About the noble art to look forward into the rear view mirror.
Café Hängmattan was turned into a blueshak; it’s hot, sweaty, close, and sensual. While Svartvitt burns off the last soul rockets of the New Year, we can smells Allman Brothers with a touch of Iron Butterfly from The Stew who offers us a taste of everything from a smoky, and true “Born in Chicago” to a heavy grooving “Pride and Joy”.
The Gothenburg Blues Association starts off the year with a slightly nostagic trip with farwardness. And the Stew has a genuin 70’s sound covered in a 2005 newly bought suit: gallant, stylish, and well-made.
In this tight band both intense guitar solos, and heavy and fat hammond rounds share space, and it feels like the 70’s is managed safe and sound. To the audience’s relief. Because the 70’s were really the best thing to happend humanity.... at least until now.
It’s retrospect with the eyes steadily fixed forward. A good thing to hear!
The self composed ballad “Forever Yours” is in a tasteful contrast against the heavy blues rockin’ soundpicture, and the blues steaming windows gets even more steamier, and the smoke thickens when the Stew creates a nice jam feeling together with the dependable Hanna Tolf, Dick Ahlin and exquisite harmonicaplaying Örjan Hansson.
The blues year started out well. The Stew kicks off with their feet in the bluessoil, with the aim adjusted toward the future, and they play with total and intense presence. The 70’s was then, and the future after that. But The Stew is here and now, and that’s what counts, and it appears fairly simple to look forward into the rear view mirror.
Claes Adolfsson (2005-01-06) Foto © The Stew
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