Mindblowing: the guitarist lauded alongside the greats like John Mayer, Eric Clapton, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Joe Bonamassa et al

Ben Poole Band at Arlington Arts on Wednesday, December 13

Review by BRIAN HARRINGTON

WEDNESDAY nights in winter may not be a traditional time for a rock show, but Arlington Arts was packed for Ben Poole.

The attraction of a guitarist called “amazing” by both Jeff Beck and Beth Hart is undeniable and Ben well and truly lived up to that billing.

He is on show 59 of a 60-date, 13-country tour, which started back in August and which saw him return from Prague just this morning. His work ethic cannot be faulted.

Any aspiring blues/rock guitarists should make a point of seeing Ben and studying his technique, which slips from sensitive picking to thunderous crescendos in a heartbeat.

He is a phenomenon whose skills are just incredible. It is impossible not to be mightily impressed.

Performing as a power trio the show was a one-and-three-quarter hour set with no interval and absolutely no wasted time.

With a mix of self-penned tracks and some stunning covers, including Don Henley’s Dirty Laundry and the Freddie King classic Have You Ever Loved A Woman, Ben wowed the audience.

Don’t Cry For Me, Start The Car and the final track, Anytime You Need Me were all brilliant, this was a real celebration of guitar excellence with blues, rock and some jazz elements, but what made it truly special was Ben’s inventive, innovative and, often experimental mastery of his instrument.

His flair and originality set him apart from the field and show just why he has earned international acclaim and why publications like Classic Rock magazine describe him as “truly astonishing”. I absolutely concur.

Ben Poole is, without doubt one of the best blues/rock guitarists around and he fully deserves to be recognised as such, and lauded alongside the greats like John Mayer, Eric Clapton, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Joe Bonamassa et al.

Mind blowing.