If you're familiar with 'Classic Rock' then you're familiar with the name Mick Ralphs.

Mott The Hoople and Bad Company, the two bands form the cornerstone that 'Rock' music is built on, yes we owe it all (well most of it) to Mick and the part he's played in it. The (Ralph's) riffs that built rock! 'Can't Get Enough Of Your Love', 'Feel Like Makin Love', all down to Mick.

Having the heritage that Mick has I kinda 'get it' pretty well. The need to get out and reconnect (not that Mick's a guy to unconnect from people) and get some blues out of your system.

We were treated to a fantastic set of some great blues standards, not so standard and bleedin' very rare blues covers. 'Rock Me Baby' kicking it off and it certainly did, at a not so bluesy pace, getting the crowd nicely warmed up and we're into 'Key To The Highway' by Big Bill Broonzy.

One of the things people love about the blues is the rich history it enjoys and we're all transported back to the Deep South complete with band hollers, hand clapping and chants from the awesome Sam Kelly on the drums whose dexterity as a blues player must put him at the top of the drumming tree.

Close your eyes and Son Maxwell is a guy laying a railroad, shackled to the next guy with a harmonica in his pocket and a hammer in the other, while belting out the best blues vocal a man can muster. Introducing a couple of songs once covered by The Grateful Dead and tantalisingly mentioning Bad Company and Mott, Mick's 'Two other bands', 'Further On Up The Road' gives us incite into the talent of the band Mick's got behind him. Jim Maving cutting a fine figure onstage and playing a Strat every bit as good as the great Eric Clapton on the song and BB King's 'Thrill Is Gone'. Not forgetting the band's secret weapon - Dickey Baldwin on the bass. Do you know how I can tell he's a great player? Because I never notice him, he lays it down as good as any player a band could hope for right up to the last tunes -'Hoochie Coochie Man' finishing with 'Talk To Your Daughter' and then the encore of Muddy Waters' 'Mojo'.

Back in the dressing room later was a scene that reminded me a lot of 'Dawn Of The Dead'. Mick's trying to get his boots on and there's suddenly a stream of shuffling, bearded people all clutching smelly, moulding squares of cardboard and plastic - oh yes, LPs! - heading in Mick's direction, not a care for the size of the room or anyone in their way...."Security?" mumbles Mick but he's still signing and still smiling.

And there you have it, blues just doesn't get any better than this; so forget Mott, forget Bad Company, for now here's the Mick Ralphs Blues Band, nothing more needed!

[Photos by Tessa Blakout]

http://www.unrulysun.net/mickralphs/

www.mickralphs.co.uk