This Is Guernsey

By Colin Leach

Spoonful’s Joe Corbin playing at The Doghouse (0567653)

EIGHTEEN- to 50-year-olds filled the Doghouse on Friday of last week.

Despite the age differences they were all there for the same reason: to catch a glimpse of Joe Corbin.

Believe the hype, as the singer/guitarist is turning out to be quite the ‘wonder kid’.

My brother had trouble parking his car and the bar was three-deep – the vibe that was flowing was contagious.

Joe does have the bonus of his fellow band members being mature musicians who know how to play their instruments and play them well. Blues is a timeless genre that has made him a great crossover artist, attracting a healthily balanced audience. On the Friday, the audience consisted of both old and young admirers, who were all shaking their heads with awe at the band’s talent and especially at Joe’s musical maturity at such a young age.

We were treated to covers of Cream’s ‘Cocaine’ and Eric Clapton’s rendition of the Bob Marley classic, ‘I Shot the Sheriff’.

Joe has an unusual method of strumming his guitar aggressively with a passionate twist – at times it seems as though he is playing to himself, totally engrossed in the music. You can see his influences from the iconic Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jimi Hendrix in his guitar playing.

It is this stage presence he carries that keeps the audience captivated. No one dances, but that isn’t a bad thing – they’re completely mesmerised by what they are hearing and seeing.

His husky Mississippi voice reminds me of Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker, at times gravelly, but keeping with the blues atmosphere.

I have to say something would be missing if Andy Mason were not there playing the harmonica, though – it complements Joe’s guitar playing and vocals.

The great thing about Spoonful is that they are playing music from the soul. It reflects, it makes you think and it makes you listen intently.

Admittedly, I have had trouble writing this review – on the night I was in awe and I couldn’t write much as the music spoke for itself.

An audience member came up to me and asked if I was reviewing the band. I nodded.

‘All you need to do is write one word and one word only,’ he said.

‘Awesome.’