Trogged down from north London to Chislehurst in Kent last night to hear a couple of genuine rock legends play live...
Although the gig was designed to promote a teenage blues/rock guitarist/vocalist named Tobi, the drawcards were Spedding and a rare visit from the USA by ex-Free bassist Andy Fraser. (Spedding & Fraser played together briefly in the band Sharks (c.1972), of course, and their debut album First Water is worth seeking out on CD.)
Anyone expecting a Free tribute culminating in All Right Now as an encore would have been surprised to hear that anthem as the opening number! In fact Fraser took over the vocals only for The Stealer, A Little Bit Of Love and the encore Mr Big (which I've always thought of as Fraser's bass highlight).
It goes without saying that Spedding's playing was as understated and sublime as ever. And I can now say that I've heard Motorbikin' (c.1975) played live!
