Focus Under the Bridge

I have been to Stamford Bridge, Chelsea's ground, more than once but I had not really noticed that under the East stadium near the Shed end there is a venue called Under the Bridge. Last Friday night I and a ministerial friend (who I convinced about Focus last time they were in town) were among a couple of hundred squeezed into this state of the art setting. (A light show is a rare treat at a Focus gig but appreciated - I think the visuals man must have a sense of humour as we had a picture of crocuses as we started on Hocus Pocus or as Jan Akkerman would surely have rechristiened it Focus crocus!). We caught most of Chantel McGregor's set which was of a high standard. She plays guitar and sings with a bass and drums rhythm section. Of course, once Focus stepped on stage were into a whole new zone with each member of the band making a solid contribution that was rewarded with a solo slot for for each - more in some cases. Van Leer was on form with the complete array of two kinds of flute, organ, melodica, scat, whistling, throat singing, lots of vocoder and a brief vocal on the opening song.

The set list began as usual with some very early stuff - Focus 1, a little Anonymus and House of the King. We then had a version of Eruption, good but not outstanding on this occasion I thought. We then moved on to some more recent stuff - Winnie and the simple but effective All hands on deck with the essential Sylvia in the middle.

We then had some songs rarely heard, if ever - Focus 4 (!) from Mother Focus and Focus 6 which has never appeared on a Focus album (I can only find it on a van Leer solo album. You can hear a recent live version here.). Between these we had Who's calling? originally on the Akkerman van Leer Focus collaboration of 1985 but recently revived on the Focus 11 album. Staying with 1985 material we then had a very fine version of Le Tango with melodics, whistling, etc. Before tackling that Thijs remarked on the presence in the audience of former wife Roselie Peters who wrote lyrics for  this and other songs. We then had two numbers from Hamburger Concerto regularly played back to back La Cathedrale and Harem Scarem. In the second, van Leer takes opportunity to make himself scarce. So we had solos from Menno Gootjes and Udo Pannekeet on six string bass. Van der Linden had had one in Eruption and was to get another very full one on the penultimate track.

The set of over two amazing hours (no-one in the band showing any signs of tiring) closed with the usual Hocus Pocus and then slightly over they plumped for Focus 2 (rather than Focus 3) as the closer. Stupendous stuff.

There was an opportunity to meet the band but there was a rather long queue and so we decided to head off.

Focus - Focus 2 (Rehearsal in Kasteel Groeneveld 1971)

Still amazing these many years later

Reminiscing again

Just love this track. Is there a young band like this on earth today?

Akkerman at the Stables

Out at The Stables Milton Keynes last night to see Jan Akkerman and his band put in a sterling performance. I thought we'd get more of the new album but although he began with three numbers from it (Freewheelin', Minor Details and Blind baby - ie blues, jazz, bluies) and opened the second half with the superb Mena Muria (the Moluccan anthem) it was mostly the old stuff that we got and that was probably wisely judged.

So in the first half we had a curious version of the Zebra, a realtively short version of Tranquiliser and the well loved Paul Weller number You do something to me. The second half was pretty much given over to old Focus numbers - Answers Questions, Focus 2 (superb), Anonymous and a long version of Tommy, finishing off with the obligatory Hocus Pocus (still able to squeeze new life out of that somehow) and Sylvia. For the encore we had fine versions of Streetwalker and Pietons.

There is something slightly sterile about the Stables venue but this highly competent performance won through and certainly left the audience of around 250 very pleased. Copies of the new CD were available and, as you can see, the big man was obliging with his autograph. He was in hospital with a stroke recently and has finally given up tobacco after many warnings. Hopefully that will keep him perfroming into his seventies.

Akkerman Band The Brook

Went to see Jan Akkerman and Band last night on the final night of their brief UK tour. They were in the Brook, Southampton, 1 hour 50 minutes away, with room for perhaps as many as a hundred or so standing. I went on my own but bumped into Akkernutters (Utternackers?) Jim (Scotland) who went to them all I think and Leigh, down from Pontypridd for his birthday with two mates, one of whom I'd met before. Also nice to chat briefly to Neil the soundman and Paul who does the merchandise.
We had a nice long set (a bit long for me as it didn't finish to getting on for 12). We started with very bluesy versions of something from CU, Streetwalker plus a strange stop start version of Pietons that included a fine bass solo from Willy. Then we had 4 Focus numbers - Anonymus (see video), Focus 2 (excellent), a superb Palace of the King and a fine Answers Questions. Shook Jan's hand midway but didn't see him at the end.
After the break we had versions of The Zebrah and Kendal in the wind (! Cotton Bay?). Hocus Pocus and Sylvia followed. The former began with a blistering low solo from Akkerman. There was something else from CU that followed too - Urban String? (I think that it was at the end of this track that the ever improving Marijn had his drum solo).
Rather than going off and returning they proceeded to the encore - Blues Root and a fine version of Paul Weller's You do something to me.
Then it was off up the M3 home and not overly late. It was a good concert but did seem to lack something - new material I guess. Although marked by a few new arrangements and variations and plenty of subtlety, the lack of new material is beginning to be a pain. A good night, nevertheless.

Hartelijk gefeliciteerd Thijs!

Yeah, I know, but it's the man's birthday and this is such a nice clip - a more current interview followed by the wonderful Focus 2 (4:31)

Akkerman in Bombay

Good music travels! (This video lasts 3:43)