Very few of the greats of the classic era of British rock guitarists are still active- a fact brought home by the loss of Jeff Beck and Bernie Marsden in the last couple of years while still at the peak of their powers. Peter Green, Alvin Lee and Kim Simmonds have left us, Richie Blackmore made just a brief return to rock from medieval music, Jimmy Page seems content to endlessly remaster his back catalogue, and Eric Clapton, while still touring, has been in pipe and slippers mode for some years. It makes it all the more important that we cherish those who are still around, which is where Robin Trower comes in.

The Catford born and Southend raised guitarist has now turned 79 and has had health challenges, hinting a few years ago that he may no longer tour. Additionally some of his recent songs appear to meditate on death and the passage of time. So the appearance back on home soil for a first tour in six years meant that the London show sold out well in advance, mainly to men of mature years paying homage. Indeed the Assembly Hall was an uncomfortably hot and sweaty as I’ve ever known it, even compared to the intimate shows contemporary acts Daughtry and Black Stone Cherry played here.

There was a short support slot from a more youthful act in Connolly Hayes, specifically guitarist Frankie and singer Jess (plus a keyboard player). The latter was a contestant on ‘The Voice’ but I know her better as the daughter of Val Cowell and Richard Hayes, mainstays in enduring blues rockers Bad Influence.

Oddly though they not only opened with a cover in ‘Love The One You’re With’- always a mood improver admittedly- but Frankie did most of the vocals, a role reversed for most of the rest of the set. After their own ‘Tired Of This Love’ there were more covers in ‘What Do You Want The Girl To Do’ and Tedeschi Trucks’ ‘Midnight in Harlem’ featuring a guitar workout from Frankie.

On closer ‘Frank’s Song’ the rolling piano was prominent and I was naggingly reminded of the Doobie Brothers ‘Neal’s Fandango’. Their sound blends rock and soul much in the style of Matt Pearce and The Mutiny and Jess has a striking voice. With their first album about to be released, they are a band to watch out for if they can get the right balance between originals and covers.

Robin Trower made a typically understated entry- a big smile creased his face as he was handed his trusty Stratocaster by a roadie and he opened with ‘The Razor’s Edge’, before instantly familiar one in ‘Too Rolling Stoned’, inverting rock tropes with a first part that rocks hard before the second slower section where he played with great delicacy. The older songs were generally delivered note perfect to the originals with little improvisation, presumably on the basis they cannot be improved upon.

Although his last album with Sari Schorr went unrepresented, there was a lot of new material (mainly off the ‘No More Worlds to Conquer’ album) from someone who could otherwise be forgiven for coasting into nostalgia. Though a minor gripe- with the occasional thanks to bandmates the extent of any between song chat, those of us not familiar with his whole oeuvre were left to work it out for ourselves.

Most of it was quite mellow like ‘Wither On The Vine’ but ‘Cloud Across The Sun’ was closer to his seventies works. Though not a blues artist as such, Robin can certainly rank with the best in that style as ‘Ball of Fire’ proved, while those trademark face grimaces as he becomes totally absorbed in the music always delight.

The instrumental ‘Somebody Calling’ showed just what skilled and sensitive players drummer Chris Taggart and bassist Richard Watts are. The latter has also really grown in stature as a worthy vocal successor to Jimmy Dewar and Davey Pattison, with a solid and pleasant delivery, albeit not nearly as bluesy as them.

A couple of times I thought his delivery was reminiscent of Jack Bruce, which was a compliment when I subsequently discovered they were Bruce and Trower collaborations (‘Distant Places of the Heart’ and ‘Its Too Late’).

Those hoping for some classics from ‘Bridge of Sighs’, not least to mark the release of a special remaster to mark its half century got their wish with ‘Day of the Eagle’, by some distance the heaviest in the set with some urgent drumming and Robin’s wah-wah technique at its best. Then just as its Hendrix-inspired riffs slowed, with a single note it segued into the brooding eight minute title track. The tempo was increased with ‘Rise Up Like The Sun’, reminding me a little of ‘Crossroads’.

His understated style means he is an artist you need to ‘get’, which I only have belatedly done in more recent years. Proof of this was the ethereal ‘Daydream’ whose 10 minutes might meander in other guitarist’s hands, but the emotion you can feel in each individual note had the fans enthralled. ’No More Worlds To Conquer’ was another to remind me a little of Cream then it was time for the usual closing number and another of those ‘Bridge…’ classics in ‘Little Bit Of Sympathy’.

Encore ‘Rescue Me’ was again bluesier then after pointing at his band mates that there was time for another, the choice of a new song in ‘Birdsong’ again proved he is an artist living very much in the present rather than the past.

The set was a little on the short side at an hour and 20 minutes, but not a moment was wasted with guitar playing so immaculate and precise. He is certainly playing as well as ever and there was a sense of being privileged to see a master craftsman at work. Since the show concerning news has come through that his American tour in the autumn is postponed to allow for major surgery, adding in hindsight to the poignant nature of this show. We all wish him well as he is still at the peak of his musical powers.

Review by Andy Nathan
Photos by Paul Clampin

Album review (Bridge Of Sighs, 50th Anniversary)

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)