Following the release at the end of last month of her new studio album, 'Smell The Roses', internationally acclaimed Blues Rock guitarist, singer and songwriter Erja Lyytinen completed another 12-date UK tour at HRH Blues 9 at Leicester's O2 Academy on Sunday night, and two night's earlier we were indeed lucky to be present in London to see the Finnish slide goddess at Islington's O2 Academy 2.

With an apparent curfew tonight of 10pm, not only was there no support band, but this meant that the new 'Smell The Roses' look Erja plus her power trio, comprising Heikki Saarenkunnas on bass and Jesse Lehto on drums, arrived on stage well before 8pm to a huge welcome, albeit unfortunately not from a very packed crowd. Indeed, Saarenkunnas and of course Lyytinen were the constant from the last time we saw Erja play in London, almost a year ago to the day at Putney's The Half Moon.

Sporting a new bob cut hairstyle matched in colour by her equally striking black leather attire, the ever smiling Lyytinen bravely launched into all nine tracks from her new album, although once again recalling the famous Morecambe & Wise one-liner, tonight the trio played all the right songs but not necessarily in the right order. Kicking off with the Bluesy but energetic 'Ball and Chain', Erja's slide solo immediately had the crowd hanging off every note, as did the slower but powerful 'Wings To Fly', with its Southern Rock/Americana feel, complemented by an outstanding Lyytinen vocal. One of the many stand-outs from the evening.

The obligatory "How are doing London?", understandably got a very favourable response from the Lyytinen faithful present, despite the fact that we were now 'Going To Hell', as we all duly rocked out to this delightful mix of Blues and Prog Rock, that was followed by the meaty beaty big and bouncy stomping intro of "Dragonfly', with its gloriously constructed climactic build up, including yet another superb guitar solo from Erja.

"It's so good to play new songs", Lyytinen refreshingly commented, as she introduced the third single from the album, the melancholic, as well as the heaviest Rock riff so far tonight, namely the Soundgarden vibe of 'Abyss'. Featuring the pony-tailed Heikki's loud throbbing bass, and despite the absence of Harri Taittonen's Hammond organ from the album version, this guitar-driven eight-minute epic had not one, but two guitar solos, as Erja, despite her high heels, mastered her pedals, as well as throwing in an outstanding vocal to boot.

Lehto's pounding drum intro meant it was now time to wake up and 'Smell The Roses', the album title track, as well as its first single, of which Lyytinen's Kate Bush-esque delivery, as well as its cool Rock/Pop riff, very reminiscent of The Cardigans, kept us totally captivated. The only ballad on the album, 'Empty Hours', had it all, including brilliant drumming from Jesse, a heartfelt vocal from Erja, as well as her amazing melancholic slide guitar melody, that emanated influences of Blind Willie Johnson's 'Dark Was the Night, Cold was the Ground'.

Further stunning slide and vocals, but completely in contrast, saw Lyytinen uncontrollably duck walking across the stage to the swampy foot tappin', 'Stoney Creek', whilst similarly, almost verging on a hoedown, the second album single, 'The Ring', concluded the nine new album tracks, an upbeat and energetic Rock 'n' Roll song with some more solo slide guitar riffing, that not only reinforced the breadth of the album's genre, but the fact that it was also all killer, no filler this evening.

Heikki's bass intro heralded 'You Talk Dirty', the only airing tonight from 2002's aptly named 'Attention!', which did exactly what it said on the tin, as Erja's eruptive slide prowess manifested into general foot stomping and hand clapping amongst an ecstatic audience, that saw Lyytinen and Saarenkunnas raise their guitars back to back centre stage, before another awesome outro by this monogrammed belt strapped guitar slinger.

We were promised a long one for the final song of the night, and the band truly delivered at around a quarter of an hour! Cue 'Wedding Day', the only song played tonight from 2019's 'Another World', albeit a four-minute album track that Erja originally performed with Sonny Landreth, but gratuitously extended tonight to also include amongst other things, a vocal from Heikki, snippets of both AC/DC and Deep Purple, but best of all, an unbelievable Blues solo thrown into the mix by Lyytinen.

Teasing us with that well-known Finnish expression, "More my lovelies?", the answer was an overwhelming yes, as the band encored with 'Lover's Novels', taken from 'Stolen Hearts', which nicely took us back to exactly eight years ago to the the day and Erja's album launch of said album at London's iconic The 100 Club. In fact, the day before, we not only had the privilege of seeing Erja perform a private unplugged set at Soho's Ain't Nothing But Blues venue, but we also interviewed her as well.

Indeed, it was good to catch up and say hello to the delightful Erja at a very busy merch stand after the show, who is as personable off the stage as she is on it. Given the early finish, it also gave us time to chew over the cud in the pub across the road afterwards, with some other buzzing gig attendees, the consensus of opinion being she was outstanding, just a shame that there were not more there to witness it. Despite this, and as expected, Lyytinen once again put her heart and soul into a performance that proved, if needed, that she is still very much part of the Blues Rock vanguard. Just make sure you do not miss out next time. You will not be sorry.

AJ

Photos: Denise Lester