Over the years Lloyd Spiegel has established himself as a top tier Australian blues guitarist. I was lucky enough to witness his talent first hand in an intimate setting at The Old Church On the Hill in Bendigo, to finish off his Australian tour promoting his new album This Time Tomorrow, and what a privilege it was.
For twenty plus years, Lloyd has put in blood, sweat and tears performing professionally around the globe, his passion for blues unwavering. I could tell, sitting a few rows back in a small hall that Lloyd had a great amount of experience performing.
Within a moment of Lloyd taking to the stage, there was energy and lots of it. Without hesitation the thunder struck, the audience captivated in an instant by Lloyd’s impeccable artistry, while at the same time producing an atmosphere I would associate with a lounge room jam session, where the magic is made. That energy stayed with us throughout the night and even produced an encore, a delight in which Lloyd was happy to oblige.
Lloyd was not alone. Throughout the night he introduced guest guitarists such as James the best dressed roadie down under and Bill Barber, a protégé of Lloyd’s who certainly had the crowds favour. As a crowd member, I was in the same boat, it was awesome to witness the synergy between Lloyd and his guest guitarists. As Bill finished his set he was greeted with a standing loud applause, which was well deserved.
One of the great things about Lloyd’s music is his ability to use his guitar as more than just a guitar, when Lloyd first tapped the body of his guitar the crowd were in awe of his creativity, his sense of rhythm and flawless timing. Lloyd is not only a great artist, but he is also a great performer, with a powerful voice your attention is always on him, in between songs he would tell stories of past experiences that captivated the audience, such as times spent living in Texas to an incident he had with an idol of his, Chuck Berry.
It is no question that Bendigo has a rich history of blues and roots and Lloyd has been very kind to Bendigo in helping keep that heritage alive and well, from his first gig in Bendigo all the way back in his early teens to now in 2017, Lloyd has been there, in the thick of it. Sharing his story for us to enjoy.
Overall the night was a success, the audience respectful of the environment we were in and of Lloyd (the artist) painting his canvas. If you’re a blues fan, do yourself a favour and go see Lloyd Spiegel if you get the chance, it’s an experience you will not regret.
Where: Old Church on the Hill
When: Saturday August 12
Support: Sean Nudl
Reviewed by Alex Lynch
