Culture: Slow start but then the Soul Man hit the stage.

Byline: Lorna Gangel

The Animals with Steve Cropper, Newcastle's Carling Academy.

TWO giants of the blues scene took over the attic room in the Carling Academy on Wednesday.

The Animals and Steve Cropper played with all the soul you would expect of musicians of their stature, but was the modest stage a big enough podium to do these heavyweights justice?

First up were The Animals, complete with new front man ...whose presence seemed to fill the entire room.

The band played the vintage anthems you were hoping for, Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood and We Gotta Get Out Of This Place but for all gusto of the vocalist and the experience of the band, the crowd seemed detached.

Why?

The singer admittedly was a man for Marmite tastes - you either embraced his flamboyancy and suspicious American twang or you didn't ... most didn't.

Then came the Soul Man himself, Steve Cropper.

Suddenly the atmosphere I had been longing for was tangible.

Out of nowhere a group of 20-somethings were at the front of the stage, in awe of the deific presence of the demi-god himself.

You were aware you were sharing the same air as a walking, talking, strumming marvel.

He played Dock Of The Bay and Put A Spell On You among other favourites but the highlight had to be the opening two notes of Soul Man.

I got goosebumps while the crowd responded accordingly: jumping, dancing, clapping and singing with zeal and sheer delight.

The night was certainly a tale of two halves but nobody, not even The Animals, begrudged being in the shadow of the mighty Cropper.

Admittedly, the night was a slow starter but, when it was over, the crowd were both elated and nostalgic, with a noticeable spring in their step and blues riffs aplenty running through their heads.