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Wishbone Ash
Yoshi’s, Oakland, CA
April 25, 2018
By Dan Wall
Set List: Eyes Wide Open, Way Down South, The King Will Come, Warrior, Throw Down the Sword, Leaf and Stream, Wings of Desire, F.U.B.B., Standing in the Rain, Jailbait, The Phoenix. Encore: Blowin’ Free.
1 hour 40 minutes.
When the name Wishbone Ash gets tossed around by old time rock fans, the response by most is “I know them, that band was pretty cool.” But naming a song or an individual member is beyond the means of all but the truly faithful. It’s shame, really, because if it wasn’t for Wishbone Ash, there might not be a Thin Lizzy. Or Iron Maiden. Or any band that uses guitar interplay as its main musical muscle.
The band’s unmistakable sound-a twin-guitar barrage of twisting, melodic leads and soaring melodies that is the blueprint for the quartet’s sonic attack and the influence for the scores of musicians who have emulated them, was on full display during the band’s set at Yoshi’s in Oakland on April 25. Never a group that was worried about hit singles or radio airplay (although “The King Will Come” was a FM radio staple back in 1972), the Ash is one of the original album bands, eschewing those staples (hits, radio airplay) of early 70’s rock/blues sound for long, well-sculpted album tracks that often last seven minutes or more. Live, the group still plays many of those big album tracks, as evidenced by the group’s recent show that featured just 11 songs spread out over 100 minutes.
Over 45 years after being named “brightest hope” and “best new group” in the influential British publications Melody Maker and Sounds, Wishbone Ash is a band whose following and influence continues unabated. Founding member Andy Powell, who along with original guitarist Ted Turner were once named two of the Top 20 guitarists in the world, continues to helm the band, which was founded in 1966. The group was originally formed in Exeter, England but re-located to London where it was discovered by Miles Copeland, who would eventually go on to manage the Police. The band released its debut album on MCA in 1970, but it wasn’t until “Argus” was released in 1972 that the band started to break worldwide. Never a huge name stateside, the band made it through dogged determination, world-class guitar playing and a live show that fit in nicely with just about every major band of the 70’s (I saw them with BTO, Styx, Robin Trower and Yesterday and Today, among others). Original members have come and gone over the years, but Powell still perseveres with a solid group of veteran musicians who understand the legacy and history of the band.
Powell, a short, bald rock vet who could probably pass for Phil Collins from a distance, is still one of the best live guitar players performing today. Those soaring leads (aided capably by Mark Abrahams) were played out during every song in this truncated set (due to club curfew), but not to worry-just about every major Ash classic was played on this night.
Powell also sang most of the songs along with band vet, bassist Bob Skeat, while drummer Joe Crabtree held down the band’s often-times challenging backbeat. Try as I might, though, I can’t get off the fact that the group’s twin-guitar sound was the main highlight of the set, because it was featured in every song. Although the more popular selections such as “The King Will Come”, “Warrior,” “Jailbait,” The Phoenix,” and “Blowin’ Free” stood out, nothing really stood out more than Powell and Abraham’s sterling guitar play.
If you love 70’s rock, great guitar solos and some of rock’s least known but most timeless compositions, do yourself a favor and go see Wishbone Ash before the band endless journey comes to an end.
