Bear’s Den, Bournemouth
Although the tireless cogs of the music industry tend to pause for thought as the New Year arrives, temptation always teases a few releases from those artists who simply can’t resist revealing the fruits of their labour. In some cases, existing plans of an autumnal release are dashed when a freak injury occurs: enter The Jonny Phillips Trio, whose own frontman found himself forced to delay the release of the eagerly anticipated “Yang” EP after a life-threatening encounter with… a scooter. Regardless of the circumstances, The JP3 (as they are affectionately known) decided that the strength of their new release could vanquish the bitter blues brought on by winter’s middle child.
The release of the EP was celebrated at The Bear Cave, a recently established live music venue run by local legend, Ryan Mills (AKA Bear). Previously known as The Bomo Bunker, the venue has all the authentic charm of an established basement venue but boasts a brand new PA system, which is commonly operated by the formidable sound engineer, Nick Scott. The only support act for the evening is established local outfit, Soulhole, who are known for their provocative fusion of funk, rock and blues. The four-piece immediately show just how impeccably polished they are as performers, with each member showcasing their quality without stealing the spotlight from one another.
The glorious lead vocal of Jordan Digby soars amongst infectious basslines, steady percussion and roaring keys. A rousing rendition of ‘Mr Blue Sky’ ignites the crowd, but their medley of an array of covers to finish their set is a real highlight thanks to the inclusion of ‘Insomnia’ by Faithless; a touching and triumphant tribute to the late great, Maxi Jazz. I believe that Soulhole would thrive on larger stages, but one consideration they may wish to consider would be whether they can find a way to add a strong backing vocal. The addition of harmonies, which could complement Digby’s vocal talents, would undoubtedly elevate them to another level.
Tonight’s headliners have been eagerly anticipating this moment for many months, so it’s no surprise to see them take to the stage with broad smiles and a confident fire in their eyes. Opening with the emphatic “Life Raft”, the OMA Award nominees burst into their set with effortlessly energetic intricacy. Their set blends a fine balance of their “Yang” and “Yin” releases, alongside some classic Willowen material, including the unforgettable “My Life’s Mine” and “Things”. Previous single ‘Admiring The View’ always captivates any audience through its thought-provoking, playful and political lyricism, but the lead single of their latest release will always stand out as a set highlight for me.
The euphoric “Never Change” is a truly phenomenal record objectively, but once you uncover the sentiment behind the lyrics stemming from the relationship between Phillips and his daughter, even the melodies and instrumentals shine even brighter. Closing their set on “Nag Champa”, the band encourage the crowd to join in with the heart-warming and uplifting chorus as the wall of sound dies down to allow the band to soak up the admiration from their audience. As the final lyrics are delivered, Phillips leans away from the microphone, belting out the final lines with the room utterly spellbound. A deafening request for more ensues, resulting in the joyous grooves of ‘So Many Tracks’ to see out a spectacular evening of local talent.
Regardless to say, the seemingly perpetual darkness of January was no match for some of the brightest talents in the local scene. Soulhole and The Jonny Phillips Trio each have every reason to believe that 2023 will be a year to remember.
Set Lists
Jonny Phillips Trio
Liferaft
My Life’s Mine
Burning Rocks
Black Hole
Never Change
Admiring The View
Nag Champa
Too Many Tracks
Soulhole
Lostism
Pretty Mumma
Mr Blue Sky (ELO)
Disco Yes(Tom Misch)
My Mind
Feed
The Dirt
Bag of Fun (Medley with Insomnia & No Good Start the Dance)
Videos
Links
https://www.facebook.com/TherealJP3
https://www.facebook.com/soulholeband
Words By George Fullerton
Videos by Tim Heywood
