Review: Greg Phillips. Photos: Jason Rosewarne
Three-time Grammy-nominated artist and one of the most respected voices in contemporary blues and roots music, Eric Bibb is currently on tour in Australia, promoting his latest album One Mississippi. Eric is no stranger to Australian Musician magazine, having chatted with us many times and in 2023 appeared as our special on-stage guest at the Melbourne Guitar Show. It was with a great deal of anticipation that we headed out on a brisk Autumn evening to catch Eric and band play Memo Music Hall in St.Kilda last night.
In typical unassuming manner, Bibb walked onto the Memo stage alone, sat down and realised that the guitar he was supposed to use for the opening tune, was left in the dressing room. Eric suggested that any moment someone will hear him and bring the guitar out, only to discover that his team had not been listening and had to retrieve the green Richwood Heritage Series Parlour guitar himself. He’d only been on stage for a minute and that light-hearted moment had set the tone for the evening and won the crowd over already. He was amongst friends.
Dressed immaculately in white suit and matching hat, Bibb told us us that he likes to open with an old blues traveler’s lament. Written by St Louis Jimmy Owen in 1941, he launched into a steamy ‘Going’ Down Slow’. Then inviting his band onto stage, Bibb began to introduce each member with pride, as he informed us that he’d inherited Nina Simone’s Drummer, Paul Robinson. Next, he advised that he had also claimed Roxette’s guitarist Staffan Astner, and finally bass player, keyboardist, musical director Glen Scott (Dave Stewart, Mary J Blige). “I love to name drop,” Eric told us us. Bibb went on to inform us that he was a class mate of Janis Ian at high school and loved her music so much, that he used one of her songs as the title track of his new album ‘One Mississippi’, which the band delivered in smouldering style.
Lead Belly’s ‘Alabama Bound’ followed soon after, showcasing Staffan’s incredible touch and superb Telecaster tone. Written for his children ‘Along The Way’ is a beautiful tune, featuring lyrics we should all seriously ponder.
“Take the time to stop awhile and take a rest
All you can ever do is your best
Take some time, quiet time, away from the fray
Take the time and take a look at what you’ve learned
Along the way”
‘The Happiest Main in The World’ has become a signature tune for Eric and nobody is more qualified to sing it. It was fascinating to watch drummer Paul Robinson during the track. He becomes the music, with the rhythm flowing through him, it’s an extension of his body.
Inviting his wife Ulrika to the stage, Eric then explained that he was one day searching for a wedding gift and found a photo album with a beautiful painting by Jack Vettriano on the cover depicting a couple dancing. The title of the painting was ‘Dance Me To The End of Love’. Bibb told us that he thought that would be a fantastic title for a song, “unbeknownst to me that Leonard Cohen had already written a song and that’s why Jack had created the painting! I never heard from Lenny’s lawyers, so here it is … ‘Dance Me To the End of Love’ ala Bibb!” Ulrika proceeded to provide a stunning vocal on the song.
The gospel-flavoured ’Needed Time’ revealed just how in sync the band were with each other, blending together in a blissful union of musicianship. Continuing to offer a journey though the history of the blues and giving us a lesson in show dynamics, Eric presented a stunning, solo acoustic version of Walter Davis’ 1940 song ‘Come Back, Baby’.
Bibb told us that he turned the TV news on recently and immediately turned it off, instead reaching for his guitar and wrote a gorgeous guitar prayer he now calls ‘Bless Us All’. With Glenn Scott moving to piano, the band delivered a poignant instrumental rendition, tugging at our heart strings.
The soulful ‘New Window’ from the One Mississippi album grieves for a broken world and pleads for a brighter new one. In fact most of Bibb’s prescient material from the night seemed to bear more weight than usual given the world’s emotional instability and anyone in the audience feeling that burden could take solace and hope from his compassionate themes and beautiful melodies.
Ultimately, an Eric Bibb concert is about optimism. Reading the room, Bibb knew it was time to elevate the joy. While the sentiments of “Got To Do Better’ are solemn, the groove was addictive. ‘We Got to Find A Way’ from the new album was spellbinding, featuring the intricately nuanced guitar licks of Staffan Astner.
A rockin’ ‘Don’t Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down’ had the crowd clapping spontaneously from the get-go, highlighting the band’s versatility. Drummer Robinson can be so refined one minute but when the band needs to rock out, it’s Nina Simone’s ex that’s powering the pistons. That was also evident on the band’s penultimate tune ‘This One Don’t’, a pulsating rocker from the One Mississippi record.
Finishing up with the classic ‘In My Father’s House’, on this fine night at Memo Music Hall, Eric and his band of virtuosic musicians had rocked us, made us sing and sway, think about ourselves and humanity, encouraged love and kindness, and filled our hearts with joy. What more could you ask for?
Eric Bibb & Band
One Mississippi 2026 Australian Tour Dates
APRIL 2026
17 – Thornbury, VIC – Thornbury Theatre
18 – Bellarine, VIC – 100 Acres Festival
19 – Archies Creek, VIC – Archies Creek Hotel SOLD OUT
21 – Upwey, VIC – Burrinja Cultural Centre
23 – Albany, WA – Princess Royal Theatre
24 – Bunbury, WA – Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre
25 – Kalamunda, WA – Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre SOLD OUT
28 – Adelaide, SA – The Gov
30 – Hobart, TAS – Theatre Royal
MAY
2 – Cairns, QLD – Tanks Arts Centre
3 – Brisbane, QLD – Old Museum
6 – Byron Bay, NSW – Byron Theatre
7 – Bellingen, NSW – Bellingen Memorial Hall
8 – Avoca Beach, NSW – Avoca Beach Theatre SOLD OUT
9 – Canberra, ACT – The Street Theatre
10 – Sydney, NSW – The Concourse
For tickets & info: ericbibb.com
