Soul power

In TERMS of gigs of the year, last Saturday's appearance by PP Arnold and her band at the Fermain Tavern will be hard to beat.

I got to the place having just missed the support band, the Tav Blues Combo. By all accounts the local musicians played a well received set, earning themselves an encore.

It was good to see the place busy and there was a palpable buzz in the air in anticipation of the main act.

PP Arnold, or Pat as she is known, had told me on the phone some months back that she had a great band backing her.

She wasn't kidding.

With a pedigree that included former members of Galliano, Soul II Soul, Paul Weller's and Joss Stone's bands, the Tav punters were treated to some seriously good musicianship on Saturday.

Taking to the stage the band ran through a 10-minute workout/jam, settling into a groove and getting the feel of the room. The statuesque Tony Remy – the group's leader – stepped forward and welcomed PP Arnold onto the stage.

From the first song, the Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane-penned single If You Think You're Groovy, we were off; her rich, soulful tones filled the room. It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Such a huge voice from such a diminutive lady.

She was sounding as good as ever as she belted out the classic tune from 1967.

However, it wasn't all nostalgia; newer material followed, a song co-written with Dr Robert of The Blow Monkeys and the funky Everything is You written with Blockhead Chaz Jankel saw the band let rip. Drummer Darren Abrahams, resplendent in flat cap and sweater, laid down an impressive groove all night, at times jumping up from the drum to deliver a perfectly timed rim shot or cymbal crash.

Bassist Ernie McKone has to be one of the most intuitive players to grace the Tav's back room stage. He was recently voted by the UK public as the bass player in Craig Charles' Fantasy Funk Band. This modest musician had to be coaxed out of his spot beside the drums for a meaty solo later on in the evening, before giving a sheepish grin and slipping back to his post.

Keyboard player Anders Olinder had some nice touches on the piano and organ too, playing the occasional dazzling solo.

All players sparkled but knew when to hold back as PP worked the crowd and built up a warm rapport.

Classic tunes from The First Lady of Immediate were aired, as was an incendiary version of River Deep Mountain High, a great version with PP back in her Ikettes mode.

A real groovy version of the Small Faces track Understanding, which Pat has recorded a version of with Primal Scream, had the floor filled.

'But where are all the mods?' she said.

Where indeed.

New song Break These Chains, written for her by Angel of the Morning author Chip Taylor, had a great gospel feel to it, as did the self-penned and emotional set-ender Finally Found My Way Back Home, played in a style similar to Joe Cocker's version of With A Little Help From My Friends.

The inevitable encore saw Pat return to the stage for an arms aloft version of her most well known song, The First Cut is the Deepest.

Penned by Cat Stevens and later a hit for Rod Stewart and Sheryl Crow, Pat recorded the original version.

'I couldn't leave you without doing this one.'

It was an impassioned powerful performance from a soul legend on our very own doorstep. The crowd showed their appreciation for this great lady of soul and her great band.

Top night.

If it carries on like this at the Tav, I want a season ticket.