This is an article for Blues In Britain Magazine covering the musician Eric Bibb.

http://www.ericbibb.com/bibb.php





This was a gig that i got free tickets too and I think my excitement about being taken seriously kind of bled into my writing. Little bit too happy?


Blues In Britain

Eric Bibb, Sheffield City Hall, 17/05/10


Eric Bibb played in Sheffield City Halls’ Memorial Hall, the intimate venue and Art Deco style décor allowed for an incredibly personal introduction to Bibb’s stage presence and a fitting backdrop to his own love of nostalgia. He noted the importance of his fans, stating how ‘it’s good to see you all again’ and it was reciprocated by the beginning of ‘Shingle by Shingle,’ a song that got the crowd clapping before he even started. There was an unbelievable amount of warmth expelled from all I can really describe as his soul. What struck me was that, with the combination of gospel, soul and folk, there is still a sentimentality for the old, Bibb is genuinely is a part of the Blues. Bookers Guitar, Bibb’s new album, entitled this, due to his passion for B B King and his cousin Booker White. The excitement with which Bibb described playing Bookers guitar, ignited a sense of passion and love that translated into his more upbeat songs such as ‘New Home’ which got the crowd swaying, clapping and stomping. I attribute the enjoyment of the audience to the addition of Grant Mc Dermody on harmonica, the two men were in incredible synchronicity and there was a deep connection between them when discussing their friend John who had passed away. The bond became apparent during their rendition of ‘Connected,’ after which Grant exclaimed ‘I thought we only got audiences like this in Alaska’. There was another bond shown to exist between Britain and America which became apparent when Bibb sang a song ‘from this side of the pond’ called ‘Wayfaring stranger.’ Points such as these when Bibb passionately expressed his roots were a touching and moving experience and the combination of the old and new completely took hold when he sang ‘Tell Riley’, a song about B B King which encapsulated old Blues and a modern sentiment, which made the every filled seat clap in unison. Bibb captivated the crowd with his old sentimentalities and the interjection of his unique voice and style, that he argued is much the same as the guitars, ‘who need to have there voices heard.’


Cool really is the only word.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0szwmdAfeNw