Ian Moss Rocks Shepherd’s Bush: A Night of Blues and Soul

July 17, 2024 rocknews

This was our second time at Bush Hall – an intimate venue just down from Shepherd’s Bush Market and the iconic Empire, and the situation tonight couldn’t have been more different. The last time we were here was to witness Jaz Coleman’s spoken word adventures but tonight this lovely venue was packed to the rafters with an excited crowd to see one of Australias most lauded talents – the blues-rock powerhouse that is Ian Moss.

First up though was fellow Aussie Liz Stringer. The Melbourne-based singer-songwriter got the crowd nicely warmed up and her soulful blend of folk-rock went down well. She’s a captivating solo performer and we really enjoyed her set.

Ian Moss took to the stage with his band to rapturous applause. He’s an absolute legend in Australia, and it seemed as though news of his performance had made it’s way to London-based Aussies, as we found it hard to hear any other accents in the building! Moss must have felt at home, as he took the opportunity to make a joke that would appeal his countrymen and women: “Happy to be back in the ‘Bush”, he quipped early in the set, much to everyones delight.

But on to the music…

Ian Moss has a lengthy career to draw on, from his early days as part of Cold Chisel to his gettng-on-for 40 year solo career, and we got an expansive set that dipped into both of these phases.

His band was tight and solid, and allowed him to do what he does best – deliver incredible guitar solos and sing his songs in his distinctive soulful voice.

His 2023 album ‘Rivers Run Dry’ featured in the set but did not dominate. Instead, Moss took this opportunity to play a balanced set that also featured tracks from his eponymous 2018 album, his 1989 debut ‘Matchbook’ and a good selection of Cold Chisel numbers, including ‘My Baby’ and their fanatic cover of Hoagy Carmichael’s ‘Georgia on my Mind’. Another Cold Chisel song, ‘One Long Day’ was a standout moment, as Moss let rip on his Fender Strat with some incredibly soulful playing.

Cold Chisel’s biographer Anthony O’Grady once noted that, “When Moss goes into guitar dream world he pulls out chords and notes and sounds that do not fit the plot as such, but which create new dimensions – astounding stuff that can never be reached through intellectual process, only through a quantum leap of intuition and imagination.” and we think he might be on to something!

Whatever he does, Ian Moss and his band thrilled us and the Shepherd’s Bush crowd on Friday night. A masterful performance that sent everyone home happy and satisfied