Who? James Oliver Band
Where? Blues at the Bay, Cleveland Bay Hotel, Eaglescliffe
When? 14 February 2025
Another winter gig, another intimate venue. Two weeks previously, on 31 January, a visit to Toft House, the ‘home of unpopular music’. On 14 February, ‘the North East’s most intimate blues venue’, The Cleveland Bay
Swinging a cat
Along with 80 others, I went to see Steve Graham and the January Men at the Toft House But the back room of the Cleveland Bay holds only half that number. And when the 6’ 5” life force of James Oliver looms into view, the room is his, ‘the Master of the Blackwood Boogie’, starts to wield Brenda the Fender, his red 1954 vintage Telecaster, and it’s up close and personal.
A love affair
When James kisses Brenda’s body, and wishes Happy Valentine’s Day to a 71-year-old lady, you do start to wonder whether he’s crossed the line. But then the penny drops: James Oliver is just playing with us. The banter is brutal gallows stuff. Some of the references to sheep would make Caligula blush. Don’t take your maiden aunt to a James Oliver gig. She’s probably not into the blues anyway.
Band personnel
Did I mention that it’s a three piece band? Mark Kemlo on drums. But the bassist is frequently swapped over, depending on venue or availability. Sometimes it’s Norman Watt-Roy, of Ian Dury and the Blockheads fame. Or it could be Christopher Bywater. Tonight’s bassist, Jack Allen, has only played with James for three months. Jack won’t have played some of these tunes before, let alone rehearsed them. But it doesn’t matter. After each number has finished, James will call out the song title and the key of the next one, and the band will launch straight into it. Not many bands can work this way. Think of James Brown, but without the sackings.
The set
In the first half, the band ran through material from their latest album, the standard fare that we’ve come to know and expect. But the crowd knew what they really wanted to hear: Covers of guitar classics, and these came with rapid fire. I’ve listed the ones that I can remember at the end of this article. Straight after the break, a wicked touch from James Oliver: Bo Diddley’s ‘I can tell’, with call and response from the audience – ‘I know you don’t love me no more’, especially for the old romantics celebrating St Valentine’s Day.
Technique
The technique is impossible to define. One minute, James’ left hand is deftly picking its way along the fret, making it sing. Next, he’s using his beer glass as a slide. Jimi Hendrix isn’t in it. When more subtlety is required, James wears a metal slide on his little finger. Then the tempo picks up, and we hear an echo of Wilko Johnson. The Feelgoods’ Wilko is another of James Oliver’s heroes. Wilko was self-taught, and chopped the strings with his fingernails. Could James emulate Wilko Johnson? You didn’t need to ask. If you’re a John Williams fan, you’ve come to the wrong gig.
Influences
James Oliver cites Peter Green as the greatest blues guitarist to walk the earth. He’s also a fan of Mick Green (no relation) of Johnny Kidd and the Pirates. But who is JOHNNY Green? Better ask Wilko Johnson about that. James is also a great admirer of Louis Jordan. The Pirates’ spiritual successors, Doctor Feelgood, were huge fans too. The keen students of American blues, such as John Mayall, Jimmy Page and Keith Richards didn’t look to Louis Jordan for influence. Many didn’t take him seriously, because he didn’t appear to take himself seriously. But if you know, you know. And James Oliver does.
Workload
The James Oliver Band plays more than 300 gigs a year. That’s the reality of touring at this level. Last night, Honey Bee Blues Club in Rotherham. Tomorrow, Billy Bootleggers in Nottingham. As live venues continue to close, the finances get tighter, and artists rely on merch sales more than ever. My friend and I decided to help. Alan bought a CD, and I got a T-shirt.
Thank you and goodnight
James took time out to tune his guitar. Fair play. He’d spent the previous hour bending his strings to the point of destruction. If you hear that James Oliver is going to play your town, book a ticket. I’ll leave the last word to Blues Matters Magazine “Pure genius – live music as it should be played”
Covers played by the James Oliver Band on 14 February 2025. Apologies for any that I have missed:
Sabre Dance (‘The new Welsh National Anthem’) – Aram Khachaturian/Dave Edmunds
Wipe Out – The Surfaris
Rumble – Link Wray
Misirlou – Dick Dale and his Del-Tones
Hideaway – Freddie King
My Baby Left Me – Arthur ‘Big Boy’ Crudup
Tear It Up – Johnny Burnette
I Can Tell – Bo Diddley/Dr Feelgood
Riot in Cell Block #9 – The Coasters/Dr Feelgood
Roxette – Dr Feelgood
She Does It Right – Dr Feelgood
Shufflin’ the Blues – T-Bone Walker
Early in the Mornin’ (Ain’t got nothin’ but the blues) – Louis Jordan
Chains of Love – Big Joe Turner
Standing at the Crossroads – Elmore James
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