Bands and venues have come and gone over the last 30 years, so Baum’s Bluesbenders would deserve praise for even just being around still. The fact that they are not just still around but have just released their first official CD and had the organizers of Unter der Zeder scrambling to find additional chairs for the huge stream of keen spectators shows them to be a band not just still existing, but still making great music.

When I ask Sabine Köhne-Kayser of event organizer KuKuG how big the audience tonight is she admits to not being sure – usually they can count the number of seats taken. Tonight however that isn’t an option. Quite simply, they have now run out of seats.

So what can I tell you that you don’t already know from my many past reviews of the Bluesbenders? Two dependably solid sets from the quartet of their trademark Chicago- and Westcoast-Blues sound. A clutch of self-penned numbers from the new CD including the title track and an enjoyable ‘Loving You’ that saw Norfried Baum joining Uwe Placke for a great double Blues harp blast. The ‘Summertime’ rhythm of ‘Feel the Power’ sums up the Band’s philosophy well: “There’s a train. We gotta get on board. Dont wait – life’s too short!”. Or is it the philosophy eschewed By Placke with “I’ve had my fun. If I don’t get well no more…”? Maybe it’s the same philosophy – ‘Live the moment!’.

Strange that a music called The Blues can make so many people so happy. The friendly banter between Placke and Baum certainly helps in that regard. It’s easy to forget with the well-oiled Bluesbender sound that there are actually four excellent musicians on the stage, but Irishman Francis Holzapfel has been playing alongside the two for so long now that he knows exactly where to stand out and where to stand back in the rhythm. Jan Laacks fingerpicks the bass runs often into Jazz territory, which is no surprise since he has made his name racing around the fretboard as leadguitarist for top singers like Anne Haigis and Layla Zoe.

So how will such a well-honed Blues quartet get on with the song that closes every Unter der Zeder’? They launch into ‘Gute Nacht Freunde’ with a typical ‘Baum smile that says “Everything’s gonna be alright” and of course it is. A bluesy/funky version joins the many interpretations already played here. Followed by a huge applause. Wherever else Baums Bluesbenders might play, the road back home to Bad Godesberg will surely always find them receiving a deserved warm welcome. At a time when many concerts are finding audience numbers dwindling it’s wonderful to see local venues pulling in good crowds – a measure of the quality of music coming to and coming from Bonn for sure!

For future concerts this season Unter der Zeder click HERE