Congleton Jazz and Blues Festival 2012 - 25/26th August 2012
Phil Maddocks
A short walk into the depths of Congleton brings one to The Beartown Tap. I believe the beer here is very good. My interest, however, was in a certain Mr Phil Maddocks. I had caught parts of Phil's sets at The Dirty Dozen, in April, and The Rittz and Friends Festival, in August, and I had been impressed. I liked his playing, his delivery, and his songs. I wanted to see more.
Phil Maddocks, with Bryn Mitchell
The weather had stayed, surprisingly, good and by the time Phil was set up and ready to go, the sun was streaming through the window behind him, causing him to be silhouetted, hence why the photos are the way they are. I like to think of them as a statement on The Blues in the 21st century. Either that or, they're just dark and I didn't want to use fill-in flash - I would have blinded everyone in the small room.
Another afternoon set and, again, a couple of the songs were not my speed but, he's here to please everyone, not just me. I really enjoyed Bryn Mitchell's contribution on a couple of songs, in the first set. (The shape in the photos, that isn't Phil with a guitar in his head, is Bryn. I think it is a Ukelele he plays.) It made a nice sound and the two of them worked well together and I liked the change of pace.
Phil's original songs, which he instersperses nicely with some popular, and some surprisingly unexpected choices, are strong and enjoyable. I am not an Elton John fan but I thought his medley of Rocket Man and Pink Floyd's Breathe quite inspired. He did do some very nice covers though and he obviously puts a lot of thought into what he plays. Two forty-five minute sets later, I congratulated myself, on being right. I had thought he was good. Well, I was right.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
1st September 2012
Another afternoon set and, again, a couple of the songs were not my speed but, he's here to please everyone, not just me. I really enjoyed Bryn Mitchell's contribution on a couple of songs, in the first set. (The shape in the photos, that isn't Phil with a guitar in his head, is Bryn. I think it is a Ukelele he plays.) It made a nice sound and the two of them worked well together and I liked the change of pace.
Phil's original songs, which he instersperses nicely with some popular, and some surprisingly unexpected choices, are strong and enjoyable. I am not an Elton John fan but I thought his medley of Rocket Man and Pink Floyd's Breathe quite inspired. He did do some very nice covers though and he obviously puts a lot of thought into what he plays. Two forty-five minute sets later, I congratulated myself, on being right. I had thought he was good. Well, I was right.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
1st September 2012