Blues on a winter evening

English guitarist and singer Richard Smerin cuts live CD at the Schlachthof

"Richard Smerin had the blues."

Photo: mea

Richard Smerin, who was born in London in 1960 and has made his home in Fürth, recorded his latest CD live at the Schlachthof concert hall.

On a bare stage bathed in warm light stood three guitars, and the packed house awaited Smerin’s entrance with eager anticipation. He came on wearing a dark suit in the style of the old blues men and well-travelled cowboy boots, and led off with one of his own songs, "White Room Blues". This man can really finger pick. Slightly nervous, though obviously an accomplished and mature guitarist and singer, he wove subtle, fluent melodies on the treble strings against a resonant bass line and the pounding rhythm of his boots. His voice has the strength of a whisky barrel. His rendering of Muddy Waters’ "She Moves Me" was raw and powerful, while Rev. Gary Davis’ "Delia" danced lightly across the steel strings. Smerin’s songs contain many surprises and the arrangements are excellent. The songs were chosen carefully to vary the style and pace. A high point was "Last thoughts", which Smerin wrote at the tender age of 15. He dedicated it to his father who died early this year.

Free of pathos, but with great feeling, it goes straight to the heart. Smerin has clearly not had an easy time of it as a musician. Endless pub gigs and a life on the road have given his music honesty and depth. It was quite natural to hear him singing "Where did my life go?", a tribute to Scottish guitarist Bert Jansch. "Hundred miles away" harked back to the time when Smerin earned his daily crust in Denmark. The introductions to his songs are well worth hearing. Hopefully some of them will be included on the CD, which should be out in March. After a final encore, Walter Jacobs’ "Blues With Feeling", Smerin left the audience exhausted but happy, and eagerly looking forward to the issue of his CD. We will surely be seeing him and hearing him again in the near future.

Wolfgang Bernreuther