Barry's Views

Review:

Lightnin Willie and the Poorboys always give good value but this gig was something else. They played a long first set, with the whole band going flat out - drummer Tony Bert (his dad played drums for Chas & Dave) hitting a huge groove, Spy pulling all the stops out on bass and Giles King excelling on harp (fusing Big & Little Walter with Sonny Boy Williamson in a style all his own - Willie calls him a world-beater and he should know!) and the man himself LW entertaining to the tips of his fingers and the top of his hat.
Half time came and with a horrible pop the electrics went down - the whole block was in darkness - but nothing daunted the whole band treated us to a wholly acoustic 2nd set of 45 minutes or so, not an easy thing to do but they did it with flair and considerable charm. Those present will not forget such big-hearted professionalism in a hurry.
Under the rather trying circumstances, this has to be gig of the year so far! How many performers could or would turn things around so triumphantly? Thanks to Willie and the boys in the band for a superb evening against all the odds!

Dave Kingsbury