Mo Scott Band @ Hoochie Coochie

Mo Scott (vcl); Gary Dunn (bs); Neil Harland (bs); Paul Smith (dms).

(Review by Lance).

There was a whole lot of shakin' going on both on stage and behind the bar. Hoochie was packed with a crowd drawn by the charismatic blues belter, whose voice is inversely proportionate to her diminutive frame, and the Thursday night 2 for 1 cocktail offer.

This latter attraction was a double edged sword inasmuch as it meant us non-cocktail drinkers waited a little longer as these mysterious multi-coloured potions were shaken or stirred according to preference.

As for Mo, the general consensus at our table was that she was in the best voice ever. No sound-check, no frenzied miming to the flight deck just straight down the middle blues that, by the second set had segued into rock 'n' roll.

So her program was a tried and tested one? So what? Why change a winning team? Tonight, Mo and her band were Team GB.

And what a team! Neil Harland, described by Russell as "A man for all sessions" who, on electric bass, was both seen and heard to great effect - particularly on Fever where his exchanges with guitarist Dunn intensified this vocal epidemic.

Dunn, a new name to me, had me wondering how anyone could follow Rod Sinclair with this band? The former Daintee did just that by offering contrast rather than competition to his predecessor. Relaxed and melodic in the first set he countered with some virtuoso blasts in the second. A superb player.

Smith too is superb, his drum breaks at times electrified the room and we got our kicks from his solo on Route 66.

A packed room, a busy bar and a good band - no wonder Warren was smiling!
Hoochie photos.

Lance.