Martin Barre Band, Robin 2, Bilston - review
Temperatures may have plummeted outside, but that didn't stop hundreds of adoring fans turning out to see Jethro Tull icon Martin Barre and his group.
A regular at Bilston’s Robin 2, The Martin Barre Band is always impressive - and their sound last night was seemingly better than ever; tight, clear and without fault.
The four piece’s set consisted of a variety of songs, ranging from blues to heavy rock, with some numbers from Jethro Tull’s repertoire, a Beatles cover and new material from the band itself.
Birmingham guitar star Martin Barre, aged 72, was clearly in high spirits to once again be performing in the Midlands, but the outfit’s general glee to be playing was most delightful; made clear by their passion, enthusiasm, and animated stage presence. Live shows are clearly a labour of love for this band and they're always a pleasure to watch as as a result.
But it's their musical talent which draws in the crowds year after year - and Martin’s tremendous skill on guitar was superb as ever, while singer Dan Crisp impressed with his wide-ranging, strong vocals and lively, often eccentric energy.
“We’re happy to be back in the Midlands,” smiled Martin.
“It's as close to home as I ever get.
“Thank you so much for coming out to support us tonight.”
My only complaint was I found the set to be a little less compelling than usual, and a hugely cut back rendition of Aqualung to end the show left me feeling a little underwhelmed.
Numbers such as A Song For Jeffrey, Teacher, A New Day Yesterday and Locomotive Breath were all performed brilliantly however, and went down a treat.
Overall a very good night and I look forward to seeing Martin and his band return to Midland music gem The Robin 2 sometime soon.
