John Hiatt & his Combo - UNder The Bridge, London 06.29

[G-Man]

Hiatt and his Combo opened up with the title track of his album of a few years ago "The Open Road", played two from his recent album and a fabulous feedback driven "Perfectly Good Guitar" as things warmed up. The mid set run of "Real Fine Love", "Icy Blue Heart" and "Tennessee Plates" took us to another level as Doug Lancio gave us the full array of his great talent on guitar. When you are playing some of the parts originally recorded by the likes of Ry Cooder and Sonny Landreth you have some big shoes to fill, he did and with some aplomb as he added his own style and playing to bring "Memphis In The Meantime" and others to fruition. Ably backed by rhythm section, and long time cohorts, Ken Blevins (drums) and Dave Ranson (bass) and the harmony singer/rhythm guitar/tambourine tapping Brandon Young, they kicked up a storm, including a stunning "Master of Disaster", "Feels Like Rain", "Have A Little Faith In Me" and not least on the second, and final encore "Riding With The King". We even had a mandolin led interlude with wonderful takes on "Crossing Muddy Waters" and "Cry Love", alongside other classics like "Train To Birmingham" and "Drive South". It was quite simply one great song followed by another. He gave us newer material and the killers from his canon. The 700 or so in the sold out crowd, with a few in their thirties augmenting the 50 and 60 somethings, as Hiatt himself had adroitly noticed and commented upon, simply lapped it up. Without doubt one of the greatest songwriters and artists of our generation it's a shame he doesn't come back more often. Under The Bridge is a modern, clean, well equipped venue that has fabulous bars and facilities as well as a great stage, sound and backdrops.

[bltkmt]

Sounds incredible...thanks for the write-up.

[Ansbacher Bremen]

Thanks for the review, John.

Every time I've seen John Hiatt, he's played "Have a Little Faith in Me" last, during the encore. I now know the reason why he always plays it on the piano, but have always wondered if that song was played because of his first wife's suicide. She committed suicide the day after the song was originally recorded. I'm sure it has something to do with the suicide, his recovery from alcohol and drugs and feelings of guilt.