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CeDell Davis @ Le Lux

CeDell @ Le Lux

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I’m still under the magic of having seen CeDell Davis last night at the Lux, an old movie theater transformed into concert venue over in Le Locle.


CeDell Davis @ Le Lux

Although I had heard he might be touring Europe earlier this year there hasn’t been much info on the web. Miracles come in many ways and in this case when finally the weather changed to sun last week after the long dreary and cold spring we’ve been having I couldn’t stay inside and went out for a walk; and a poster caught my eye: CeDell Davis and Brethren + Guitar Fucker / Dimanche 9 Juin 2013 / CHF: 10.-
I had to read it 5 times to actually believe what I was seeing… I mean really… In my view of the music world CeDell is as good as it can get! His music just grabs you at the most primitive level and twists and churns and overpowers you… Up here in the Jura back land… For not even 10 bucks… I had to confirm it on the web before it actually sunk in.. ..and I almost missed it… A miracle!

So it was with some trepidation that I drove over, the man is in his eighties and unfortunately isn’t able to play his guitar any more. I had looked at a few videos on the web of him and Brethren but CeDell’s guitar playing was so special that it was difficult to imagine him singing with a band, however good. Was I ready for the possible disappointment?


Mr. Guitar Fucker @ Le Lux

One of our local Bluesman, Guitar Fucker, opened the evening. He’s actually pretty cool! A one man band, guitar, harmonica, bass and snare and a large cymbal that he hits with a drumstick that is attached to the army helmet he wears. Good energy, good songs and with a bizarre touch of abstractness in the way that the mic that is attached to his harmonica holder picks up the noises he makes inbetween songs which stand out because besides shouting out the song names he hardly says anything, but somehow creates a silence that can be quite funny.


Brethren @ Le Lux

Brethren began their set and filled the air with a lot of power. If I’m not mistaken they started with “Need You So” – the first track from their latest CD – Brethren, and by the time they played Skip James’s Hard Time Killin’ Floor Blues they had the audience pulsating. Any impatience I had to hear CeDell was forgotten, this band groves! It’s always a mystery how the music of some bands seems more than the sum of the parts, and it’s alway cool when it’s like that. They really got the room moving and it was an interesting change of energies when CeDell slowly rolled into the room. The French have an expression that they use when there is a lot of animated talk around a table and suddenly there is a gap in the conversation: a ghost went by! And it sort of felt like that kind of moment even though he calmly let the band play a few more songs before joining in.

The stage at the Lux has no wheelchair access so the organizers had set up a small platform in front of it, on to which CeDell, chair and all had to be lifted. Not the most convenient of affairs but talking with Bretren’s “Big Papa Binns” and harp player John Stephens after the gig I learned that at the precedent event in Paris they had to carry him down the stairs into the cellar and that he (CeDell) seemed to be dealing well with it all.


CeDell and Big Papa Binns

In Robert Palmer’s notes in CeDell’s album Feel Like Doin’ Something Wrong he says that there is something Buddah like about CeDell. And it is true that this man is something special, his charisma is incredible, you can’t but be aware of his presence; and it is strong! Although it would have of course been great to hear him play a guitar, last night when he started to sing the music was so compelling that any thoughts of that type vanished. It’s been a while since I’ve been that moved emotionally; it was truly great!

If you get a chance to see Mr. CeDell, don’t miss it!

PS: I really want to thank the fine musicians of Brethen for helping CeDell get back on stage and getting him over here. With out them it doesn’t seem like we would have had the pleasure last nights event. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Updated to add: ..and thanks to the folks at the Lux who make evenings like this happen as well of course!!!

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4 comments.

  1. Just wanted to say thank you for the awesome write up and your hospitality. We are touring with Cedell again in Europe March 17th through 30th. I believe the first show is in London the in France.

  2. Thanks! Hope you play somewhere close enough that I can make it.

  3. Very cool !!! I didn’t Cedell Davis was in Le Locle. Sames as you, I wouldn’t have beleived what I was reading ! Lucky you.

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