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Steeleye Span28th. April 2006, The Palace Theatre, Mansfield. A review by Joellen Robinson
Steeleye Span
at Mansfield Palace Theatre, April 28
This was the
first Steeleye Span gig I'd ever attended, and so had nothing by which to
compare performances.
Bonny Black
Hare was the song that opened the show, and the band sounded tight and
confident. I was delighted to hear a new version of Cold Haily (Windy?)
Night, powered by a great bass and guitar riff courtesy of Rick Kemp and Ken
Nicol. Rick's lead vocal more than did justice to the original.
Clearly new thought had been put into the old songs, reviving them for a new
generation of fans (as well as the older generation).
Peter Knight's
violin playing was simply brilliant - from the soaring sonics of Tam Lin to
the new pizzicato treatment of Seagull, and Ken's guitar playing, whether
electric, acoustic, or on his new resonator, was a real treat. Maddy
Prior's voice was strong and clear, serving the songs well, particularly for
Tam Lin, an epic tale that drew me into its spellbinding power.
Rick's diverse bass playing was great, and he seemed at ease with the
instrument. However, he appeared to be a bit uncomfortable when
talking to the audience, which I chalked up to it being one of the earlier
gigs on the tour. Liam Genocky's percussion ranged from subtle to
explosive, and he contributed nicely to the group's tight harmonies.
The new
material being tested out was fantastic! My favorites were Demon in the
Well, written by Ken, and Lord Elgin, a riddle song written by Peter.
I look forward to hearing their next CD after being tantalized by some great
new music!
All in all, I
was absolutely pleased to have been sitting in the audience for this show, and
look forward to their appearance at Cropredy with enthusiasm!
Joellen Robinson, May 2006 |