Mark Butcher

The true test of an artist is, for me at least, whether he or she can cut it live when they don’t have all the toys around, no ‘do-overs’ and if they balls it up not only the audience but their fellow musicians are going to notice.
Mark Butcher on record is excellent – a four star review from yours truly – and this was my first chance to see him live and see whether he had the chops that his album promised. It was also his birthday, he had been working on the Oval test match for the last few days so the band hadn’t had a chance to rehearse at all, his regular drummer doesn’t play on Mondays and the Bull’s Head was packed to the back wall – so no pressure then.

He was actually quite superb and his band supported him brilliantly in their turn – the whole evening was an absolute delight and I left after nearly two hours of soulful and Bluesy rock with a spring in my step and a big smile on my face – just what I needed after a stressful week or so, good time music and a great venue as well.

His vocals come over really well on stage and he is a good enough, and confident enough, guitarist to allow Matt Taylor to play some superb slide and solos without getting all bent out of shape and with Johnny Dyke on keyboards as well as John McKenzie on bass and the excellent Wayne Proctor standing in on drums the band really backed him to the hilt. There was never a question who was the lead man and he really does make an excellent band leader.

The funkier tracks were definitely the crowd favourites: Put Some Soul In It’ and ‘Leave If You Want To’ got the crowd bouncing and ‘Nothing Is Stronger’ was even better without the chorus. On the other hand ‘The River’ was soulful and moving and his eulogy for Ben Hollioake ‘You’re Never Gone’ was a real tear jerker.

Butcher is a fine singer and guitarist and in an intimate venue he really can get the crowd going in a big way – next time up will at The Borderline in London’s West End, I can’t wait.



Photo Copyright Paul Stewart