Gig review: Duane Eddy, Glasgow Oran Mor

Despite being one of the last surviving guitar heroes of the early rock’n’roll era, Duane Eddy had no idea that he might still be a draw.

It has been more than 50 years since he discovered that bending his bass strings created a very satisfying twang, not to mention an enduring signature style, and a quarter of a century since his last chart action, with The Art Of Noise, but his time has come again, with a little help from Eddy aficionado Richard Hawley, who produced his recent comeback album Road Trip, and whose super-tight band he has borrowed to back him on this tour.

Eddy says he treats his guitar sound like his voice, ensuring there is plenty of melody to feast on. This combination of texture and tuneage coupled with a low-slung strutting rhythm or a skiffly country backing made his set just about irresistible.

The 74-year-old Eddy was all grizzled charm. Every note rang with authority and every riff felt definitive, such as the prototype surf sound of his debut hit Moovin N Groovin’, the chiming hookline of which was borrowed by The Beach Boys for Surfin’ USA.

His economy of expression was represented by more than the pithy titles of Yep and Shazam, but just as effective were ballad numbers such as The Lonely One and the plangent John Barryesque soul of new track Bleaklow Air, in which Eddy’s guitar was set in a landscape of piano, string samples and lap steel every bit as sumptuous as old favourite Because They’re Young.

Having also dispatched some blues and prime rockabilly along the way, he finished up with his two tremelo anthems, Rebel Rouser and Peter Gunn, sounding as fresh as the day they were hatched.

Rating: *****