JULIAN SAS IN CONCERT by Dutch correspondent Karin Ocké

In this review, Karin also writes a mini biography about Julian based on the medley he plays in his repertoire showcasing his influences. The medley is called "Blues Lessons"

Goes, The Netherlands 27th March 2004.

Julian Sas, the best blues-rock band of my country was going to play in " 't Beest" (The Beast). The hall was full of fans who waited impatiently.  Then at 22.00 hours the band came on stage: Julian Sas, Pierre de Haard and Tenny Tahamata.

They started to play and the crowd started to cheer. The atmosphere was great, right from the beginning. The band also enjoyed it very much from the beginning. Julian plays the guitar and sings as if he were a black man. Just close your eyes and listen......

Tenny also played fantastically, he is not just an accompanist, he has his very own bass-sound. Pierre, the drummer, is called "The Boogiemachine". That doesn't need any further explanation. 

They played bluesrock, like When I Boogie , Driftin' Boogie , Sugarcup Boogie , Home Feeling ,... Julian then dedicated a song to a friend who will always be in his heart. This song is called A Light In The Dark . His heart and soul were in this song and I felt goose-flesh all over...It was beautiful. Just like another slow blues song called Ragin' River .Those men can play !!!!!!! They played for more than two an a half hours.

Julian dedicated The Blues For The Lost And Found to two fans of him: a father and his son who come to the concerts all the time. They were grateful. Julian gave the boy a plectrum; he was very happy with it! They jammed for almost 25 minutes: Voodoo Chile and Hey Joe from Jimi Hendrix.

I tell you I could listen to this band the whole night long....

Julian tells his story in the song " Blues Lessons ":

 Julian was about 10 years old when he started listening to the albums from his father's blues collection. From the moment he had a guitar in his hands, he started practising playing the blues. The first album he listened to was one from BB King, the black man from the South with his black Gibson guitar, Lucille. BB King plays the guitar in his own way; no slide with his fingers like Booker T.

Then Julian plays a solo with the sound of Booker T. During this song, Pierre and Tenny accompany him on the drums and the bass.

After the first album Julian asked his father for a second one. It was an album from Albert King, a man with big strong hands, who was a bulldozer driver during the week. He plays with his fingers. This gives a special sound, like Stevie Ray Vaughan did.

Julian again plays a powerful solo; with his fingers.

A few years later Julian could play all the songs from these two albums.

"Dad, do you have another album for me?"

"Sure, sit down in the big brown chair and I will bring you one."

It was the album "A Man and his Blues" from the fastest blues guitarist ever: Buddy Guy.

Julian plays a fast solo.

Then a hard day came in Julian's life. One morning when he was brushing his teeth, he looked in the mirror and saw a white man who played the blues like a black man! He went to his dad and asked him: "Do you have white bluesmen?"

"Sure, sit down in the big brown chair and I'll get you one."

"He was whiter then white", Julian says, "thinner than thin and he had more tattoos than there are shops in Amsterdam city."

Julian is talking about Johnny Winter from Texas . He also plays the guitar with a special sound. He is shuffling up and down on the neck.

Then Julian tells about Rory Gallagher. He saw him play at the age of 16 in Utrecht : "He's one of the biggest of all times. When I saw him playing I thought I have got to do that too. And here I am, thank you very much indeed!!!"

Julian plays another powerful solo, this time from the late Irishman, Rory Gallagher.

When Rory played, the earth shuddered.

When Julian plays, his audience shudders.

These blues lessons give a perfect image from the blues in the youth of Julian Sas.

Together with Pierre and Tenny he gives the fans what they want: BLUES !!!

Karin Ocké