The Bromley Blues Club on a Sunday evening is a retro gem of a venue. Situated in Bromley Little Theatre, with its cute red velvet seats, smiling bar staff and cheery host Oli Mississippi MacDonald, this is a venue and club worth visiting. The stage and seating mean that you can enjoy the Blues with comfort and a drink.

Indeed, Neil, Paul and Oli are the talented tech team making it happen. Venues like this one have a loyal local following and yet were so welcoming to me as a North London lass who had crossed over the River Thames this evening! I did so, as not only had it been long on my radar to visit this club, but I also especially wanted to see Will Jacobs and Breezy Rodio live. Both artists are from Chicago and their Soul meet Blues style reflects this Chicago sound. On a one week tour in the UK and in Europe, to me they were a must see.

And I also wanted to see them as a solo act with a full set. Rodio is in fact Italian - born in Rome - settled in the US - and an artist signed to the famous Delmar Records label. Will Jacobs - US Born and Berlin based - is a great co-guitarist and co-vocalist. Together they have formed Electric Soul Company, with bassist Light Palone and drummer Lorenzo Francocci.

Despite a 12 hour drive from Germany to meet their first date on this too short UK tour, these guys were great, slick and fresh. Experienced musicians, with a retro tonality as well as both a Chicago Blues and smooth Blues Soul style, they were pleasing on the ear and eye. I felt like Chicago had come to Bromley! Rodio was Breezy in his style and banter, with lots of “Howdy Y’all”, and it was Jacobs’ birthday also, so this show had an added special dimension.

Both playing guitar intensely, Jacobs and Rodio also took it in turns to co-lead vocally, while credit must go to Palone and Francocci for being perfectly in tune on a set that featured 'She Feels Good', 'Love of Mine', 'Our Love', 'Down on Halsted Street', 'If You Think I Need You' and 'Woman’s Gotta Have It. Other highlights were the Soul infused 'Are You Serious', as well as the wonderful melodic 'Woman Across The River', led by Rodio, and a tune that I can’t stop humming since the gig! Indeed, tonight's appreciative audience of regulars, including frequent Blues gig goers Dee Roberts and her husband Dennis, sang and cheered this class act of young Chicago Blues meisters on for two encores.

Suffice to say that tonight, was a memorable gig for me, duly snapping up both their eponymous debut plus Breezy Rodio's 'Chemistry' album. Of which the latter, recorded in London in 2023 when these guys were over, not only features the much missed Linsey Alexander, but also Marco Cinelli on organ and lead guitar, with both Marco’s production and mixing expertise excitingly coming to fruition!

Anyway, I look forward to hearing Electric Soul Company again! Make sure you don't miss them tonight (Friday 13th March) when they play Soho's Ain't Nothin' But in London at 9.30pm Enjoy!

Review, photos and video: Denise Lester