So I picked up this couple in Southwark at the back end of July and the guy is carrying a guitar case with an acoustic in it! I get talking to him and it turns out that he's mainly a blues man. I asked his name and he told me "Danny Bryant". "OH MY GOD", I SPLUTTERED. "YOU'RE ABOUT TO FRONT THE WALTER TROUT BAND!" Luckily for me, I'd only read the previous day on Walter's Facebook site that Danny was about to tour on lead guitar and vocals for Walters' band, as Walter was still recovering from a liver transplant! He could obviously tell that I was a huge Trout fan, especially when I asked him to pass on a message, not to Walter, but to his amazing wife Marie who'd kept all the fans informed during Walters' illness, the search for a suitable donor, and the road to recovery! That may have been the clincher as Danny then handed me a copy of his at the time, yet to be released, new CD, 'Temperature Rising', but also pledged along with his lovely wife, Kirby to put me on the guest list for his gig at London's Borderline!
It's been a good 20 years since I was at the Borderline and back then, it was a Tex-Mex restaurant complete with waitresses sporting ammunition belts across their chests with Tequila shot glasses instead of shot gun cartridges adorning the belts and Tequila bottles in pistol holsters.
Nowadays, it's small, dark and slightly seedy feeling covert venue with a bar and of course, a stage area. But hey, I wish all concerts were like that as you really do get up close and personal with the artist and it's almost like being at your own personal gig!!
The proceedings were opened by the excellent Tom Killner Band, featuring Tom on lead guitar. Tom was ably backed up by dad Nigel, (I know!) on bass and Blakey Ashton who was resplendent in what looked like a Tesco staff shirt, on drums. And it has to be said, they were pretty damn good! Tom, apart from being very adept with his strat has a ferocious set of pipes on him when he needs it but was generally very easy on the ear.
So then, onto Danny who was back from a triumphant U.S. tour fronting the Walter Trout Band as they promoted Walter's 'Luther's Blues' album whilst Walter recovered from the aforementioned liver transplant. Now, it was time to promote his own new release, 'Temperature Rising.'
Despite this, he opened with 'Prisoner Of the Blues' from his 'Hurricane' album before launching into new track, the powerful 'Take Me Higher.'
Danny is a protégé of Walter Trout and boy does it show! Danny's vocal delivery, his stage presence, ease in front of an audience and sense of humour, although unique to him, have Walter's signature all over it! And because of this, the rapport with the audience was immediate and strong!
'For the Love Of Angels' from the days when he toured as Danny Bryant's RedEyeBand then proceeded a small dip into blues legend with blues standard 'Hoochie Coochie Man.'
Back to business and the opening track of the new album, 'Best Of Me' was delivered with gusto along with in my opinion, the albums two standout tracks, 'Razor Sharp' and the sumptuous 'Guntown.'
To finish the show, Danny surprised everyone by laying down a rousing rendition of Bob Dylan's 'Knocking On Heavens Door' before closing on his nod to Howlin' Wolf with the excellent 'Greenwood 31'
A great show from a great showman! You could certainly do worse than spending your hard earned on a copy of the excellent 'Temperature Rising' because this is an album you will be playing for many a year!