Focus in Cardiff August 2022

Photo Credits Barry Morris

Slipped down to Cardiff last Thursday to see Focus play. The venue was The Earl Hague Club, Whitchurch. A typical set but without La Cathedrale and  including  Focus 7 and a new Song for Bert in memory of the recently deceased former bass player. All the band played well, including Menno Gootjes, who I thought did better with his solo than sometimes in the past. The crowd enjoyed All hens on deck but were less sure about Focus 7 and the bass solo. I'm sure he has said it before but I noticed that Thijs referred to Pierre van der Linden in public as "The world's greatest drummer", which he is, of course.

Songs named for women

1. Janis (Joplin)
2. Eurydice (Auloniad wife of Orfeus)
3. Sylvia (Alberts)
4. Elspeth of Nottingham
5. Tokyo Rose (name for all female Japanese propagandists)
6. Anaya (Pannekeet)
7. Winnie (Gootjes)
8. Victoria
9. Hazel (eye colour not an actual name)
10. Song for Eva (daughter of van Leer)
11. Song for Yaminah (Pannekeet)
12. Ode to Venus (the Roman godess)

As of 2024 we can probably add Nura and Gaia. (Not sure who they are).

Death of Bert Ruiter

We were sorry to hear of the death of former Focus bassist Bert Ruiter on March 24 in Blaricum, Holland. Bert was bassist in the heydays of Focus from the time of Focus 3. He went on to have hits with Earth and Fire in Holland, including a number one. Born in Hilversum in 1946, he was 75. He leaves behind his partner of nearly fifty years, Jerney Kaagman.

The message from the present band Focus was 'We will miss you Bert. Thanks for all your music. We wish Jerney a lot of strength with this loss.'

This is the second death of a bassist with Focus as the first one, Martijn Dresden, is no longer with us. First drummer, Hans Cleuver, has also died.

Focus at Powerhaus March 2022

Got to see Focus last week at the Powerhaus in Camden Town last Thursday. Our tickets had the wrong date and the wrong venue but the right band and so it all worked out well after a long, long wait. Everybody looked a little older but there was no diminution in the commitment and skill one associates with this great band and we had a two hour without a break beginning with Focus 1 Anonymus and ending with Hocus Pocus and an encore of Focus 3, Answers Questions Questions Answers. On the way there were many delights including a rendition of Brother dedicated to Bert Ruiter, former bassist, the news of whose death had reached the band earlier in the day and an ensemble version of Moving Waves that they are working on and that I had never heard before. Great stuff then on the whole despite what is now the familiarity of the set with nice solos and very tight playing. Decent crowd too. Claire Hamill kicked us off with her gentle songs and a version of Yes's Mood for a day by her guitarist.

Jan Akkerman at Trading Boundaries

It was my joy to be down in Sussex last Friday at Trading Boundaries to catch the first of three concerts by Jan Akkerman and his band - the first time in a while. The concert was in two halves and was more jazzy for the first half (a nice section Crackers to Angel Watch) and more rocky for the second (though Focus 2 and Anonymous are unique). The bass player has broken his leg and so had to sit and Jan didn't seem quite happy with his two Gibson guitars for some of the time. I got a little lost on Tommy's Anniversary but otherwise it was a great concert. Nice to meet Jan and Mrs Akkerman, looking after the merchandise. Jan seemed tired at the end of a long day. He is 75, of course.