The Phil Brodie Band The Boot and Shoe Ackworth 17/7/2002

The Boot and Shoe at Ackworth is rapidly gaining a reputation for promoting bands of a high calibre. Landlord and music fan Les Thompson never fails to amaze me with the quality of the bands he promotes at this oasis between Wakefield and Doncaster . If it weren't for the likes of Les Thompson, live music in the North of England would die a very painful death. Promoters in Leeds and Sheffield could do worse than to take note of Les and his impressive style of promotions.

On this Wednesday night at the Boot and Shoe, The Phil Brodie Band was performing. Phil Brodie is an old campaigner on the music circuit, as are Bassist Gerry Scanlan and Drummer Neil Wathey. These musicians have an enviable reputation and have had for many many, years. They were members of the almost legendary Bitter Suite, a rock band of the late seventies and eighties. I used to rave about the band in my beer-soaked youth and have held them in high esteem for over 20 years! My hair is greying as I type!

As my wife and I entered the “Blue Room” of the Boot and Shoe, the band had already started and were in the throes of Little Wing . Their version was excellent and well played on Phil Brodie's white Stratocaster.

At the end of this fine instrumental, we found a seat right in front of the band's Peavey PA cabinets. Excellent! The band proceeded to play the John Mayall number, All Your Love , the blues standard from the Godfather of British Blues. Phil Brodie had elected to use a gold Gibson Les Paul in a distressed finish! The cosmetics of this lovely instrument were of little consequence as the tone through the Marshall head and quad cabs was something else! Beautiful. Then to make my wife's night, Phil asked the audience if they had heard of Peter Green! (This was a tongue in cheek question!) The song was Need Your Love So Bad and was played with great feeling with well-phrased vocals.

To keep in the Les Paul fellowship, Gary Moore's Since I Met You (Baby) was included in the set. With a hard attack and pinched harmonics, the guitar playing was indistinguishable from Gary Moore himself. Phil played this great song perfectly. . His vocal work was also well phrased and totally unstrained. Then a Jimmy Rodgers via Gary Moore song was attempted with brilliant results. This was Walkin' (By Myself). Again Phil phrased the song to his own vocal style, which is always better than straining to sound like somebody else. The years of experience were showing through with smooth bends and perfect turnarounds, which help make this song so special. The rhythm section was fabulous with solid percussion and a very stylish bass technique. The brilliant outro took us to the interval and some respite for the eardrums!

Using the white Stratocaster once again the band opened the second set with Albert King's Born Under a Bad Sign . Depending on which pick-up selection, the Fender sounded both mellow and cutting edge when needed. This song is a favourite of mine both by Albert King and Cream. I have now heard a third version of equal power and enjoyment.

Moving on through the set, the next song was introduced as Green Shed but those in the know weren't fooled especially as the introductory triplets of Red House rang around the Boot and Shoe's Blue Room (named after the smoke haze I think!) This classic Jimi Hendrix Blues was perfectly executed with just the right amount of guitar reverb and more of Phil Brodie's well-metered vocals.

At this point the band were introduced to the crowd and were warmly, if politely, applauded.

Keeping in the Hendrix frame of mind, the band continued with Hey Joe . I've heard this song a thousand times but I still love it. Phil and the band played on as if the song was their own and a nice guitar solo was played during this version of the Bill Roberts penned classic.

A subtle start was unusual with another Jimi Hendrix song. This particular one was Foxy Lady and had a nice walking bass line and pleasingly noisy drums. The band are a very tight outfit as can be expected after many years of playing together. This could be experienced as they played a song made famous by Gary Moore and Albert Collins. This number being, Too Tired , with Phil Brodie back on his Gold Les Paul. The 12-bar rhythm from Gerry Scanlon and Neil Wathey on drums was a pleasure to hear and with the superb tone and pinched harmonics on Phil's highly desirable Gibson, the song was brilliant!

Gerry Scanlon started another Chicago style 12-bar on the song The Blues are Bad ( and are here to stay). Gerry is a superb bass player with a very special technique. Working well with Neil on rock-solid drums, Gerry's bass turnarounds were superb. The sight of his left hand fingers dancing around the frets of his Fender bass was truly amazing. This allowed Phil Brodie to do a Walter Trout style extended instrumental break during this song, which also had audience participation singing the chorus of “Hey Hey, the Blues is alright!” Brilliant stuff!

To end a very enjoyable set, the band played another Jimi Hendrix favourite, Purple Haze . Re-aquainted with his Fender once again, Phil took advantage of the moment to indulge in some Hendrix style theatricals as in playing the Strat behind his head and using wah-wah and tremelo whammy bar as he thought fit. This was a great finale of a highly enjoyable evening at the Boot and Shoe!

This band should be seen nationwide at the summer blues festivals -promoters please take note!

Steve Lally ©