Review Date January 21, 2012
Review By David Knowles
Location Arkenstall Centre
Danny Bryant just seems to get better and better. On September 17, 2011, Danny and his Red Eye Band recorded a live DVD and CD in front of a large and very appreciative audience in Holland. Now back in England they put on an even better performance at the very friendly Arkenstall Centre. With the clock ticking past 9pm Danny, his dad Ken Bryant (bass) and drummer Trevor Barr were introduced by the lovely Sue Marchant of BBC Radio Cambridgeshire. Then as she left the stage Danny powered into his opening guitar solo to set the standard for the night. His guitar drove into the brilliant fan favourite “Heartbreaker” as Trevor pounded the skins and Ken held everything together with his solid bass rhythm. Danny was in fantastic form, his vocals matching his powerhouse guitar solos that sang, sliced, purred then scythed through this small, intimate club. “Just As I Am,” one of my faves came early on in the set, I could not resist singing along to this great song, as this guy manifests the blues into a stake and drives it hard through your heart with his no nonsense style. He then tipped his hat to some of the great bluesmen with the self-penned “Blues For Buddy,” the title referring to the legendary Buddy Guy. Another live favourite followed with his blues blaster “Master Of Disaster,” then the mood was slowed down for the power ballad “Love Of Angels” with Danny’s vocals tugging at everyone’s emotions before his guitar wept and wailed in a brilliant finale to this awesome tune. Danny is a mighty fine songwriter in his own right and performs many of his own originals, but he also slips in a few covers as well. With a couple of super versions of Bob Dylan classics “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” (that also got the crowd singing along) and “Girl From The North Country” as well as Hendrix’s “Voodoo Chile” and Robert Johnson’s “Sweet Home Chicago,” proving that he is not only proud to play music by some of the greats but is also very worthy to do so. Danny finished the night off in style with the terrific “Death Letter Blues.” If Danny Bryant’s Red Eye Band keep improving on what is already a high standard of performance then hopefully their star will soon be shining very brightly and they will get the credit and recognition they richly deserve.
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