Texan bluesman Lightnin’ Hopkins was like the Status Quo of the blues; his deceptively simple fingerstyle masked a world of invention and he, in effect, played bass, lead, rhythm and percussion all at the same time. He could make a guitar “talk” like no one else, and when you factor in his oak-aged, whiskey-croak delivering lyrics laced with double entendres you have an in-concert experience like no other. Capturing Samuel John “Lightnin’” Hopkins in his natural environment Live From The Ash Grove…Plus! presents an artist at the peak of his powers, and doing what he does best.
In terms of music folklore, Los Angeles’ Ash Grove club was every bit as important as London’s Marquee or New York’s CBGB’s; an artist didn’t mean much until they’d cut their teeth there. In 1970 Lightnin’ Hopkins had three residencies at the club and his set on the 29th November of that year was captured on tape and the first thing to note is the respect he commands from the crowd. Gone is the usual chatter that accompanies such a performance, to be replaced by a studious silence as people focus on his playing. And you’d be wise to turn your attention towards the song because there’s a lot going on here, not only his fingerpicking and the rhythm he beats on the guitar’s body, but also his neat turn of phrase as he manipulates words to fit the structure of opening track ‘Couldn’t Be Satisfied’. In fact, his in between song banter garners a similar amount of regard; his deep, marinated-in-honey voice adds a confessional tone, and the whole vibe is intimate, as if Lightnin’ Hopkins is performing in your living room.
Operating with a less-is-more ethos (and living up to his name) Lightnin’s set is over within 24-minutes and the whole thing is like a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it street robbery, and it’s just as unforgettable. Therefore, this disc adds six bonus cuts culled from two different sets, including a cover of the R&B hit ‘Hi-Heel Sneakers’ and his very own groove-laden ‘Lightnin’ Can Do It’. What becomes most apparent when listening to these tracks is the sheer depth and breadth of artists who were inspired by Hopkins’ approach; aside from the usual suspects like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Townes Van Zandt, you can hear his sound in the likes of AC/DC and any rock n’ roll band who delivered a saucy tale with a delicious riff (he even collaborated with psych merchants 13th Floor Elevators on the Free Form Patterns long player).
Short but sweet (albeit bolstered with bonus tracks), Hopkins’ set at The Ash Grove is satisfying nonetheless and if you want to know where much modern music has its roots, look no further.
- Live From The Ash Grove…Plus! is released via Liberation Hall on 21st June 2024 (available here).
Track List:
- Couldn’t Be Satisfied
- Intro to Questionnaire Blues
- Questionnaire Blues
- Intro to Ain’t It Crazy
- Ain’t It Crazy
- Intro to Don’t The Moon Look Pretty
- Don’t The Moon Look Pretty
- Intro to Black And Evil
- Black And Evil
- Lightnin’s Boogie
- Intro to What’d I Say
- What’d I Say
- Intro to How Long Has It Been Since You’ve Been Home?
- How Long Has It Been Since You’ve Been Home?
Bonus Tracks:
- Black Cadillac *
- Coffee House Blues *
- Hi-Heel Sneakers **
- Lightnin’ Can Do It **
- You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone **
- Hardly Trying **
* Recorded at The Ash Grove, California, 22nd September 1965
** Recorded at In Your Ear, California, 18th August 1971
