Very aptly during Independent Venues Week, Solid Entertainments award winning Tuesday Blues returned after its festive recess to London's The 100 Club last month, featuring Blues-Rock guitarist/singer and songwriter Aynsley Lister, as well as special guests Thea Wilson and Albany Down.

We'd reviewed 20-year-old Thea Watson supporting Will Wilde at this very same venue last March, a set brimming with soul and finesse. It was more of the same tonight, as the bubbly songstress wished the savvy early arrivals, including a strong contingent of her own fans, a "Happy Tuesday", before her outstanding, youthful quintet delivered an impressive, albeit too short five-song set of R&B and Blues covers and originals.

James Brown's 'It's A Man's Man's Man's World' not only saw a great opening vocal from Thea, but also a fine solo from her lead guitarist, despite the curse of a broken string. Quite surprisingly given their tight performance, Watson admitted this was the band's first gig for nearly a year, which perhaps explained only one deviation from last year's gig.

Although this didn't show, given the keys solo on one of their originals 'Chainsmoker', nor on that one change, a classy take of Willie Dixon's 'I Just Want To Make Love To You'. Probably best known for her work with multi-instrumentalist Greg Coulson (of Will Wilde’s band), next up was Thea's "favourite" collaboration with Greg, the excellent 'Skin and Tears', before closing out with another silky vocal on her self-penned 'Manchild'. Despite the recent hiatus, tonight Thea proved again that her talent is still one very much to watch.

As for London-based Blues Rock trio Albany Down, we go back a long way. Back to 2015 to be precise, where not only did the quartet (in those days) grace us by appearing at our July BluesRockFest at Gravesend's Leo's Red Lion, but they also honoured us by playing later that year at our WRC Xmas Bash at St. Albans' The Horn. To cap it off, guitarist Paul Turley also won our WRC Best Guitar Solo that year, so it was good to see the only surviving founder member Paul tonight, now also on lead vocals, weaving his inspirational magic again, alongside Pete Hancock on drums and backing vocals, as well as Ben Atkins on bass and backing vocals also.

"Is everyone ready?" teased the bespectacled frontman, the answer being an assured yes, as the trio launched tonight's proceedings with the first single from their last album 'Born In The Ashes', namely 'Always Want What You Can't Have', showcasing both Hancock's pounding drums as well as a loosening guitar solo and vocal from Turley. With Paul jokingly accusing someone of "nicking his setlist", thankfully order was restored with 'Man Like Me', that brought back fond memories of BluesRockFest plus their 2013 album 'Not Over Yet'. Cue the marching drums of Hancock, Atkins throbbing bass lines, as well as Turley's looped riffs and aggressive vocal.

Another from 'Born In The Ashes', the Hendrix vibe of 'Reflections', was followed by the familiar foot tappin' title track from their 2011 debut album 'South Of The City'. as Paul duly changed his guitar delivering not only two monstrous slide driven solos, but also a rasped gravel edged vocal to boot. Another guitar change greeted their rockin' title track from their latest fourth album, before 'Darkest Day', another track from 'Born In The Ashes', saw an outstanding bass solo from Ben.

After Turley's well deserved plug for their merch stand, their penultimate track of this exceptional set was very fittingly the driving Rock of 'Let Your Love Shine', the closing song from 'Born In The Ashes'. Ultimate professionals to the end, Paul amusingly insisted "it's important we're in tune", as they ended in a similar vein with the final track from 'Not Over Yet', 'and their song for the people, 'The Working Man'. Suffice to say this triggered both an emotional vocal from Turley as well as two gloriously executed solos of equal passion. On this evidence, we won't leave it as long to see you next time guys!

As for Aynsley Lister, we go back even further. To Putney's The Half Moon in April 2012 to be precise, where Aynsley blew us away to the extent that we ultimately asked him to headline our WRC BluesFest in July 2014, again at Leo's. Indeed, this particular January night at The 100 Club has become a tradition, and once again we made our annual pilgrimage to London see this unique Blues-Rock guitarist/singer and songwriter.

Accompanied by the very welcome familiar faces of Jono Martin on bass and Craig Bacon on drums, once again Lister drew on his vast, quality driven back catalogue for another superb set. Opening with the epic licks, great tone and ZZ Top inspired title track from 2006's 'Everything I Need', Lister was immediately in the groove, equally matched by his consummate vocals. And talking of title tracks, is there any better than 2013's 'Home', that saw Aynsley so deservedly awarded not only 'Best Blues Song' at the 2014 British Blues Awards, but also 'Best Songwriter'. As powerful a Blues ballad as you’ll hear anywhere, Lister's cracking guitar solo with delicious added feedback, brought back fond memories of Putney when he first debuted this classic.

As smooth behind the mic as he is with his guitar, Lister welcomed the packed "London Town" crowd as well as courteously thanking Thea and Albany Down. Indeed, believe it or not over the last thirteen years at this award winning Tuesday Blues, Aynsley has figured six times in the top ten best attended concerts! We rest our case! Craig's clever sticks drum intro heralded their Blues instrumental 'Quiet Boy', another from 'Everything I Need', before a really enjoyable, but yet unnamed newbie (how about 'Same As You?'), with its very strong Snow Patrol vibe. Wow - can't wait for that one to be released!

The first airing this evening from 2017's 'Equiibrium', namely 'Hurricane', went down a storm as usual, again bringing back memories of The Half Moon, albeit at that juncture including the added dimension of Dan Healey's keys. It was now time "to wake up and smell the cocoa" on 'Hyde 2612', inspired by the 70's cop drama 'Life on Mars'. Cue some glorious slide guitar work from Lister, complemented by the wonderful rhythm section of Bacon and Martin (who also contributed some tight harmonies this evening), which also saw the audience shouting and clapping along to this delightful oddity from 'Home'.

Colloquially known as 'The Beano Album', the debut studio album by John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, it was now time for Eric Clapton to eat his heart out as Aynsley now turned to his trusty old Blues guitar to expertly cover the album instrumental, 'Hideaway', accompanied by an outstanding drum solo from Craig. Bit of a stupid question then after that, when Lister asked whether we were enjoying ourselves, although to be fair, Aynsley did qualify it with the fact that this was the band's first gig in six weeks.

Well it certainly didn't show as they kept up the momentum with 'Fallin' Down' from 2007's 'Upside' Down', which ended up with Lister and Martin squaring off their guitars before very appropriately sinking down to their knees. Following on with another from the excellent 'Equilibrium', Aynsley's neat Delta Blues intro suddenly exploded into his stand out riff and vocal on 'Running Out On Me', and if that wasn't enough, Lister then shared the good news that he's releasing a new, raw and edgy double live album shortly!

And on the earlier subject of tradition, very predictably the trio's penultimate offering was Prince's 'Purple Rain', his unique cover that I never tire of hearing, and an opportunity for a glorious audience singalong, albeit one or two of them discourteously chatting during Lister's hushed solo. STFU! Finally, a deserved encore of 'Balls Of Steel', taken from 2002's 'All Or Nothing', wrapped up an awesome set with its distinctive Quo/ZZ Top vibe.

The only British artist to be featured in Classic Rock's 2007 'Top 10 Contemporary Blues Artists', there is no question that since that memorable night nearly fourteen years ago in Putney, Lister still has the voice, the Blues/Rock guitar prowess and indeed the boat race, belying his 49 years. So what are you waiting for? If you don't manage to see him touring this year, then make sure you're here at The 100 Club on Tuesday 26th January 2027. It's a date to remember!

Review: AJ
Photos: Ivan De Mello