Mick Cantwell Quartet @ Prohibition Bar - Oct. 7

Mick Cantwell (vocals, harmonica); Michael Littlefield (guitar, vocals); Michael Clark (bass); Barry Race (cajon)

The Blind Pig Blues Club pitches up once a month at Prohibition Bar on Pink Lane, but a stone's throw from Newcastle Central Station. October's session featured blues vocalist par excellence, Mr Mick Cantwell. Joining the Groove-a-matics' frontman this evening, King Bees' Michael Littlefield, and the bass and cajon team (yep, cajon) of Messrs Michael Clark and Barry Race. Two sets, no hurry to make a start, first there was some drinking to be done.

At around three pints to nine, Cantwell and co. made a start. Classic blues - St James' Infirmary, Jimmy Rogers (Walking by Myself, That's Alright), Hoochie Coochie Man, Littlefield singing Magic Sam's That's All I Need, Cantwell singing Paul Rodgers - and non-blues numbers by way of Solomon Burke, Leonard Cohen, Tom Jones' Delilah, Richard Thompson and others, Cantwell put on a great show. 

Guitarist Littlefield is never less than excellent (King Bees, House of the Black Gardenia) and, in any other context, is, himself, a headline attraction. Bassist Michael Clark did the necessary and makes a quick return to Prohibition Bar this evening (Saturday) in the company of Debra Milne and Steve Glendinning. Drummer Barry Race dispensed with his usual kit, more than making do with a cajon. Cantwell remembered the late John Whitehill, dedicating the guitarist's own composition Mr Green to his much missed friend. Russell