Bill Wyman at the Birchmere, Gathering No Moss

Buzz McClain in the Washington Post

Scott Miller sent this review to BtP

It was only rock-and-roll, but the crowd at the sold-out Birchmere liked it, liked it, yes it did, as former Rolling Stone bassist Bill Wyman led his
11-piece band, the Rhythm Kings, through more than two hours of jamming Sunday night.

Wyman stood at the center of the musical maelstrom, calmly playing his bass as if entirely unaffected by Gary Brooker (Procol Harum) on piano to his left and Georgie Fame (the Blue Flames) to his right. In between were veteran guitarists Albert Lee, Martin Taylor and Terry Taylor, each of whom performed with polish and panache on an assortment of up-tempo party tunes including Jump, Jive and Wail, Hit the Road, Jack and Mystery Train.

Okay, it wasn't only rock-and-roll. There were moments of jump boogie and earthy blues as well. Nor was the evening entirely Stoneless; the
Jagger/Richards composition Melody found its way into the set. But the song selection for this British band was predominantly vintage American rock. JJ Cale, Howlin' Wolf and even Dan Hicks were included in a show that was heavy on frat-house ambiance, epitomized by Screamin' Jay Hawkins's emotional breakdown I Put A Spell On You, sung with preternatural, Janis Joplinish force by vocalist Beverly Skeete.

Opening the show was Boston guitarist Johnny A.'s trio, which performed a tasteful and occasionally thrilling set of "surf blues" instrumentals.
Played on Johnny A.'s Gibson Les Paul electric guitar, familiar tunes such as Jimmy Webb's Wichita Lineman and Willie Cobb's You Don't Love Me took on new, dynamic dimensions.