Robert Cray - Birmingham Symphony Hall review
Betrayal, pain, cheating and heartbreak – they're the stock in trade of a bluesman like Robert Cray. But Cray somehow made abject despair sound as sweet as honey at Symphony Hall last night.
Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Concert review by Ian Harvey
Betrayal, pain, cheating and heartbreak – they're the stock in trade of a bluesman like Robert Cray.
But blessed with a voice as silkily soulful as the late great Sam Cooke and with a guitar technique that simply astounds, Cray somehow made abject despair sound as sweet as honey at Symphony Hall last night.
See our photo gallery to the right
Songs like Bad Influence, Right Next Door (Because Of Me) and Back Door Slam told their own sorry tale, while Love 2009 and Chicken In The Kitchen from Cray's latest album, This Time, provided an upbeat funky vibe.
There was even room for a reggae-like swagger to Poor Johnny, courtesy of bass player Richard Cousins.
Cray's fluid but spiky solos punctuated the songs and during Right Next Door he took the volume down and down until the audience were holding their breath so as not to miss the tiniest nuance.
The band, completed by Jim Pugh on keyboards and drummer Tony Braunagel, helped end the evening on a positive high with That's What Keeps Me Rockin'.
It's what keeps Cray's fans coming back for more.
Music photography by Ian Harvey / RocktasticPix
