Harmonica Lewinsky & The Highway Patrol

Last night I met up with some pals down at the very hospitable Mermaid Inn to check out the latest musical venture of the great Harmonica Lewinsky. We’ve always been highly entertained by his music hall/cockney act and indeed his harmony pop/rock band, the Philistans, but this was to be something of a completely different flavour – a country/ western swing experience! Launching into ‘Glendale Train’, Lewinsky and his band, The Highway Patrol, soon had the place rocking. The sound of finger pickin’ Dzal Martin’s Telecaster was the perfect accompaniment and upright bass player Ewan Penkey’s rhythm proved that no drummer was required. As well as rockers such as ‘Panama Red’, ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ and the brilliant tongue-twisting ‘Hot Rod Lincoln’, Lewinsky and the boys were also able to deliver truly 'hurtin' & heartbreaking' melancholy classics such as Warren Zevon’s ‘Carmelita’ and Kenny Rogers’ ‘Ruby’. Their touching version of Commander Cody’s ‘Seeds & Stems Blues’, featuring the wonderful pedal-steel guitar playing of John Davis, (who had been impeccable all evening) had me almost crying into my pretzels. Personality and humour has always been an important part of Harmonica Lewinsky’s act and, with his usual banter and rapport, he certainly didn’t let us down. We particularly enjoyed the tongue-in cheek ‘All My Exes Live in Texas’. Thanks for a great night, boys – we look forward to the next time.