By Mark Ambrogi
John Mayall has an unusually large repertoire to draw from in concert.
After all, Mayall released his first album in 1965, and his 64th came out this year.
“It’s a different show every night, but it’s mainly drawn from my extensive catalog, with an accent on the new material,” Mayall said. “It changes every night. It’s a different setlist every night. As long as we get a good cross-section going, that’s all that counts. We’re creative musicians, and it shows in the material we play,”
Mayall, dubbed the “Godfather of British Blues,” will perform at 8 p.m. Sept. 29 at The Warehouse, 254 1st Ave. SW, Carmel.
“We’ve not been in the Indianapolis area for a little while, but we do have good memories of people being very enthusiastic,” Mayall said.
At 82, Mayall is still passionate about performing.
“We love what we do. We get along together, and we have a great time performing,” Mayall said. “That’s why we work so much, because we like to play.”
Mayall’s lineup has been together for approximately eight years.
“The next album (“Talk About That”) is already completed. It will come out in early January,” Mayall said. “We have a guest appearance by Joe Walsh, who plays guitar on a couple of songs, and I wrote most of the music for it.”
Mayall’s Bluesbreakers band included Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce in 1969 before they both left to form Cream.
Among other Bluesbreakers members were Peter Green, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood, who left to form Fleetwood Mac.
Mick Taylor was a member from 1966 to 1969 before leaving to join the Rolling Stones.
“They’ve all been special,” Mayall said of his former bandmates. “I’m a bandleader, and I choose musicians who are the right ones for what I want to interpret. My music doesn’t sound like anyone else’s.”
Mayall and his band is playing a variety of venues from music halls to smaller listening rooms.
“As long as you’re working, that is what matters,” Mayall said. “We adapt to whatever the surroundings are. That’s what makes it fun.”
For more, visit liveforthemusic.com.
