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Chuck Prophet And The Mission Express + Sean Taylor

Venue: The Cellar
Town: Southampton
Date: 29th April
Website: http://chuckprophet.com

I don't know what antiperspirant Chuck Prophet uses, but whoever makes it really should use him in an advertising campaign because at Southampton's The Cellar, he played a blistering two hour set of passionate, hard rocking and barely broke a sweat.

Together with his band, the Mission Express, he put out a performance of the type that not only sends the punters home happy, but which also makes them want to talk it about it with friends and colleagues the next day, just to say you were there.

Prophet has always been a great performer, even going back to his days in Green On Red, but I think it would also be fair to say, that on his day back then, he could be a bit of an arse, well he's definitely got that out of his system. Whilst he retains that hard edge to his sound, he's also got a more approachable persona and one that really lights up the music.

Pretty much the whole set was played with a wry smile on his face. The knowing looks of adoration he made across stage to fellow singer-songwriter, band keyboard player and life partner Stephanie Finch confirming the intensity of the love songs, even when the between song banter included a fair amount of depreciation at both his own, and the band's, expense.

This was good old fashioned rock and roll, the band, the audience, the interaction; they were just there on a level. This was rock, sometimes with a country flavour, sometimes with blues, sometimes with a west coast one and sometimes simply with an 'n' roll at the end.

Heart warmingly, Prophet also took time out in his set to pay tribute to the man he described as, "The greatest rhythm guitarist Britain has produced," Wilco Johnson who, as you probably know, is suffering from cancer.

This was a great gig with a capital G, if Chuck Prophet And The Mission Express are playing anywhere near you, get your tickets booked early, 'cause it's going to be an uplifting night.

The opener for the night was Fatea favourite, Sean Taylor, fresh from his Australian tour. Sean's playing a few headline dates himself over the next few weeks, accompanied by percussionist James Taylor, so keep your eyes out for those.

Sean's observational songwriting style, combined with his dynamic guitar style found themselves with a highly appreciative audience, one that warmed to him very quickly. "Calcutta Grove", a song about alcoholism, particularly capturing the attention. Sean is proud of his London roots and a lot of his songs reflect that city in a warts and all way, but the way he writes allows that to strike a chord with people not resident in that city, similarly with the political songs included in the set.

Sean has included his version of the Richie Havens song "Freedom" in his set for many years. Tonight he was playing it in memory of its writer, who had died the week before. I've never heard him play it more passionately.

Words & Pictures Neil King

Also supporting Chuck on tour have been The Dreaming Spires, including the gig at the Hare And Hounds found here: http://threechordsandthetruthuk.blogspot.co.uk/