Second visitation

SHAWN Phillips defies categorisation. He's not your average musician/ singer/songwriter. The artist himself labels his music as "fulfilling" and there to "enlighten, entertain and heal".

An East London audience was treated to a performance by this special musician on Sunday evening at the Guild Theatre.

A lean, bearded man sporting a long, blonde ponytail strode across the stage, settled down quickly behind an array of guitars, keyboards, wires and a laptop, and immediately struck up an easy rapport with his audience.

The set consisted of about a dozen songs, a number spanning Phillips' long musical career. Most of the selection, however, came from Phillips' newly released CD, No Category.

Phillips has many devout fans in the United States. South Africans are probably most familiar with his Second Contribution and Faces albums recorded in the early 70s.

During Sunday's performance Phillips admitted to only finding out about his South African following in 1993.

This led to a nationwide tour of this country in 1994. The South African connection has strengthened since his last visit -- Phillips met and married a South African and has also bought a house in Johannesburg.

The 50-something musician has made 16 albums since the mid-1960s and his music can best be described as a mixture of rock, country, folk and roots.

Like Neil Young, he has shied away from the limelight and has developed his own, unique musical style over the last four decades but he regrets the fact that the music business has nothing to do with music.

During his performance on Sunday, Phillips demonstrated his diverse musical talent, playing no less than three types of guitar.

He picked skillfully on a steel string guitar and belted out harder, more rock 'n roll type songs on what appeared to be an unusual combination, and more than likely custom-adapted, double-bridge electric guitar that looked to be half Gibson and half Fender Stratocaster.

A number of Phillips's more famous ballads, like the haunting Ballad of Casey Deiss, were played on a worn Washburn acoustic guitar.

The rain could not put a damper on the evening or dull the enthusiasm of the small, though appreciative crowd. Bursts of applause accompanied the introductions to most of Phillips' better known songs.

The audience was also treated to the artist's mellow voice and incredible vocal range. Phillips sings the very low and high notes to his songs with incredible ease and, in so doing, lays claim to the attention of the enraptured crowd.

The subject matter of Phillips' songs usually revolve around love and women but Phillips, like Dylan, sometimes builds moral messages into the words of his songs, giving his music an elevated level of potency.

I sincerely hope Shawn Phillips visits East London again soon. Popular music lovers in general should make a special effort to see future performances.

I left the Guild Theatre feeling more "fulfilled" for having listened and seen a truly talented musician enjoying his craft.

Shawn Phillips is currently touring South Africa to promote his 16th album release, No Category.

The musician will be playing next at the Boardwalk Casino in Port Elizabeth on Friday, August 30.

Mike Thayer