Page 57 - BiTS_02_FEBRUARY_2024_Neat

old classic blues instrumental ‘Hideaway’ which closes with a Les Dawson style
rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ for Simon in the audience, a real hoot!

Howlin’ Wolf’s ‘Who’s Been Talking’ doesn’t quite work for me but things get back
on track with the self penned ‘The Only Thing I Lack Is A Cadillac’ with plenty of

those Chuck Berry licks we all know and love. B B King’s ‘Sweet Little Angel’ gets the
100 mph treatment before we get back to some more comedic lyrics with another
own composition ‘Chicken And The Duck’.

Things slow down a little with the classic tune ‘Sleepwalk’ before James releases his
inner Hank Marvin with ‘Walk Don’t Run/Apache’. There are some more Chuck

Berry licks to be had in ‘Real Gone Lover’ before the album closes with another fun
filled self-penned tune ‘Mean Little Mamma’.

There is plenty of talking to the audience and background noise so you really get the
feel of being at a live gig. Chris Bywater on bass and Mark Kemlo on drums do a great
job of holding it all together so that the star of the show, James can really demon-

strate his incredible guitar playing, mixing Rockabilly, surf and blues with a dash of
humour. I think I am right in saying he is old school in that he plugs his guitar
straight into the amp with a touch of reverb, no fancy pedals just sheer exuberance

and excitement that gets the crowd rocking.

Is this album refined and sophisticated? Well actually no. But it sure is good old time

rock and roll!

Ged Wilson

Saverio Maccne—Southern Light—Velvet Utopia

Saverio Maccne is a Blues Rock guitarist, singer, and
songwriter from Argentina and is now based in Finland.

“Southern Light” is his fifth album to date.

The album opens with ‘No One Does That Magic Like You’
an upbeat blues rocker. ‘Ain’t Got Nothing But My Sorrow

(Bad Gambler)’ is a bit more of a rootsy slide infused
blues. There is a lighter jazzy feel to ‘Mysterious Love’

whilst ‘She Was A Wonder’ is a stripped back acoustic blues. ‘Endless Nights Blues’
is a slow blues burner ‘Red House’ style and there is plenty of blues rock to be had
in both ‘Dream Road’ and ‘Black Clouds’.

This album is made up of self-penned songs from Saverio and the instrumentation
on the album is good throughout. His voice at times reminded me a little of Tom