14 April 2025

Last minute wonders

There is so much on at the moment.  I arrived back after an orchestral practice and when I looked at the Smiths site, I realised The Subterraneans were half way through their first set.  I got in quickly and caught the second.   It had been yonks since I'd seen Steve Hunter and I can only gasp in awe at his solid, funky finger-style playing with death-defying speed and Jacoesque awareness on a JB or clone.  He was playing Smiths' Roland 60w cube which added a dirty edge to the louder notes that worked a treat.  In awe as always.  But I'm a bassist: not to say the others were shirking!  James Ryan is leader with deliciously effective and lyrical tenor solos and inviting stage presence; Michael Coggins on guitar was all manner of delays and effects and lovely, deceptively relaxed melodic solos; drummer Jack Powell was simple and rock steady which suited the band but seemed tame until his heavy/metal solos, all double kick pedal and the sharp, busy lines and heavy tones that go with it.  He got a few solos at the end and they were a blast.  The second set ran over, as they do, but still only four or five tunes, one by Steve and a final reggae in 7/4.  If there was a determinant of this band, it's probably the counts.  There was another 7/4; another 4-4-4-2 with fill or bridge of 4-4-4-4.  Perhaps more.  All from one or another of their albums over the 15 years of their existence.  And this was a tour and Steve said the frequent gigs help to be sharp.  They certainly were!  Tight as! Fast as! Unrelenting and exciting and infectious.  I guess it's jazz-rock or fusion even some metal, but so infectious.  Fabulous.

The Subterraneans are James Ryan (tenor), Steve Hunter (bass), Michael Coggins (guitar) and Jack Powell (drums).

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