Doug Macleod, American Bluesman returned to West Wales on Saturday 5 April for a very welcome show organised by Span Arts at the Queens Hall in Narberth. With Virgil and the Accelerators playing later, this was a night to keep any Blues fan happy.

A troubadour of the first order, Doug Macleod opened up the evening to a less than full-house, which was a shame. But the 150 or so who were there were given a real treat as he played a selection of songs from his new album along with some earlier work.

Opening with ‘The Long Black Train’ – “Life is like a train; people get on, people get off, but the train keeps on going”, Doug kept the audience captivated with both his songs and his natural humour and storytelling between them, where he described how the songs came about and what influenced them.

One young lady at her first live Blues gig was an instant convert, but was quite surprised that nobody was up dancing. A good point really! It was noticeable that heads were nodding and feet tapping all around the Queens Hall, but despite Doug asking people to ‘come closer’, only one brave young lady managed to get to her feet during Doug’s final number. The applause after the encore though, was loud and appreciative to say the least, and thoroughly deserved.

It was a different matter when Virgil and the Accelerators took to the stage after a shortish interval. Perhaps the Narberth audience doesn’t feel they ought to dance to acoustic music? But the dance-floor began to fill from the first chords of John Mayall’s ‘Stepping Out’.

Virgil McMahon is only 16 years old, but shows a rare talent indeed. His playing and mastery of many different guitar styles is stunning and way beyond that of many other guitarists of his age and, indeed, older. One audience member was heard to say that if they closed their eyes, it could have been Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page playing onstage!

Storming through Blues classics by artists such as Willie Dixon [You Don’t Love Me & Mellow Down Easy], John Lee Hooker [Boogie Chillun] and Howlin Wolf [Shake It For Me], the pace was kept up throughout.
Virgil’s dad, Hendry provided a solid bass with Hugh Morgan playing a mean harmonica as well as rhythm and slide guitars. 'Baby Please Don’t Go' by Big Joe Williams gave drummer Geoff Cox the opportunity to show off his skills on the skins. It isn’t often these days that we are treated to drum solos, but Mr Cox can play. Really play.

As the unmistakable guitar opening to Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Voodoo Chile’ screamed out, the applause was definitely for young Virgil. He treated us to a deservedly self-indulgent solo which impressed greatly.

Afterwards, Doug Macleod congratulated Virgil [Doug had spent the entire Accelerators set watching the young man], and gave him some advice which, on this occasion we shall leave between the two Blues guitarists, the young and not-so young. Let’s just say ‘Thanks’ to them both, and of course to DJ Eugene who as usual provided some classic vinyl tunes, for a great evening’s entertainment!