The State of the Situation

Bow tied and all dressed in white, C.W. Stoneking enters to rapturous applause. He is clearly well loved by those that know him, and by the end of tonights show pretty much everyone that didn’t will concur. Stoneking plays the blues. Not with a Fender and a distortion pedal, but with a banjo or steel body six string. Backed by a four piece band of brass, stand up bass and percussion, he pays homage to the blues of 1920’s and 30’s, engaging the audience with his offbeat storytelling and quite marvellous voice that is pained, yet defiantly contented. Mumbling, rasping, crooning and serenading his way through his set, Stoneking imitates without at any time slipping into pastiche or parody, telling stories of his travels through the south of the United States, country Victoria, the Caribbean and Africa, all the while with tongue firmly in cheek. Speaking in the hokum language of euphemisms and innuendo, Stoneking never says exactly what he means, and the audience is never quite sure how much liberty he is taking with the truth. It is a very difficult balance that he strikes, and it is highly rewarding that he pulls it off so effortlessly. While remaining accessible to the average blues fan, Stoneking undoubtedly has the purists drooling. A fantastic nights entertainment. +++