Edgar Winter interview | Alvin Lee interview

It was a busy night on Tyneside. Thousands were in town to see Duran Duran at the Newcastle Arena, and St. James' Park was hosting a near sell-out crowd for the UEFA Cup semi-final first-leg against Marseille.

For a select few, however, neither event was on our agenda for the evening. Nope. We were quite content to take a seat for the evening and watch a bunch of ageing musicians try to convince us why the Opera House was going to be a better place to be tonight than St. James' Park!

Edgar Winter

When Edgar Winter last played the UK, James Callaghan was the British Prime Minister, The Sex Pistols were giving the two-fingered salute to the establishment, and dads around the world were working out how to use the latest home media device, otherwise known as a Betamax video.

Edgar Winter

Winter took to the stage in confident fashion, his well groomed, white hair flowing around his shoulders, long red jacket flapping behind him.

The concert poster for this event billed it as a blues night ('The Blues never sounded better'), but not only was that misleading, it was also an injustice to the performers.

Sure, Edgar Winter knows how to play the blues, but his music encompasses such a wide range of styles, that it is impossible to pin it down under one banner. Blues, rock, country, gospel and pop are all easily interchangeable to the eclectic sounds of Edgar Winter.

And now he proceeded to show the Newcastle audience what they had been missing all these years. Starting off playing some good old rock 'n' roll, the band were in great spirits, and played with a great sense of humour that in no way compromised the performance.

The song Frankenstein remains a concert favourite for Edgar's fans, but seeing it live really is an incredible experience. Starting off playing his strap-on synthesizers, while guitarist Doug Rappaport played the classic riff, Edgar moved on to the sax midway through, followed by a duel drum solo with drummer Chris Frazier, and then returned to the strap-on synths to finish off.

Anyone who has seen Edgar Winter perform this on the Old Grey Whistle Test will know how exciting it can be!

Other highlights included a lengthy version of Tobacco Road, the hit single Free Ride, and the soft ballad Dying to Live. And while there was a tendency to overstretch on some songs, you could forgive them simply for the way in which they played with so much enthusiasm. And with no shortage of talent.

Alvin Lee

After a quick trip to the bar (or it would have been quick had the barrels not need changing just as I stepped up to give my order) it was time for Alvin Lee to take to the stage.

Alvin Lee

His three piece band are more traditional fare than that of Edgar Winter, and they began by playing Rock 'n' Roll Music to the World, a good little number, but one more suited, perhaps, to the closing stages of a gig, when everyone fancies a good sing-along.

After that though, things really hotted up. Alvin's guitar playing looks so effortless, but a tremendous amount of work must have gone into getting that tone, and sounding that good.

Alvin played a short acoustic set mid-way through, that really was exemplary. Pete Pritchard on double bass provided able back up while Alvin looked totally lost in his art.

But the real essence of Alvin lies in that Red Gibson strapped around his neck. And while it is easy to say that artists should play their newer songs at gigs, there is just no denying the shivers that run down your spine when Alvin plays the opening riffs to one of his Ten Years After classics.

Love Like A Man was one such classic, and along with Winter's Frankenstein, was the absolute highlight of the evening. The riff ranks alongside rock's greatest.

The set finished with Alvin inviting Edgar Winter, and the opening act Tony McPhee, back on stage for a great rock 'n' roll medley. Edgar played his sax, while Alvin lead the way on lead guitar.

So a hugely enjoyable evening came to a close, and we poured onto the streets to fight with the Duran Duran fans, and the Newcastle fans, for the right to flag down a coveted black taxi.

But just before I got lost in the crowds, I still had time to check my phone for the football result. 0-0. Good night all round then!

Edgar Winter interview | Alvin Lee interview