Seasick Steve at Bristol Summer Series gig review

Posted on: 2015-06-27

Our rating:

Seasick Steve brought the deep South to the South West. As much as his gravelly voice, guitar slide made from an old thimble and rolling blues tunes entertained me, it was his humbleness and honesty that came across most of all. 5/5.


 

Seasick Steve played his gig at the Bristol Summer Series on Friday 26 June 2015 located at Lloyds Amphitheatre on the harbourside. 365Bristol sent along Tom Purdon to review this chap (Steven Gene Wold) who was launched into the major public spotlight in 2010 after airtime at the Glastonbury Festival, The Brits and even on Top Gear. A musician since the 1960's Seasick Steve has led a pretty amazing life and his songs tell the story! Here's what Tom had to say :

On Friday night, after the rain rolled in, the blues came to town. Seasick Steve brought his blues music (and a few home-made guitars) to be part of Bristol's Summer Series at the harbourside.

As a big fan of blues music, Seasick Steve epitomises the combination of raw sounds and raw emotions played in a simple, accessible way. His songs draw on his tough life experiences from leaving home aged 14 and living on the streets, busking for money and riding the trains through the deep south of America.

Seasick Steve at Bristol Summer Series on 26 June 2015

Up until now I had only seen a decent tribute at Grillstock festival 2 years ago, along with his set at Glastonbury from the comfort of my living room. Now the man himself was on stage with his 'Three-String Trance Wonder' a guitar with only 3 strings and his 'Mississippi Drum Machine' a wooden box he stomps on to keep rhythm. These quirky instruments are part of his charm and become extra members in his 'hobo band'. On stage he had Dan Magnusson, a drummer who, like Steve, could easily pass for a busker, with his long straggly grey hair and plaid shirt. Steve meanwhile had his trademark faded green John Deere cap with jeans, t-shirt and his ZZ Top-like grey beard. But together they produced a rounded sound that many 4 and 5 piece bands struggle to obtain.

The set opened with the raucous Thunderbird “a song about drinking wine” which Steve himself did throughout the gig, much to the delight of the Bristol crowd. He mixed the old and the new, each song carrying a strong beat that had people dancing from the front to the back, and even the most reserved of audience members still tapping their toes. In between songs and changing over guitars (from more modern types, to one made from a washboard and an old banjo) he regaled the crowd with stories from his past, each time adding to his legend that always seems to carry an air of mystery. Halfway through, he plucked a young woman from the crowd to serenade with his quietly beautiful song 'Walking Man' to our amusement and her embarrassment!

As much as his gravelly voice, guitar slide made from an old thimble (“kept on with a band aid, sorry plaster”) and rolling blues tunes entertained me, it was his humbleness and honesty that came across most of all. Unlike todays popstars who get their fame straight out of the box, Steves character showed a man who had worked and grafted for a fame he still struggles to come to terms with. He is a man all about the music and plays for the love of it with a passion that amplifys his charm and humbleness that seems to resonate well with an English crowd.

By the time he came out for the encore with an excellent rendition of Dog House Boogie, the song that brought him to the attention of the British public on Jules Hollands Hootenany, he had the whole crowd singing along.

Having been born on the wrong side of the Atlantic to grow up to the soulful sounds of slide guitar blues, Seasick Steve certainly brought the deep South to the South West, for a gig that will stay with me for a long time.

5/5

Reviewed by Tom Purdon for 365Bristol - the leading events and entertainment website for Bristol

Seasick Steve



Article by:

James Anderson

Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.