Review: Matt Andersen at Liverpool Marina – 3rd October 2014

Matt Andersen at Liverpool Marina – 3rd October 2014

On his eagerly awaited return visit to the city, Canada’s finest acoustic blues exponent enraptured a large, enthusiastic audience at Liverpool Marina. The big man’s superb vocals matched his considerable frame and were brilliantly complemented by his exceptional guitarmanship.

He set the scene with the upbeat “Make You Stay”, followed by the shuffling “I Play The Fool For You” and the highly confessional “I Lost My Way”. The love song, “Home Sweet Home”, led into the excellent “Coal Mining Blues”, the title song of his magnificent last but one album. Following the philosophical “My Last Day”, “Better Man Blues” delivered a beautifully finger-picked introduction and solo before the set was brought to a close with the ballad, “Let’s Go To Bed”, and the slow shuffle, “Have You Got The Blues”.

The second set opened in a similarly energetic mood to the first with “Working Man Blues” and the whimsical “One Size Never Fits”, complete with another fabulous solo. James Taylor’s “Steamroller Blues” was given an extra verse delivered in a bizarre but very passable impression of the Cookie Monster in advance of some spirited audience participation on the upbeat “Round And Round” and Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready”. The fast-moving “Tell Me” delivered a further helping of breakneck, guitar-based artistry before the wonderful set was concluded with the reflective ballad, “So Gone Now” and the poignant “Devil’s Bride”.

A standing ovation demanded an encore, which was delivered in a fabulous a capella performance of “Last Letter Home” to complete a sensational programme of superlative quality.

LIONEL ROSS

stubbyfingers.ca