Gig Reviews
The Music Room at Pizza Express, Maidstone - 23rd August 2008
On Saturday 23rd August, Ben Mills took time out from a gruelling schedule playing gigs all over the UK to return to Kent and make an appearance at one of our favourite venues - the Music Room at PizzaExpress in Maidstone.
The event was once again a sell-out, with BenMillsOnline members taking over a quarter of the available seats!
In such an intimate setting you would expect the atmosphere to be quite calm and relaxed. When Ben is there with his band, however, the mood is anything but. Excitement levels were at an all time high and there was an unmistakeable buzz in the air as the band took up position on the stage and Ben was announced.
Unfortunately, an unusual stage layout meant that Ben was flanked on all sides by the band and consequently hidden from view by all but a few of the audience. Those who were able shifted their seats and repositioned themselves to get a better look, but for me personally not being able to see Ben wasn't a problem. It's the music I crave, and the opportunity to listen to that gravelly, sexy voice performing live. They opened the evening with "Use Me", a real bluesy Bill Withers song that we'd never heard them do before, and followed it with the wonderfully sultry "Summertime". As I sat there with my eyes closed, Ben's vocals washed over me like waves lapping gently onto a sandy beach. Heaven!
Problems with the bassist's amp meant "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" had to be started without him. Fortunately the long intro allowed Colin the time needed to sort things, albeit temporarily, and he returned just as the intro came to an end.
"Moondance" was next and then a song which needs no introduction, particularly for me. As Ben began to play the opening bars my heart skipped a beat, my stomach turned somersaults and the goosebumps appeared. It was "Handbags & Gladrags" which, after the Music Room gigs last November, I will forever have a soft spot for.
The set continued with "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Love On The Rocks" which a few of us heard Ben perform for the first time at the Arts Centre in Helmsley back in May. His version of it is outstanding so we asked him to sing it here too and he happily obliged. Thanks Ben!
To round off the first half of the evening, they played their "The Weight / Easy" medley and "Like A Rolling Stone". We were then into a ten minute or so interval - just enough time to compose ourselves which, in retrospect, was a good thing as what was coming next was pretty damn special....
A stool was placed centre stage and Ben reappeared on his own. To make up for the fact that hardly anybody could see him behind the piano, he was going to treat us to an impromptu acoustic set. The first of the two songs was "Freedom". This is one that's already well known to all at BenMillsOnline, but only those who were able to go to the Helmsley gig had heard it performed this way before, and how fantastic it was to hear it again. However, it was Ben's second song which really took my breath away - the first public performance of one of his new songs, entitled "The Life Of Riley" which was written, explained Ben, about the Tax Man.
On top of everything else, Ben is an incredible lyricist. When I listen to his songs it's the lyrics which tend to evoke the feelings, allowing me to visualise what I'm hearing. Along with "Freedom", this song produces some of the most amazing imagery, so vivid I could almost reach out and touch it, and it's made me so hungry for more. Patience is a virtue, as they say, and up until now I have been so terribly patient when it comes to the release of Ben's second album, knowing that the more time taken over it the better it will be. Unfortunately, I think my virtues have now upped and left, taking my patience with them!
The acoustic set over, Ben retreated to his corner and was joined once again by the band. It was time for the "dancing legs" to show themselves and as they started to play "Brown Eyed Girl", Nix and I deserted our table by the stage and nominated a space at the back as a makeshift dancefloor! It wasn't long before we were joined by others from the site and we boogied our way through "Rockin' Robin", "Superstition / Pull Up To The Bumper", "Maggie May", "Stir It Up / Rudy", "Long Train Running" and "Play That Funky Music".
The tempo was slowed down after that, with "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing", so we returned to our table and stayed there for the final song of the night, "Stay With Me" - the one done originally by The Faces, not Ben's own song. Shame! Maybe next time, eh Ben?!
We would like to extend a huge thank you to Ross Dines for once again booking Ben and his band to appear at Pizza Express. Please keep doing so, and we'll keep coming back to see them. Also many thanks to Beth, the manageress, for allowing us to stay behind to speak to Ben.
Finally, to Ben and all the guys in the band - Steve (Lead Guitar), Russell (Saxophone), Colin (Bass Guitar) and Alan (Drums). Thank you all so much for giving us yet another brilliant night out. And Ben, you are especially wonderful for stopping back for so long after - that was a very long half an hour!!!!
Report by Saara Ord - Webmaster / Adminstrator
Photography by Glenn Nash - Site Owner / Administrator