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Definitive Deke Leonard DVD and tribute to Clive Roberts
'I've got the best band in the world', Deke Leonard proudly tells his enthusiastic Patti Pavilion audience in Swansea. 'Unfortunately they couldn't be here tonight'!
'Iceberg Live at the Patti' is a must have collectors item for all Deke and Man fans and it also marks the last appearance of former Blues Bunch guitarist Clive Roberts who sadly died shortly afterwards.
Given that this is the most coherent Iceberg audio-visual representation on the market, it's a nice to report guest appearances from former Country Joe & The Fish member Barry Melton and Micky Jones's son George on guitars.
Splendidly filmed with what appears to be a multi camera shoot, this DVD is best enjoyed as a visual account of a cracking night at the Patti, on which a few dodgy notes and some grizzly gnarled vocals from Deke shouldn't detract from a fun filled evening.
Since the recording of this DVD original Iceberg guitarist Brian Breeze has once more stepped into the breach, and buried in the middle of an illuminating interview section there's a great short clip of him and Deke soloing on 'Daughter of the Fireplace'
As regards the gig itself, there's just about everything any Iceberg fan could want, from the humorous shambolic intro of 'Ride & The View' through highlights such as the riff driven 'Razorblade and Rattlesnake', the hard rocking 'Get of the Line' and new numbers such as 'Cuba' from the current 'Freedom & Chains' album.
By the time of a dusted down version of the Leonard penned, funky Man number 'Circumstances', the band kick in to a intense groove. Leonard and Roberts go on to play double lines on the peerless 'In Search of Sarah and 26 Horses', a song that has been criminally overlooked down the decades.
George Jones steps up to the plate on a fiery '7171551' bringing a wry smile to Deke's face before, and he overcomes a broken string to add muscle to another old Deke chestnut 'Daughter of the Fireplace'. The band is joined on the closing two numbers by Barry Melton, and all four guitars jostle for a solo on the 'call and response' driven 'San Francisco' - a number of which the late Clive Roberts delivers two sumptuous slide runs - reminding us of just how good he was.
The interview section offers a brief up to date resume of Deke's career both on and off the boards, and a touching farewell to Clive. Monies from the purchase of the DVD goes to Clive's widow. Available from www.effigymusic.co.uk
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Review by Pete Feenstra
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