Mid 1970s Steve’s Hotel, Nedlands. Sunday sesh and Dave Holes’ whiskey and cigarettes rasp hollers out. “Well did you ever? Did you ever wake up with them bullfrogs on your mind?” The sound is electric raw energy. Him with his weird upside down way of holding his slide and the audience witnessing the beginnings of a journey that’s taken him round the world and back playing and recording the blues he so loves. 

And tonight, in the intimate, semi-acoustic setting of His Majesty’s theatre, he holds court again. Just as electric. More so. Just without the electricity. And it soon becomes obvious that this is the place you want to see this guy play.

Rollin’ & Tumblin’ is a miniature musical history lesson of the blues from the 1920s onwards. Joined by fellow bluesman Glen Whisson, their presentation is humorous, enlightening, and always entertaining.
Whisson is a useful compatriot, his rhythm playing lifting the sound in the right places, and he provides most of the factual narrative – though the link he draws between the blues and the Beatles, leading to a couple of not really very bluesy Beatles songs, was tenuous to say the least, given that their biggest influences were Motown, country and skiffle - but Hole is the star of the show.

His playing is sensational as he gets deep into the spirit of each number, distilling so much of the essence of these great players – Blind Lemon Jefferson, Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters, Elmore James – and giving the audience a glimpse into a world that exists no longer. A true elder statesman of the blues, he effortlessly glides between the sauciness of Catfish blues to the desperate loneliness of The Sky Is

Crying as if he’s embodying these realities in his fingers.

And to top it off, he’s one heck of a funny guy.

Do yourself a favour – if you have the remotest interest in the blues or any music at all for that matter – go and check this show out.

Fabulous.