They say it takes roughly 10,000 hours to master a particular skill. Australian artist Lloyd Spiegel has undoubtedly exceeded that. His trusty Cole Clark guitar seems more like an extension of himself than an inanimate object. When he plugs it in, there are no odd strums, audible fret buzz, or deep breaths. It starts to sing on its own, much like a carpenter effortlessly pounds nails with a hammer. The fluidity with which he moves his hand up and down the guitar neck is impressive. There is no need for thought or uncertainty when you possess such dexterity. Some folks are simply born to play, and Spiegel is certainly in that category.
No stranger to the Canadian music scene, when my daughter and I saw him at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre in Fredericton on August 8th, he pointed out that it was his 93rd Canadian performance in the past fifteen months. Last year, Spiegel collaborated with Canadians Suzie Vinnick and Charlie A’Court on an album and tour, so at this point, it would be fair to call him an honorary Canadian!
Lloyd’s on-stage banter is also on point. While many can seem awkward or scripted, his words flow as naturally as a one-on-one conversation. He can certainly make you laugh, but his description of New Brunswick-based singer-songwriter Brent Mason was the most memorable: “The ultimate goal is to have a link in the chain of music’s evolution. Brent Mason has certainly accomplished that!”
Many of his songs rely on a traditional blues formula to connect with the audience, but he augments it with every tool and skill at his disposal. There’s some tapping on the fretboard and drumming on the body of his guitar. His guitar work can be downright mesmerizing! But, as every great musician does, he knows when to dial things back to let his voice and message take over. That is a sure sign of experience and maturity.
The show was elevated by a special guest appearance from Lisa Baird, a member of his Australian trio, on trombone and vocals. Her presence was a surprise, as it hadn’t been previously announced, and her plane had apparently landed in Fredericton only a few hours before the show! The songs featuring her sounded very full and rich. It takes a very skilled musician to complement Spiegel’s work, and she fits that description extremely well! I found myself just as captivated by her musicianship as by Spiegel’s. A personal highlight was a particularly soulful rendition of “All the Cats are Grey” that concluded the first of their two sets.
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our evening and left humming the melodies that punctuated Spiegel’s performance. I highly recommend you catch his next show in your area. You certainly won’t regret it!
Set List:
- Statesboro Blues
- This Time Tomorrow
- Dirt Road to Paradise
- Walk On
- Tangled Brew
- Cure My Soul
- Run
- Blood from a Stone
- All The Cats Are Grey
***Intermission***
- Sweet Little Angel
- New York City
- King With No Crown
- Lucille
- I’m Down
- Betcha Bottom Dollar
- Alligator Shoes
- Mississippi Sun
Learn more about Lloyd Speigel here: https://www.lloydspiegel.com/
Ollie LeBlanc, based in Fredericton, New Brunswick, discovered his love for music in his parents' basement with a box of classic rock LPs. A lifelong fan, his fascination with music has only grown over the past three decades as a musician. Ollie has worn many hats, including bassist, producer, engineer, and photographer. As he matures, his journey has become more about contributing to the musical community and sharing its richness. What better way to give back to the medium that has given him so much!
