John Mayall at Lesher Center for the Arts

Time has been very kind to John Mayall. At 80, he moves, plays, and tours as if he were in his twenties. The flame still burns brightly.

Over his 50-year career, Mayall has seen musicians like Eric Clapton, Peter Green, and Mick Taylor pass through his bands and move on to legendary fame. His current lineup with Rocky Athas (guitar), Greg Rzab (bass), and Jay Davenport (drums) is no exception, and they work perfectly with the blues master. 

Just before the show started, Mayall stepped out and grabbed the microphone to explain his casual summer attire. “I hope you don’t mind this,” said Mayall as he pointed to his bright Hawaiian print shirt, walking shorts, and sandals. “Apparently, the bag that has my clothes in it is somewhere in the air between L.A. and San Francisco.” The audience roared in acceptance, having just experienced 100-degree temperatures outside.

Thanks go to Red Legged Frog Productions for bringing the legendary Godfather of British Electric Blues to the Hofmann Theatre in Walnut Creek, a beautiful venue that’s beginning to host more rock acts.

 Mayall opened with “All Your Love,” from the first Bluesbreakers album, and continued from his multi-decade catalog, including 2014’s A Special Life (MRI), his first studio recording in five years. Texan guitarist Rocky Athas delivered some blistering solos during “Nature’s Disappearing,” not surprising since he started playing guitar and performing at neighborhood gigs with his school friend Stevie Ray Vaughan. The Irish rock band Thin Lizzy wrote the song “Cocky Rocky” in his tribute, and Queen guitarist Brian May was so stunned by his finger-tapping style that he later incorporated it into a Queen album, acknowledging him for introducing him to the style.

 Athas didn’t need a wall of amps or dozens of foot pedals to communicate his musical ideas. And when his single amp started to crackle mid-song, a quick judo chop to its side silenced the noisy beast right away. 

 The two-hour set wrapped up with a 16-minute version of Mayall’s 1964 song “Chicago Line.” Mayall mentioned he revived the tune and added some new elements. Perhaps the most powerful moment came when Greg Rzab caught Davenport’s drumstick in midair, furiously slapped his bass with it, used it as a slide, then tossed it back to Davenport, who kept playing with both hands. 

The nearly sold-out crowd jumped to their feet with standing ovations throughout the evening and enjoyed “Room To Move” for the encore. Many audience members were seen dancing and clapping along to the infectious rhythms with a few trademark “chicka-chickas.”

John Mayall’s 2014 U.S. tour runs through September before moving to Russia.

Program Notes

 John Mayall

July 25, 2014    

Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek

Set List: All Your Love | A Special Life | Early In The Morning | Congo Square | Big Town Playboy | Nature’s Disappearing | So Many Roads | You Know That You Love Me (But You Never Tell Me So) | Dirty Water | Chicago Line (with parts of Smoke On The Water)

Encore: Room To Move

Photos: Steve Roby