Webb Wilder, Jumpin Hot Club, Cluny 2, Newcastle

WEBB Wilder made his name during the 1980s and 1990s, when he emerged on the music scene with his band alongside the likes of the Georgia Satellites and Jason and Scorchers etc.

Seasoned rock’n’roller Wilder showed us why he is still regarded as a man with taste, with extremely clever songs that still have something to say. Playing acoustic guitar, he pushed himself throughout his 90-minute set as he dipped into a rich catalogue of work.

From the first note he had the audience hooting and hollering along with him as he performed old favourites and told stories about his misspent youth, going to concerts by Mott The Hoople and The Who. Bridging the gap between country, rock’n’roll and what was termed as cow-punk, rarely will you come across a man who can energise an audience single-handed like Wilder can.

Among the material at the heart of his performance was Human Cannonball and songs from his early It Came Nashville album.Wilder took his fans through a roller-coaster adventure through songs he’s recorded and a bunch of humorous tales the audience couldn’t get enough of.

Support came from Leeds folk blues act; guitarist singer-songwriter Serious Sam Barrett, another man who knows his way round a guitar (in Barrett’s case it was acoustic, slide 12-string).

Sailor’s Song and Drive Your Way Home were among the best work as he shoehorned more songs than thought possible into his set (in doing so he proved to be as talented and he was busy!).

Maurice Hope