) a sonic fit.
The band then settled in (and settled the nerves of Andy) with the rapid-fire instrumental boogie of 'Lift Off' followed by the first salvo of new numbers, including a seriously beefy shuffle that sported a stop-start staccato finale that seemed to catch out not just the audience but the band (but that’s the beauty of the new song road test).
Strong an old and new opening as the band delivered, the best was yet to come.
One of Dan Dan Patlansky’s oldest songs, 'Heart Of Stone' (written when he was only 11 years old), isn’t the most original minor key slow blues you will ever hear, as Patlansky readily admitted to the audience.
But, with the tone and touch Patlansky expresses on his beloved Fender Strat (current weapon of choice is a powder blue model that has given him the symbiotic musician-to-instrument relationship he has always sought), the song has come a very long way from its original recording some 20 years ago.
Deft, delightful and chock-full of crying notes scattered atop Andy Maritz and Greg Van Kerkhof’s solid and subtle rhythm, 'Heart Of Stone' also showcased Dan Patlansky in his natural environment; that of a slow blues player par excellence (which he still doesn’t get enough credit for).
The road testing then returned with a trio of songs that clearly hint towards Dan Patlansky’s next album being his broadest, and potentially best, album yet.
'Who I Am,' an introspective mid-tempo, came across very well while 'One With Fire' lived up to its name – a fiery hard rock blues affair with bags of vocal & musical attitude.
Pick of the bunch however was 'Movin’ On,' which started off in delicate, vocal-and-guitar Americana styled ambience before hitting a slow but assured groove with well-tailored three-part harmonies on the chorus (a harmonised trait used to good effect on a couple of new numbers and something the band have clearly worked hard on). Crosby Stills & Nash do slow blues Americana? Pretty much. And pretty damn impressive.
There was very little to fault in this new songs showcase (all the more impressive given Glasgow was the first gig of the tour following nearly 45 hours of flight and road travel), which is a credit to the comfortable pocket this trio have created – but that also highlights the one criticism…
Suffice to say the older Nimmo sibling, along with brother Alan (first as The Nimmo Brothers and now King King, where the elder Nimmo has since joined the King King ranks) are "well kent" and well-loved in these here parts, and further beyond.
Such is the King King schedule however Stevie Nimmo seldom has the chance to get out his acoustic guitar for an intimate solo show; this special guest support slot thus became a rare and welcome opportunity to catch the big-voiced, blues & Americana loving man in action.
Fair to say he had the audience on side from the first chord struck on the opening number, his respectful and warming acoustic interpretation of 'Good Day For the Blues' by Storyville (one of Stevie Nimmo’s favourite bands and tracks).
Elsewhere in the 45 minute set Nimmo Brothers nuggets such as the Nashville-tinged lament 'If You Need Me (Call My Name)' dovetailed nicely with a tasteful, guitar solo-less rendition of 'Little Wing' and, to close proceedings, 'I’d Rather Go Blind.'
(Beth Hart has taken complete ownership of the latter in recent years, but Stevie Nimmo put some big dollops of vocal soul into his own version).
Stevie Nimmo in Glasgow is a hard opening act to follow but Dan Patlansky has slowly and assuredly won himself a strong, appreciative and dedicated following in the UK, proven by the roar that welcomed the trio on stage, only to be surpassed in volume by the quick-fire burst of lead-in guitar, bass & drums that gave Andy at the sound desk (who did a great job on the night for both bands) a sonic fit.
The band then settled in (and settled the nerves of Andy) with the rapid-fire instrumental boogie of 'Lift Off' followed by the first salvo of new numbers, including a seriously beefy shuffle that sported a stop-start staccato finale that seemed to catch out not just the audience but the band (but that’s the beauty of the new song road test).
Strong an old and new opening as the band delivered, the best was yet to come.
One of Dan Dan Patlansky’s oldest songs, 'Heart Of Stone' (written when he was only 11 years old), isn’t the most original minor key slow blues you will ever hear, as Patlansky readily admitted to the audience.
But, with the tone and touch Patlansky expresses on his beloved Fender Strat (current weapon of choice is a powder blue model that has given him the symbiotic musician-to-instrument relationship he has always sought), the song has come a very long way from its original recording some 20 years ago.
Deft, delightful and chock-full of crying notes scattered atop Andy Maritz and Greg Van Kerkhof’s solid and subtle rhythm, 'Heart Of Stone' also showcased Dan Patlansky in his natural environment; that of a slow blues player par excellence (which he still doesn’t get enough credit for).
The road testing then returned with a trio of songs that clearly hint towards Dan Patlansky’s next album being his broadest, and potentially best, album yet.
'Who I Am,' an introspective mid-tempo, came across very well while 'One With Fire' lived up to its name – a fiery hard rock blues affair with bags of vocal & musical attitude.
Pick of the bunch however was 'Movin’ On,' which started off in delicate, vocal-and-guitar Americana styled ambience before hitting a slow but assured groove with well-tailored three-part harmonies on the chorus (a harmonised trait used to good effect on a couple of new numbers and something the band have clearly worked hard on). Crosby Stills & Nash do slow blues Americana? Pretty much. And pretty damn impressive.
