Dave Thomas’ gig this evening excited me. Thomas, the well known Blues man from Wales, delivers traditional Blues, with a smooth sounding twist. And indeed a really enjoyable evening was had not only by me, but by all of the Eel Pie Club audience. This was a set where you just sat back, listened, soaked up the beers, watched and adored the sound.

Tonight I was expecting a thorough run through of Thomas’ latest 2026 album offering, 'Bridge Street Blues', which has been hyped in the UK Blues press. Although, this was later on in the set, but was indeed easy Swing Blues with Dave's sweet guitar tone. However, the set was far more varied, featuring early on, 'Road to the Blues', the title track from Thomas’ earlier 2022 album, and its honky-tonk tunefulness, as well as the very enjoyable 'Leaving San Francisco', also from the same album, with its more upbeat, up shuffle Blues tempo. I was just buckled up and enjoying this Blues shuffle ride!

There was also some classic Blues fare amongst the set, which took on a party-cum-jam atmosphere, featuring Thomas’ long time associates, namely Laurence Garman (ex-Bob Marley and The Wailers, Freddie King, The Yardbirds, Gerry Rafferty and Lightnin’ Slim), guitarist Geoff Peel (David Sinclair Four), bassist Spy Austin (ex-Desmond Dekker, George Clinton, The Style Council, Tim Hain and Station House), plus Micky Osbourne on drums

Muddy Waters 'Repossession Blues' was followed by J. B. Lenoir’s 'Talk To Your Daughter', a great foot and finger tapping song with some great licks, that had every father and daughter in the audience relating to this upbeat 1954 tune! Indeed, I know that my late music loving father of blessed memory would have smiled and liked it! 'Subaru Blues' also made me smile, as it would have done for my Subaru Owners Club ex-boyfriend!

I also enjoyed watching my mate and prominent, respected British Blues harmonica player Garman, now with David Sinclair Four, Davide Mazzantini plus others, play Blues harp with Austin and Peel, all having fun .
with Thomas on the up shuffle 'Ludella', as well as the slow Blues of 'Last Night'. Others included amongst this lengthy, fulsome Blues set, was another Muddy Waters‘ number, 'Hoochie Coochie Man', as well as 'I Wanna Be Loved'.

Complemented also by his outstanding core band of British Bluesman, including Phil Marshall on sax, Norwich's Rusty Floyd on drums, Mark Howes on Gibson guitar, plus Joe Bernard on bass, Thomas’ smooth sounding vocals, along with his deceptively easy guitar technique, made for a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Guys you were all great at this legendary venue this evening, meaning that my own Blues loving light shone bright into my night ride home!

Review, photos and video: Denise Lester