I wonder what it's like to realise that you have vastly superior physical coordination skills to those of other human beings? That's not something I'll ever know, but I'm guessing it must have dawned on Mike Whellans at some time or other. The phrase 'one man band' paints pictures of clown-like characters with cymbals strapped to their knees and a cacophony of sound. But this man is the real thing, delivering a great sound and an incredible visual experience. Even several hours after the event I still find it hard to believe what I saw.
The right foot hammering out a rhythm on bass drum, the left working a hi-hat, hands on the guitar, mouth blowing harmonica and belting out vocals. Whellans is truly, as the publicity blurb says, a one man blues band of startling quality. His voice might not be especially distinctive, but it has enough grit in it to be an effective blues vehicle. While his harmonica playing is top notch and full of imagination.
Mike plays drums with dance bands and produced a magnificent tribute to some of his favourite jazz drummers. With only a harmonica, a microphone and some unbelievable vocal dexterity. Quite where he managed to breath during this number was hard to spot.
The music is linked by the skills of a natural raconteur and the audience were given plenty of laughs to enjoy. For a couple of numbers Whellans was joined on stage by an old friend playing electric mandolin and he added some fine solos on top of the complexity being laid down by the man of many parts, as well as leading the audience in providing some backing vocals.
It would be easy to have listened to, and watched, Whellans for at least twice as long as the hour we got. Genial, admirable and superbly accomplished, if you get the chance to see him do grab it. And get close up to the stage, just to be able to watch the technique and energy of the man at work. He's 71 now, but looks to have many, many years of performing still ahead of him.
We emerged from the Kirk with one thought in our heads.
Wow. Just wow.
Here's a sample of what he can do.
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