There was very little to fault in this new songs showcase (all the more impressive given Glasgow was the first gig of the tour following nearly 45 hours of flight and road travel), which is a credit to the comfortable pocket this trio have created – but that also highlights the one criticism…
Dan Patlansky is very much a team player (which is, of course, a band of brothers positive), but a few of us would still like to see a bit more up-front Patlansky bravado and ego on show.
Make no mistake, Dan Patlansky has the character, the chops and the credentials (and his humility makes him one of the good guys, in every respect).
But he needs to step into the spotlight more, fully project, grab the audience by the scruff of the neck (a la Walter Trout) and make it clear he’s not a good player, he’s a great one – as evidenced on the aforementioned 'Heart Of Stone' and even more so on ten-minute tour de force (and another older number) 'Big Things Going Down.'
On the latter song Dan Patlansky truly found his slow blues muse, zoning out from everything else to the degree that I doubt he was aware of how many bars he played his solo for – the notes becoming a measure of the time(lessness) created.
On the subject of time, however, the reality is it waits for no band or blues rock fan when there’s a curfew involved (ah, the now all too commonplace live venue becomes club/party venue quick turnaround scenario).
Dan Patlansky and band still gave it the full 90 minutes but one song was dropped from the set and the audience demanded call-back (following a monster version of the riff-tastic and outrageously funky 'Backbite') became a one song, blues rockin' boogie on down the road (or in this case Renfield Street Lane) instead of the originally planned two song encore.
Curfew gripe aside, this was a great performance from Dan Patlansky and his band, as was the following night's well attended show in Cardiff (a 400 mile, between gigs travel day, such was his determination to ensure his Scottish and Welsh fans got to see him in old Blighty action).
As importantly, given the volume of applause received in Glasgow for the new songs (especially 'One With Fire' and 'Movin' On'), the "A&R audience" most definitely approved.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Photo Credits: Lynda McKenna/ LyndyMac Photos (Cardiff; top and middle photo); Darren McIntyre/ Jace Media (Glasgow, lower photo)
Dan Patlansky - remaining UK Tour Dates
(supporting Nordoff and Robbins Music Therapy - nordoff-robbins.org.uk/)
16 May - The Cluny, Newcastle
17 May - The Deaf Institute, Manchester
18 May - 1865, Southampton
19 May - Birdwell Venue, Barnsley
20 May - PowerHaus, London
European Tour Dates
25 May - Cacaofabriek, Helmond, NL
26 May - Blue Notez, Dortmund, GER
27 May - Ma Kelly's, Frieschepalen, NL
28 May - Rib & Blues Fest, Raalte, NL
29 May - Blues Rock Passion, Maastricht, NL
30 May - Q-Bus, Leiden, NL
1 June - Duycker, Hoofddorp, NL
2 June - Analog Music Hall, Budapest, HU
Make no mistake, Dan Patlansky has the character, the chops and the credentials (and his humility makes him one of the good guys, in every respect).
But he needs to step into the spotlight more, fully project, grab the audience by the scruff of the neck (a la Walter Trout) and make it clear he’s not a good player, he’s a great one – as evidenced on the aforementioned 'Heart Of Stone' and even more so on ten-minute tour de force (and another older number) 'Big Things Going Down.'
On the latter song Dan Patlansky truly found his slow blues muse, zoning out from everything else to the degree that I doubt he was aware of how many bars he played his solo for – the notes becoming a measure of the time(lessness) created.
On the subject of time, however, the reality is it waits for no band or blues rock fan when there’s a curfew involved (ah, the now all too commonplace live venue becomes club/party venue quick turnaround scenario).
Dan Patlansky and band still gave it the full 90 minutes but one song was dropped from the set and the audience demanded call-back (following a monster version of the riff-tastic and outrageously funky 'Backbite') became a one song, blues rockin' boogie on down the road (or in this case Renfield Street Lane) instead of the originally planned two song encore.
Curfew gripe aside, this was a great performance from Dan Patlansky and his band, as was the following night's well attended show in Cardiff (a 400 mile, between gigs travel day, such was his determination to ensure his Scottish and Welsh fans got to see him in old Blighty action).
As importantly, given the volume of applause received in Glasgow for the new songs (especially 'One With Fire' and 'Movin' On'), the "A&R audience" most definitely approved.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Photo Credits: Lynda McKenna/ LyndyMac Photos (Cardiff; top and middle photo); Darren McIntyre/ Jace Media (Glasgow, lower photo)
Dan Patlansky - remaining UK Tour Dates
(supporting Nordoff and Robbins Music Therapy - nordoff-robbins.org.uk/)
16 May - The Cluny, Newcastle
17 May - The Deaf Institute, Manchester
18 May - 1865, Southampton
19 May - Birdwell Venue, Barnsley
20 May - PowerHaus, London
European Tour Dates
25 May - Cacaofabriek, Helmond, NL
26 May - Blue Notez, Dortmund, GER
27 May - Ma Kelly's, Frieschepalen, NL
28 May - Rib & Blues Fest, Raalte, NL
29 May - Blues Rock Passion, Maastricht, NL
30 May - Q-Bus, Leiden, NL
1 June - Duycker, Hoofddorp, NL
2 June - Analog Music Hall, Budapest, HU