So early in 2026, but the headline set could prove to a contender for the gig of the year list!

Bassist and vocalist Danielle Nicole may only have released three albums in the decade since she left Trampled Under Foot to perform as a leader, but she tours extensively and her most recent London shows (the previous one was in 2023 at The Forge in Camden) have won her a growing following and deservedly so.

Her solid bass playing anchors a fine trio, with her husband Brandon Miller on guitar and Pat Adams on drums, but it was her voice that stole the show; I hope she’d accept it as a compliment if I liken it to that of Susan Tedeschi.

Given that the band has a relatively recent album to promote in ‘The Love You Bleed’ (2024), it was surprising to realise post-gig that half the setlist had come from its predecessor ‘Cry No More’ (2018). Indeed, the opener (from 2024) was followed by a trio of songs from 2018, with the pick of them being ‘I’m Going Home’, due to two long and inventive solos by Miller.

The excellent ‘Take It All’ (from ‘Wolf Den’, 2015) could have fooled me in a blindfold test into thinking that I was listening to a stripped down Tedeschi Trucks Band; if Danielle’s voice has similarities with Susan’s, then Brandon’s guitar sounded just as much like Derek’s at times! I doubt that there was anyone in the audience who wasn’t hooked by this point.

Etta James’ ballad ‘A Lover Is Forever’ (2024) was played as a beautiful duet for voice and guitar, before Adams rejoined the fun for ‘Love On My Brain’ (also 2024). Bill Withers’ aching ‘The Same Love’ was also taken at close to ballad tempo, before things were ramped up again for the set closer ‘Crawl’ (2018).

The encore began with a long guitar instrumental feature, before ‘Save Me’ (2018) sent us home with the blood pumping through our veins; wonderful stuff!

There had been an eye catching start to the evening, when I caught sight of Malina Moye waiting near the cloakroom, ready to make her entrance from the bar area, through the audience to the stage. Her ensemble of black spandex leotard, fishnet tights and stack heeled boots suggested that she wouldn’t suffer through lack of self-confidence!

Although the lady showed that she can certainly play guitar – ‘A Little Rough’ (‘Bad As I Wanna Be’, 2018) and Jimi’s ‘Foxy Lady’ (which she’d played on one of the Experience Hendrix tours in the USA) were probably the best examples - much of the set owed at least as much to Funk and Soul as it did to the Blues (it was generally well received, but it was supposed to be a Blues festival…).

Most of the songs were taken from three of her albums (‘Diamonds & Guitars’, 2009 and ‘Dirty’, 2023 being the other two) and we now all know that F.I.N.E. sometimes stands for f*cked up, insecure, neurotic and emotionally unstable!

Setlists:

DNB - How Did We Get To Goodbye; Pusher Man; I’m Going Home; Cry No
More; Take It All; A Lover Is Forever; Love On My Brain; The Same
Love That Made Me Laugh; Crawl; guitar solo; Save Me.

MM - instrumental; Run Free; Hustler’s Blues; F.I.N.E.; Yaah!; Jumpin’;
K-Yotic; A Little Rough; Nasty Girl; Foxy Lady; Say My Name.

Review: Gary Smith
Photos: Bruce Biege