Live Review: Billy Gibbons - O2 Institute, Birmingham
3rd July 2023
Support: Toby Lee
Words: Matt Noble
Photos: Tim Finch
With skills and presence defying his young age, Toby Lee puts on an entertaining start to the night with a well-synchronised band. He boasts his own arsenal of southern fried licks, comfortably giving his own unique flair and feel to the tunes. Showing appreciation for his warm, receptive crowd and gratitude to be supporting such a name in the world of blues and rock, the Bonamassa-endorsed axeman has a bright future ahead. His singing voice is comfortable with the blues style, but there's room for evolution and a bit of grit further down the line as he continues to establish himself as a musician. Still, we're left wanting more by the time he leaves. One to watch!
The sound of a motorbike whirrs over the PA and a massive roar washes over the crowd as Billy Gibbons swaggers on to a rousing 'Got Me Under Pressure'. With what seems to be effortless playing and an understated coolness as he interacts with the other musicians across the stage. A rowdy rendition of 'Gimme All Your Lovin' in particular shows the chemistry across all bandmates. 'You know what beer drinking is?' he jokes with a wry smile, before 'Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers' garners a joyous singalong in return.
Compared to modern players like Bonamassa or similar, Billy's style is very much of its time, with a tasteful less-is-more approach. For a song like 'Brown Sugar', for example, his intro solo, which gives him the freedom to do what he wants, doesn't have the intention of dazzling the crowd with lightning fast licks. Not that he doesn't let loose with a flurry of notes from time to time when it's needed, but this really is a defining touch from retro blues players such as himself which won't be around forever. Similarly, his drummer has incredible chops - but for the most part, he faithfully sticks to the groove, and that's all he has to do.
His stage persona is full of good natured, classy humour. A natural storyteller, he entertains the crowd with a tale about a certain Jimi Hendrix before launching into a Southern-ified cover of 'Foxy Lady'. Is there anything cooler? He has a special way of making the crowd demand more, sometimes mid song. Billy seems to have the crowd eating out the palm of his hand for the slower 'Blue Jean Blues' in particular, where his licks and lyrical one-liners cause great reactions and responses.
More than anything, we're reminded of just what a performer Billy Gibbons is. Comfortable with the toe tappers like 'La Grange' as much as he is with the slow jams of 'Blue Jean Blues', he boasts a serious range of techniques that go under the radar a little bit on record. The performance sees him play one handed, make the guitar sing, talk, and moan, and tap the neck to let harmonics ring out. All the while he keeps it loose enough to feel 'live' but sticks to his most iconic blues phrases in certain solos. Vocally he's very self assured and delivers with a real charm to his character.
It's hard to pick a favourite - and it's a shame that 'Tush' wasn't played - but you wouldn't argue past 'Thunderbird', 'Sharp Dressed Man' or 'La Grange'.
A truly class act.
Photo credits: Tim Finch Photography
