Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush The Brook, Southampton
28 July 2005.

Canadian guitarist Frank Marino is, for me, one of the greatest musicians on the planet.
   A bright star shining in the same universe as Jimi Hendrix, Randy California, Robin Trower and other such blues rock luminaries, Marino’s band Mahogany Rush stormed the UK in the mid to late Seventies with a series of amazing LP releases including ‘IV’, ‘Live’ and ‘Tales of the unexpected’.

Sidemen from that time, Paul Harwood and bassist Jim Ayoub may be long gone but Marino has continued to make music and, in so doing, he’s keeping a hell of a lot of people very happy indeed.
   The new band is back in the UK for five shows in as many days to promote the release of its latest double CD ‘Real live’.

The set tonight showcases much of the material from that album albeit with some interesting twists and turns. ‘Voodoo chile’, no not the one associated with the earlier mentioned James Marshall Hendrix, opens proceedings with its slow pulsating blues beat and extended solo at the end.
   The intro on ‘Red House’ is a very soulful series of blues scales and arpeggios as Marino, ever the scene setter, prepares the ground for his vocal on this classic number.

‘The Answer’ is not on the ‘Real live’ CD but nonetheless goes down extremely well with the crowd, a firm favourite with UK fans, its one of the key tracks from the band’s classic ‘IV’ and ‘Live’ albums.‘Poppy’ is an extended instrumental and tonight’s opportunity for Frank and the band to show off their talents as jazz musicians.
   The main theme from the number would sit quite comfortably on many a classic standards album, dare I say, something like Issac Hayes’ definitive soundtrack for the 70s cop flick ‘Shaft’.

Frank’s supporting cast feature prominently too. Keeping things skin tight at the back, on drums, Timm Biery works tirelessly all night. Peter Dowse plays left-hand Fender Precision slap style to great effect.
   Yet tonight, Mahogany Rush is a four-piece band with five instruments as Marino’s rhythm guitar man lays down his axe only to reach for his electric violin, bow and a stack of foot pedal effects for the latter passages on several occasions.

It’s a non-stop three hour show culminating in a showcase of many of the band’s greatest tunes such as ‘Strange Universe’, ‘Rock and roll hall of fame’, ‘Electric reflections of war’, ‘World anthem’ and ‘Try for freedom’.
   Afterwards Frank and the band meet the fans. Mahogany rush back.

This is Frank with Amsterdam’s finest, Marino and Mahogany fan, Wim van Loon. Thanks for the pics Wim - hope you like mine!
   To see more of Wim’s fabulous photography of the show visit the gallery pages on the band’s official website here!

Keeping the faith - Mr Adlam!

To go back to the reviews menu click here

More reviews ... 2010 reviews here ... 2009 reviews here ...
2008 reviews here ... 2007 reviews here ... 2006 reviews here ...
2005 reviews here ... 2004 reviews here ... 2003 reviews here ...
home howardtowers.com by Email