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The Animals and Friends and Steve Cropper

Venue: The Atkinson(Southport Blues Festival)
Town: Southport
Date: 19/10/14
Website: http://www.southportbluesfestival.co.uk/

Southport's first ever Blues Festival was held today at The Atkinson. Topping the bill were The Animals and Friends and legendary Stax records house guitarist Steve "The Colonel" Cropper.

When I told friends that I was going to see The Animals and Friends, their immediate question was - how many of the original members are in the band these days? The answer is that there are two members who played in the band in the 1960's, original drummer [from 1963] John Steel and keyboard player Mick Gallagher, who replaced Alan Price in 1965. Mick was also in some of my favourite bands in the late 1960's /early 1970's, namely Skip Bifferty, Every Which Way and Bell & Arc [featuring the late Graham Bell]. Mick was also one of the late Ian Dury's Blockheads and still plays with that band.

Joining John and Mick were two superbly talented young[ish] musicians from Burnley, Danny Handley [guitar and lead vocals] and slap-bass king Scott Whitley. I recently had the pleasure of seeing Scott's jazz/funk/fusion band [The Scott Whitley Band] in Darwen and they were awesome.

Tonight, John, Mick, Danny and Scott did a fantastic job of continuing the organ-driven, bluesy legacy of The Animals with their performance of such classics as "Baby Let Me Take You Home", "It's My Life"[dedicated to Chas Chandler], "I'm Crying", "Bring It On Home To Me", "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"[currently being revived by Jamie Cullum], "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place"and, of course, their signature song "House Of The Rising Sun". John Steel recalled that this timeless single "Cost ten bob to make and took 15 minutes to record".

This was a great performance by The Animals and Friends, this is no pale imitation tribute band, they are the real deal and they captured the gritty, bluesy essence of The Animals.

How do you follow "House of the Rising Sun"? Easy, bring on one of the world's greatest guitarists who co-wrote and played on some of the best soul and rhythm and blues records ever made. Of course, I'm talking about Steve Cropper.

Seeing "The Colonel" play live has been on my wish list for a very long time and now he was playing in my hometown!

I have to say that it was well worth the wait. Steve and The Animals and Friends took us on a journey through Steve's amazing career with such gems as "In The Midnight Hour", "[Sittin'On] The Dock of The Bay", "Knock On Wood", "6345789", "Green Onions" and "Time Is Tight". Before each number, Steve told an anecdote about how the song was written and performed. Most touching was the story of how Otis Redding rang him from the airport and told Steve "we have got a hit, come over and bring your guitar". Otis then played "Dock of The Bay" for Steve on one-fingered guitar. The song was duly recorded but tragically, Otis died in an air crash without having heard the final mix. The rest is, of course, history.

Each of these classic numbered featured superb, expansive guitar solos from Steve, ably supported by The Animals and Friends. Steve Cropper is, without doubt, one of the most influential guitarists in the history of popular music and we were treated to a truly memorable performance.

Peter Cowley

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