Seasick Steve Triumphs At Festive MOJO Club!

3:11 PM GMT 10/12/2008

After another 12 months of startling performances in some equally startling venues, The MOJO Club bid farewell to 2008 in style tonight (December 9), with an exclusive show from beardy blues baller and perennial MOJO favourite, Seasick Steve.

It's been quite a year for the Norfolk-dwelling sixty-something from Oakland, California. Having conquered the European festival circuit (again), signed to Warner Bros, released his third LP and played a sold-out show at the Royal Albert Hall, Steve Wold couldn't have wished for a better 2008.

Treating the lucky 150 ticket holders to his string of overdriven boogies (Thunderbird, Cut My Wings) and porch-step ditties (Walking Man, Christmas Prison Blues), the man with the Trance Wonder guitar quickly transformed Bethnal Green Working Men's Club into a heaving underground blues den. Accompanied by his percussion-playing son and the whirlwind drumming of Dan Magnusson, the star of the evening was on his usual raconteur-ish form, recounting tales from his years as a traveling hobo. Particularly apt were his memories of being slung in jail at Christmas, but with his army of fans gaping in admiration, his festive spirits remained high - offering support act Joe Gideon & The Shark (check them out - they're great) a place on his January tour - unsurprisingly, they accepted.

Wandering through the crowd, guitar still humming, voice still ringing out, the oldest newcomer in the world of music looked like he was ready for even more success in 2009. On the evidence of tonight's ecstatic performance and with a headlining tour booked for the new year - a trek that includes a date at the huge Hammersmith Apollo - Seasick Steve's followers are going to be with him every step of the way.

Support came from Phil Campbell and Joe Gideon & The Shark.

For a full review of this gig, be sure to pick up a copy of the next issue of MOJO - on sale at the end of the month!

Photos courtesy of Simon Fernandez

Posted by Ross_Bennett at 3:11 PM GMT 10/12/2008

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