WALTER TROUT SETS THE STANDARD

Monday 23rd October 2000 - click here to see some photos taken at BoomBoomLIVE in October 2003

In all its glorious five year history, it is doubtful whether the WPC has promoted three better gigs than three recent gigs that reached all too rare moments of true inspiration, brilliant playing and powerful emotions.

In reverse order of the actual events, but probably the gig of the year was WALTER TROUT & THE FREE RADICALS. There can be few bands who undertake a lengthy 9 month World tour, and still find time to conclude their long haul with a closing intimate club date such as this.

Positively beaming at the reception he got, Walter and his super tight band stormed through two and half hours of impassioned blues rock. Trout with his trusty Strat played though a mesa boogie amp, seared to the heights with his sumptuous tone and mellifluous notes. Whether it was on his own funky "Say What You Mean" and "Let Me Know" or on a full blown climactic version of Hooker's "Serves me Right To Suffer", this was set was a class apart.

Walter found time to add an telling instrumental, "Marie's Mood" - dedicated to his wife and kids - and added three encores for good measure.

By the finish, the crowd was in raptures, and Trout left the evening in the capable hands of his birthday boy , bass man Jimmy Trapp, who was last seen enjoying his first beer of the tour.

Truly one of the gigs of the year.