Mick Taylor: Burning at The Great American Music Hall

Mick Taylor at the Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, September 1, 2001

The opening act for the evening was a Zydeco Blues band called The Blues Brothers. They put out a big Bayou sound and provided an excellent start for an evening of exceptional music. This is the third year in a row for a visit to San Francisco by the Mick Taylor Band. His touring the Bay Area has become more frequent in recent years than even the Rolling Stones who were showing-up quite often there for a while. The regularity in playing provides an interesting contrast in the development of the musician in the past three years. He did a very strong opener in 1999, a year later he seemed a bit off pace, and this year the band is quite confident and musically cogent. The only variable in the line-up was Godfrey McLane who replaces Jeff Allen on drums. He put in a very competent effort as the detailed track-by-track review will indicate.

The Set List:

1 Secret Affair (9:56)

2 Twisted Sister (10:26)

3 Losing My Faith (5:16)

4 Late At Night (11:53)

5 You Gotta Move (13:59)

6 Goin' South (24:55)

7 Fed Up With The Blues (6:15)

8 Can't You Hear Me Knocking Jam (9:36)

9 Boogie Man (6:11)

The Band:

Mick Taylor - Guitar-Vocal

Max Middleton - Keyboards

Michael Bailey - Bass

Godfrey McLane - Drums

Missing In Action:

Jeff Allen - Drums

Robert Awhai - Rhythm Guitar

Blind Willie McTell

The Show In Review:

1. Secret Affair (9:56)

The song starts with an improvised opening. Very dramatic, like an old 50's detective movie sound track. After two minutes Max gets the show on the road with the familiar keyboard introduction of Secret Affair from "A Stones Throw". Bailey gets the heart rate going with the steady throb of the bass line. Mick points at the mic for more vox volume from the sound board and his voice becomes more prominent in a very balanced mix in the small Victorian venue. At five minutes Mick starts to solo and it burns. Like last year, Michael Bailey gets in some vocals on this one.

"Thank you very much, that's a song called Secret Affair from a CD we did a few years back called 'A Stones Throw'. Obviously, this gig isn't a secret affair, unlike some of the other shows we've done on this tour. Anyway, enough of that, hear some more music."

2. Twisted Sister (10:26)

The second in a salvo of strong songs from "A Stones Throw" to get the set off and running. At two minutes into the song, melodic and fluid lead lines are pouring out of the Gibson Les Paul Standard sunburst. At six minutes the song transitions into a very rhythmical section with drummer McLane in lock-step with Taylor. The outro section of the song (the last two minutes or so) rocks as always with Taylor playing some very rapid licks.

3. Losing My Faith (5:16)

Mick's intended or unintended tribute to Eric Clapton...

Lately I'm losing my faith

Can't find no sanctuary

No resting place

The heart gets harder

The hurt gets worse

I saw an old friend the other day

Looked right through me

She didn't have nothing to say

But she looked so wasted and washed out

Like the rain that did fall that day...

The slide guitar on this one is silky and smooth. He plays with glass on the little finger, which allows him to effortlessly switch from chords and notes to slide riffing (easier said than done!). Soling starts at two minutes and is as expressive and emotive as Taylor can be.

4. Late At Night (11:53)

Max starts off with a subtle and sublime introduction. Very classy. Taylor chimes in melodically of course, and is getting a wonderful thick and rich tone from the instrument. The improvised opening goes on for three minutes. The transition to the main riff is made by way of thick wah-wah. At 3:30 the song "starts" and it's rocking. Mick keeps the wah going as he plays the first solo. Taylor plays a second straight solo at five minutes, with runs and scales in sync and in rhythm with the song. Michael helps with backing vocals and seems to be enjoying his time on the stage with the band. Max does a fine piano solo at around nine minutes into the song.

Just one question: Who is Carla? Not Carla Bley... right?

"Thank you"

5. You Gotta Move (13:59)

The now familiar unrecognizable introduction to the Mississippi Fred McDowell blues classic. Probably most readily known to those in the audience as the last song on side one of "Sticky Fingers" recorded at Muscle Shoals studios in December, 1969. At three minutes the recognizable part begins and the song launches off. At six minutes Taylor is in full flight with variations on the basic theme (riff) running rampant. His guitar playing is as lucid and flowing as the words that are part of the song. Max plays a solo at eight minutes and it's back to Mick. He adds vocal lines from "Catfish Blues" at the eleven minute mark.

Band Introductions:

"Mr. Max Middleton on the piano, Michael Bailey on the bass guitar, and ahh Godfrey McLane on the drums, came all the way from Mexico City today. Okay, this one's called Goin' South"

6. Goin' South (24:55)

The song starts with big drum rolls from Godfrey. The guy's got rhythm! The band raises to the occasion with a version that is even longer than last year's twenty minute plus extravaganza. For the less than fanatical the song may be a bit much. I noticed some of the crowd yawning at this point late at night, even in the front rows near the stage. Taylor starts soloing and is all over the Latin beat and from every direction imaginable. At eight minutes twenty, Godfrey winds up for a significant solo. It starts off rhythmical and then goes into rapid fire and heavy. I mean very heavy. Two minutes later and it's Michael Bailey on bass for a three minute solo. Now veteran Max Middleton has his turn on keyboard. His playing is somewhat subdued, sophisticated, and intelligent.

"Okay, thank you very much, thank you. Mr. Max Middleton on the piano, Michael Bailey on the bass guitar, and back there ummm Mr. Godfrey McLane on the drums"

7. Fed Up With The Blues (6:15)

Mick has been playing this song in live performances since 1995. One of the most notable versions is from the Madrid soundboard tape recorded on April 14, 1996. A big bass line opens this one and Max jumps in to fill out the sound.

Well my baby has left me

My back was against the wall

I went down to the river

I decided to end it all

I was fed up with the blues

I was fed up with everything

And I was fed up with every little girl

Who was driving poor me insane

I went down to the river

Where the weeping willows fall

I was fed up with the blues

I was fed with everything

And I was fed up with that little girl

Who was driving poor me insane...

The first solo is at two minutes into the song. Next, a longer solo section at four minutes. There is a lot of guitar sound on-stage for one guitar player. Rapid switching from lead lines to the rhythm riff.

8. Can't You Hear Me Knocking Jam (9:36)

This version really jams. Maybe the best I've heard and he plays it a lot! There is thick chorusing effect in the early improvised section of the song. He adds distorted delay effect while increasing the rate of the chorus. Godfrey is right there for pausing sections of the song. Taylor then gets closer to the melodic themes of the songs as we know it from the extended section of "Sticky Fingers". Really clever stuff; improvised and inspired.

"Thanks very much, thank you. Umm, please give ahh, please give the band a big warm ahh, thrill of appreciation. They've traveled many, many miles, on this tour to play to you tonight, so please give them a big hand. Mr. Max Middleton, ahh Michael Bailey, Godfrey McLane as well. Thank you very much, God bless you, Thanks."

9. Encore: Boogie Man (6:11)

"This is a Freddy King song called Boogie Man"

The tempo is moving around on this one. It's a difficult number for one guitar/vocalist. The heavy guitar riff and clever arrangement of the song picks-up as it gets to the center section of the song.

"Thank you very much, thank you, God bless you, thanks for coming and I hope you enjoyed some of what you heard. Ahh, we've enjoyed playing for you very much and I hope to see you all again ahmm, coming by next year. Thank you very much. God bless."

No risks taken at this show near the end of the band's US tour, but a solid and strong performance. As Mick was leaving the venue, he said that he would start recording his new CD in October in England, and that it would include a guest appearance from Bonnie Raitt!

All for now... See you next year!

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