Live
HAMISH STUART: 606 CLUB (28/04/08)
It was a rainy night in Chelsea so what better to do than descend the steps of The 606 club, a groovy late night basement bar run by musician Steve Rubie.
Irrespective of it being a monday, the evening promised much and the place was rammed. Why? I hear you ask, simple, Hamish Stuart was in the house!
Allow me to refresh your memory and give you a potted history of the man. He’s probably regarded as Britain’s finest exponent of Blue-Eyed Soul, Hamish found fame as the lead singer/guitarist with the Average White Band.
One of the only UK soul bands who have had any real success in the US. The album 'AWB' a.k.a. 'The White Album' produced by the legendary Arif Mardin, stormed the billboard charts and along with the single, 'pick up the pieces' simul-taneously hit the No 1 spot.
Let’s not forget also his songwriting and performing skills too. Stuart has worked with the finest galaxy of soul stars including Diana Ross, George Benson and Chaka Khan for whom he wrote the No1 chart hit 'Whatcha Gonna Do For Me'. A fine pedigree and a stack of credentials, but that was then and this is now. How would the Scottish soul boy fair? I think you can guess! There’s a saying “form is temporary and class is permanent”- Stuart was on top form and in a class all of his very own.
To see this veteran virtuoso is a real treat. The tunes came thick and fast. 'Unspoken love' an old Robin Millar tune (he of Sade fame) was a real joy peppered with a blistering altered scale Rhodes solo courtesy of Graham Harvey (ex Incognito). The old AWB classic 'Atlantic Avenue' was given a complete reworking bossa nova stylee with a curious squeeking, talking drum solo courtesy of the ubiquitous Brazilian percussionist Bosco D’Olivera. 'How the mighty fall' a paean to Muhammad Ali, showed off the consummate skills of second guitarist Adam Phillips, who bedraggled and looking like he’d been dragged through a hedge backwards, played outstandingly building his solos with his Carltonesque bends, runs and strong vibrato throughout.
Special mention must also go to the rhythm section Steve Pearce, bass and Ash Soan, drums. It’s rare to see this calibre of musicianship in an intimate club surrounding.Samba, Bossa and hard Funk was the order of the day. I particularly enjoyed Steve’s flanged bass on 'Person to Person' reminiscent of Anthony Jackson bass sound on the O’Jays 'For the Love of Money'. As Hamish said “Fully paid up, card carrying funkateers!”
The whole evening was a masterclass in performance and dynamics. Hamish’s voice, mellifluous and silky with a sweet falsetto, felicitous feel wooed the crowd effortlessly. Not many white singers can add anything to Al Green’s 'Let’s Stay Together' or my favourite vocal of the night, Ray Charles’ 'Just for the Thrill'.
And lastly topping the evening off with 'pick up the pieces' Hamish left the Stage and crowd happy. Here is a journeyman who exudes warmth and charisma and it's palpably obvious he still enjoys playing live. With his beautiful voice and intricate guitar playing this Glaswegian groove star has lost none of his magic. I strongly urge you to see him when he return to the 606 on May 19th.
Words Emrys Baird
