What's the recipe for 1 (at worst), a good night out and 2 (at best), a stellar experience? Well, just take 5 musicians who are at the pinnacle of their career and are able to get people all shook up.

 Anyway that's what you get when you book The Eve Selis band. It's pretty evident that this band has had an exhilarating 17 years together. People came from far and wide to witness the phenomena, as well as many Acoustic Sussex regulars (thank you for your support in making AS as good as it can get). Judging by the response from the audience, they weren't disappointed and complimented the band with rapturous delight at the end of each and every song. 

Each one of The Eve Selis Band is a consummate professional musician with absolutely no difference in terms of talent between each of them. Rarely do you get a bunch of guys that play so tight, so together that they just meld into one blindingly single entity - Dylan, The Allman Brothers, The Beatles, David Bowie, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Jeff Buckley and I also would include, Anaïs Mitchell (The Acoustic Sussex Darling) who all came to mind.  Eve's band just make you just wanna get up and dance, and believe you me, if I could dance I'd have been up there last night. 

Apart from being brilliant, they also are: Eve Selis on heavenly, but ballsy vocals; Marc Intravaia on acoustic guitar, slide guitar, electric guitar and vocals; Cactus Jim Soldi on acoustic guitar, slide guitar and electric guitar; Larry Greenhaugh on drums, vocals and assorted sound effects; and Ric (Mr. Laidback) Nash on Electric Bass. I can see why this band is one of Whispering Bob Harris's favourites.

At the sound-check, the Princess Beatrice Hall was adjusted to cope with the volume and quality of sound we would have wash over us for a very generous period of time, with the sound team Dave and Sal giving their utmost. The band kicked off, and then… the term pedal to the metal would not be inappropriate. I could have sworn at times that at times it was almost like The Allmans with a lady singer, it really was that good. Equisite harmonies, soaring guitars, driving bass and dynamic percussion (Wot…Wot…Wot… sorry Larry!) although my only personal observation would be that, if we had a little bit more harmony guitar between Marc and Jim we would have had the US flag on a cocktail stick on the cherry on the top of the cake. Larry was on top form from start to finish, never failing to add his observations at any opportunity. 

But as the early evening gave birth to an ever-accelerating Eve Selis Band, eventually it had to come to an end, regrettably. Mark will be pleased to know the correct person got the pizza box set-list so I can tell you that the songs performed were…  She, I Believe In Love, One Day At A time, Better Days, The Gift, Pocket Full Of Stones, Kate Morgan, Touching The Eiffel Tower, The Street I Grew Up On, Folsom Prison Blues, Goodbye, Heart-Shaped Tattoo, and Stop The Train (which they very nearly didn't. There were a few others in there, but were not listed or I was buzzing too much to remember and to hungry to read the set list properly. 

The sun always shines when The Eve Selis Band rides into town. This time is was very near "Welcome To Paradise". Oh, and Eve, the mystery object in the set list was delicious and much appreciated. 

The stage was warmed earlier by the very excellent Chris Simmons who by popular demand was making a rare re-appearance for a support band, so soon after fronting Charlie Dore earlier in the year. Chris, accompanied by Adam Mellor gave a brilliant performance and it is only a matter of time before the "Tipping Point" comes and they reach the audience they obviously deserve. I feel very honoured to be present at the beginning of their career and no doubt will look back in future times with fond memories. 

We also had a bonus, because Chris joined a friend onstage, Danielle Gasparro, from The Big Apple, who played keyboards and was over here on tour. Danielle presented us with a very impressive set of introspective songs. She performed these songs with an ability to put a lot of wannabe artists well in the shade. I could hear the qualities of Joni Mitchell and Carol King in the delivery to name but a few. It's a great shame I didn't have the opportunity to talk with her and Chris after Eve's show.

Keep on Truckin'...

Maximum Bob