Ian Siegal and Jimbo Mathus

On Monday eve a fortnight ago, devotees of rootsy blues and Americana were treated to what can only be described as the icing on the cake of a fantastic first year at the Edinburgh Blues Club. There are only a handful of artists out there who could ever warrant such generous praise, in this case it is Britain’s very own Ian Siegal and his American comrade-in-crime, Jimbo Mathus.

Siegal, a seven-times British Blues Awards winner, a European Blues Awards winner, and a US Blues Music Awards nominee, treated the packed Voodoo Room to a phenomenal show and was supported by good mate Jimbo Mathus (Squirrel Nut Zippers, South Memphis String Band).
From the outset, the comradely chemistry between the two singers spread a massive feel-good factor across the room – further enhanced by Ian and Jimbo’s witty banter. Little jokes such as “the pheasant was pleasant” to which Jimbo replied “the owl was foul” demonstrated just how well the artists are in tune with one another, and not just musically.

Each singer sat on a stool, surrounded by various guitars and Ian proceeded to perform a darn fine version of Steve Van Zandt’s ‘Houseboat Blues’. It was followed by the excellent ‘Overseas Pirate Blues’ which Ian introduced with a little anecdote: “In the States they couldn’t pronounce my name proper, so I just said that I’m from Overseas…” before the first chords delighted the punters. “Everyone likes an outlaw, right?” asked Ian and continued with the ballad of ‘Jesse James’ – a song made famous by Dylan and covered by many an artist, including the late great Willy DeVille. “Well, towards the end of his career Jesse James was a complete psychopath” revealed Ian, so yes, I am now playing a song about a serial killer. In fact, he sang another one, inspired by the Brad Pitt movie ‘Kalifornia’. He quipped “I like the song… not the movie”.

Not to be outdone, Jimbo contributed his musical take on an American legend, though in his case the ballad – ‘Casey Jones’ – was about a train, or rather, an Illinois railroader who was killed when his passenger train collided with another on a foggy night in 1900. Emotionally played and sung by Jimbo, one could tell that both singers are very much at home with rootsy and swampy Americana. In between songs from his various albums, Ian and Jimbo cracked jokes and offered an irresistible mix of upbeat, downbeat and the plain dramatic.

One of Ian’s personal favourites is the American parlour song ‘Hard Times Come Again No More’, composed by Stephen Foster and published in 1854. Ian gave a heart-wrenching rendition (which was also a favourite during the American Civil War), and the weepy and powerful atmosphere was transmitted from the front row to the back of the venue. Simply intoxicating and masterfully executed by Mr. Siegal, it turned out to be one of the evening’s undisputed highlights!

But alas, Mr. Mathus (looking like he came fresh from the Bayou) also had a personal favourite song in store, which turned out to be the ever-popular and much-covered folk ditty ‘Dirty Old Town’ – brought to fame by The Dubliners but originally penned by Salford-based Ewan McColl – no further introduction needed. Jimbo’s rendition was sung and played as it should be – heartfelt and honest.
After a generous encore during which both Ian Siegal and Jimbo Mathus were presented with a complimentary dram of Scotch, the punters had ample opportunity to mingle with the singers afterwards and purchase some merchandise.
What a crowning highlight in the Blues Club schedule indeed!