Wild show from Wild T and the Spirit

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Thanks a to a high flying spirit any Wild T and the Spirit show will uplift the lowest of spirits. His Aug. 2 show at the Slice was no exception as Wild T aka Tony Springer, wielding a brand new Gibson SG instead of his trademark Stratocaster, beamed as if he was having the time of his life.
He began with “My Next  Ex-Wife from his latest CD, “Fender Bender, then took off from there, into a meandering psychedelic jam on “All Along the Watchtower,” during which he displayed every guitar playing technique ever invented, playing behind his head, back, with his teeth, with his butt, tapping, playing harmonics — everything. It was a guitar player’s dream. And then he got a little funky on another jam which segued into Jimi Hendrix’s “Hey Joe,” then played an freaky older cut of his, “Telephone Freak.”
There were a few  Wild T originals in the set including “Life Goes On,” and “Love Crazy” but not some of his well known tracks like “Freedom Train” and “I’ve Got the Rhythm,” but that didn’t matter to the audience of about 20 who loved his  extended jams — especially his Bob Marley songs, “No Woman No Cry,”  and “Everything’s Going to Be All Right,” and even a reggae version of Neil Young’s ”Down By The River.”
Those who stuck around for his second set were treated  to more guitar tricks and Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Cold Shot,”  plus guest singers Karen and Shawna Romolliwa, who helped out on “Mustang Sally.”
Then he proved he is more than just a flashy guitar player during a couple hard core, heartfelt old school blues numbers, which were absolutely phenomenal.
 And no matter where Springer  went in his jams, his band, bassist Guenther Kappelle and drummer Murad Gunduz kept the pace and showed they had a few tricks of their own up their sleeves. Gunduz played a drum solo in the second set which took him through the crowd drumming on tables, chairs, glasses and microphones. Fantastic.
 — By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat editor
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