Ryan Spendlove
Live at The Graziers (Wakefield) on Friday, 5th November 2010
On what was a cold damp evening in Wakefield, Guy Fawkes night seemed to be a good night to spend indoors, rather than freezing your backside off watching a bonfire and fireworks, which seem to lose their sparkly charms after the millionth bang. It was cold and I needed a pint and some warm blues to soak into me.
A friendly welcome at The Graziers that presented us two acts this evening in the form of local blues friends, Daniel Lucas (Boss Caine) and Ryan Spendlove.
Daniel Lucas is an interesting young talent who sings with wisdom that an age beyond his years is only supposed to bring. The grain in his voice is fierce; which harks back to the rudiments of the blues as mapped out by hardcore originators such as John Lee Hooker and R. L. Burnside.
From the first song of 'Dead Mans Suit,' Daniel Lucas' voice creeps up and affectionately smothers you like a large shot of single malt. The rest of his set certainly kept everyone in the pub mesmerised and with warm cockles. 'Sweet Sorrow Surrender' brings out a more lilting sound to Daniel's vocal range and clearly shows attention to detail both musically and lyrically.
'Murder On My Mind' is darkly invigorating and sounds like it could spring from a Tarrantino film sound track, but it is 'Self Medication Blues' which steals the entire set for me, with an honest bleakness that is lyrically painted both aurally and mentally with perfection.
The last tune, 'Your Drunk Baby' is some what appropriate as he is followed by a slightly tipsy Ryan Spendlove.
The ex Blueskins front man is in good spirits this evening as he steadies himself on his stool, and after a few gracious thanks to the audience for waiting for him, he slips straight into 'Smoking Too Long,' which is unforgettable after hearing it for the first time and it flows with an eclecticism which showcases his intricate, criminally underrated guitar playing.
If you have never seen this young man play and sing you really cannot put into words the immense energy and soul that comes from Ryan as he performs. Ryan Spendlove has tremendous wit and warmth about every fibre of his being.
A fantastic cover of 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' shows the diversity in his voice and although I myself am not a huge fan of the song, it sounded new and exciting and listenable.
'Dirty Dog' stood out head and shoulders above the rest this evening.
Ryan has an amazing talent to tell a true honest story to his listener, sometimes it is a harsh reality, other times a delicate reminder, either way his poet abilities lend an aching to his blues licked melodies.
Boss Caine
Like Tom Waits singing Ryan Adams if they had both had the good fortune to grow up in Yorkshire.