Congleton Unplugged Festival 2013 - 1/2/3rd March 2013
Phil Maddocks
Saturday was a busy day for me. Following Jim Kirkpatrick, I hot-footed it up to The Beartown Tap for Phil Maddocks' first set. After that, it would be back to Illucini's for The RPB. No rest for the wicked ones, eh?
I have enjoyed listening to Phil since I first heard him play (with Nick Bayes) at The White Lion, last year. I've never been able to pin down quite what it is I like about his songs and I have been considering that, lately. I asked him about his influences and he seems to feel that there is a big Dylanesque vibe to his sound. He's not wrong; he even plays a couple of Dylan tunes in his live set but, Phil can actually carry a tune. Sometimes, I detect a Roger Chapmanesque timbre to his voice, too. Then again, my theory is that Phil is actually the result of a liaison between Steve Earle and Al Stewart but, my mind is a very strange place.
I have enjoyed listening to Phil since I first heard him play (with Nick Bayes) at The White Lion, last year. I've never been able to pin down quite what it is I like about his songs and I have been considering that, lately. I asked him about his influences and he seems to feel that there is a big Dylanesque vibe to his sound. He's not wrong; he even plays a couple of Dylan tunes in his live set but, Phil can actually carry a tune. Sometimes, I detect a Roger Chapmanesque timbre to his voice, too. Then again, my theory is that Phil is actually the result of a liaison between Steve Earle and Al Stewart but, my mind is a very strange place.
That's not as bad as it, initially, sounds, believe me. I am a big fan of Mr Earle, Mr Chapman, and Mr Stewart. I think it's the nature of the original songs that give me this impression. Take one of my favourite songs of Phil's, The Wet Trade. It has the storytelling of Al Stewart and the gritty delivery of Mr Earle and, if that was not sufficient positive proof for you, Phil also played an old traditional Irish song, When Will We Be Married, as recorded by The Waterboys, on their Fisherman's Blues album.
What one Earth does that have to do with anything, you ask?
Well, I've only ever seen two different acts play When Will We Be Married, live. Phil Maddocks on Friday and, yes, you got there eventually, Steve Earle played it when I saw him back in the '90s!
Q.E.D.
What one Earth does that have to do with anything, you ask?
Well, I've only ever seen two different acts play When Will We Be Married, live. Phil Maddocks on Friday and, yes, you got there eventually, Steve Earle played it when I saw him back in the '90s!
Q.E.D.
Now that we have got that out of the way, let us move, swiftly, along.
I have been playing Phil's songs on my radio show (as well as other local artists) for a while. Don't think I play him BECAUSE he is local. I don't. I play his music because it is good and, if I like it, you're going to hear it, too. Original material, such as The Wet Trade, Tricky and Pretty, Polish and Glass, Hell Rose, She's The Lady, Falling and Falling, to name a few, are all top flight songs that are as good as anything comparable that I've heard by more famous acts. Over Easter, Phil is coming in to the studio to record a song or two for my show. I'm stoked about that.
Look at it from my point of view, though. I have a reputation to uphold. I have said that 'I only do good music'. So, if I'm not being 100% straight up with you, I'm going to look rather silly. Just as I don't do bad music, I don't like looking the fool, either.
I have been playing Phil's songs on my radio show (as well as other local artists) for a while. Don't think I play him BECAUSE he is local. I don't. I play his music because it is good and, if I like it, you're going to hear it, too. Original material, such as The Wet Trade, Tricky and Pretty, Polish and Glass, Hell Rose, She's The Lady, Falling and Falling, to name a few, are all top flight songs that are as good as anything comparable that I've heard by more famous acts. Over Easter, Phil is coming in to the studio to record a song or two for my show. I'm stoked about that.
Look at it from my point of view, though. I have a reputation to uphold. I have said that 'I only do good music'. So, if I'm not being 100% straight up with you, I'm going to look rather silly. Just as I don't do bad music, I don't like looking the fool, either.
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Go along and see one of Phil's shows; he plays locally all the time. Like I said, right at the beginning of my review, Congleton Unplugged, and The Jazz and Blues Festival, and Parklive, and events like The Dirty Dozen and The Rittz and Friends Festival, and all of the local musicians need YOUR support. Check him out. You will not be disappointed and you might even have a good time!
Mark L. Potts The God of Thunder 5th March 2013 |
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