SINCE catching an unknown Memo Gonzalez & The Bluescasters at the Burnley Blues Festival some six years ago and being totally blown away by them, a North West appearance has always been eagerly anticipated. The big man from Dallas, based in Germany for a decade, and his band - Kai Strauss (guitar and vocals), Erkan Ozdemir (bass) and new recruit, Henk Punter (drums) - are simply one of the top live blues acts anywhere - delivering a heady mix of Texas blues, Louisiana grooves, with a touch of soul and rock 'n' roll thrown in for good measure! Apart from Memo Gonzalez's great showmanship - he is a fine singer and no slouch on the harmonica - the band's trump card is ace German guitarist, Kai Strauss - who comes over as a cross between Jimmie Vaughan and Ronnie Earl and again supplied some of the most jaw-dropping guitar I have ever heard! A 90-minute plus set at Warrington Blues Club saw all bases covered from the Texas roadhouse blues of Sweet Little Thing and I Wanna Ask You Pretty Baby to the Southern soul of Slip Away - giving Kai Strauss a chance to show off some impressive Steve Cropper-style chops - and the excellent The Love Of Money. Kai Strauss's showcase on Junior Parker's I Wanna Ramble was quite stunning, as Memo left the band to it, with the top-notch rhythm section of Erkan Ozdemir and Henk Punter driving the music along. All four of the band's CD releases were dipped into, with other highlights being the wry Mama, I Like Your Thighs and Angel In High Heels. | 
