Missing Friday nights at the Southgate Club listening to the great bands playing at St Harmonica's? Well, we can't do anything about the lockdown, but we can do our best to recreate St Harmonica's in the comfort of your own home. So pour yourself a glass of beer, move the furniture aside to make yourself a dance floor, click on the first of the music videos below and start a text conversation with some of the people you usually meet up with at the club.Mighty Mo Rodgers - Took Away the Drum
A song about the result, as posited by Mo Rodgers, of the outlawing of traditional instruments (eg drums) used by African slaves; from his album 'Blues Is My Wailing Wall' - well worth a listen.
Washboard Sam and his Washboard Band - Back Door (Robert Brown) 1937
With no drums available the humble washboard was an obvious percussive alternative. Washboard Sam led his own band as singer, songwriter and washboard player, gigging and recording.
Fats Domino - The Fat Man (version 1)
Recorded in the back room of a launderette in New Orleans in 1949, and regarded by many as the birth of rock'n'roll as Earl Palmer (drummer) played strong snare drum hits on beats 2 & 4 (backbeats) through the verses driving the song along, and not the usual (at that time) occasional accents. Note in piano solos, Mr Palmer shuffles on high-hats, no back beat. And get that driving bass, four in the bar.
Little Walter - Mellow Down Easy (1954)
Fred Below plays a lolloping kind of rhythm in the verses on snare drum with snares off, then livens it up in the solo on the cymbals. The bass part, which sounds like it's played on a 6 string guitar, cranks it up to four in the bar on the solos, from two on the vocal sections. Pity they didn't have the time to really organise this track, but it's still a classic.
Koko Taylor - Don't Mess With the Messer (1965)
Song & production by Willie Dixon, who probably played bass guitar too. Busy bass and drums drive this track right from the start at an almost frantic pace. An example of the changes in style and feel of bass and drum playing as electric instruments became the norm and rock and roll's rhythmic influence spread across the musical spectrum.
T-Bone Walker - Goin' to Chicago (London, Jazz at the Philharmonic)
A top jazz band playing blues, a classic example of a jazz drummer playing softly behind vocals, then kicking it along with back beats (them again) in the solos. And that 4 in the bar bass locking it all down and driving it along....
The Legendary Blues Band - Woke Up With The Blues
Mostly ex-Muddy Waters sidemen, 1981, I believe. Classic slow blues playing from Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith - driving it forward but keeping the beat 'back' and Calvin Jones on bass - solid, no frills, locking in with the drums.
Cream - Crossroads (Robert Johnson) 1968
They took this song by the scruff didn't they! Rock with everyone doing their thing all over it, but keeping the song together. Amazing.
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Red House (live in Stockholm, Sweden 1969)
Never heard this played so slow, but stick with it, it gets interesting. Bass holds it down, while drums flitter about all over the place, tastefully and in perfect time, giving Jimi a super responsive but solid backing.
Keb' Mo' - That's Not Love (1996)
Great song, vocal & guitar, with what I'd call great 'post James Brown' funk style bass & drums - with beat '1' emphasised by the riff, with bass guitar and bass drum hitting the same notes, with the snare on the up beats keeping the balance before the next '1' comes around. Lovely groove.
Spikedrivers - Train Done Gone
Featuring a variant on the - wait for it - washboard (nearly full circle): a rubboard or 'zydeco vest' played with gusto by Constance Redgrave; interesting drumming and lovely singing and guitar. A great live version, and great live sound!
Fran McGillivray Band - "Midnight Special" (Tuesday Night Music Club - 01/12/15)
Creating a fabulous groove, with lovely guitar by Mike Burke, solid bass and singing from Fran, and coming full circle - their tasteful drummer/percussionist Roger Nunn playing a drum that looks like it could've originated in - Africa.