A well-judged double bill at The 100 Club, with Miguel Montalban & The Southern Vultures bringing the power-trio format and four-piece Garcia adding another dimension to proceedings. With both bands sporting suitably straggly-haired, 1970s Hard-Rock looks, there is a pleasingly retro feel to the evening.

There are plenty of familiar faces from the Soho and Camden Rock circuit in the room, including Marc Hayward, recently seen sharing the stage with Tony Iommi on the Black Sabbath Ballet tour, and the ever-effervescent Cedric Pfister of Daxx & Roxane. There is also an eclectic mix of Montalban devotees, seemingly primed for a night of head-banging and guitar-fuelled mayhem.

Opener 'Wander' sets the scene. Drummer Edoardo Mariotti and bass player Bruno Pint are completely on point, providing a rock-solid platform for maestro Montalban to roam. 'Electrifying' lives up to its title, but there is more here than technical fireworks, with melody given equal billing. Montalban’s judicious use of wah adds another layer, while Pint's bass supplies funky, complementary runs underneath.

The dynamics are just as impressive, the pace dropping suddenly into a guitar call-and-response before the trio builds towards another crescendo.

'Go Off The Rails' introduces more vocals and a heavier, dirtier edge, while 'Awaken' gives Montalban his solo spotlight. What begins as a deceptively simple riff develops into Blues, shredding and a full-on whammy-bar workout. Seventies excess, perhaps, but delivered with enough musicality to avoid becoming mere guitar gymnastics.

'Fell In Love' and 'Baby That’s Alright' take us towards the finish, complete with vocoder-style effects and a drum solo from Mariotti. Montalban announces new material with 'Moondust' and the recently released 'Stoneburn'. The latter builds ominously around its drum pattern and breathy vocals before moving through a funky bridge and eventually erupting into a guitar solo that provides a fitting finale.

Then it’s Garcia’s turn. The four-piece, looking every inch the shaggy-haired 1970s Rock survivors, spring a surprise by introducing a new keyboard player, whose contribution adds another facet to their sound. Their nailed-on version of the Spencer Davis Group’s 'Keep On Running' works beautifully, while their spaced-out take on The Doors’ 'L.A. Woman' brings the evening to a suitably hazy close.

With the hair, the riffs and enough wah-wah to power a vintage Marshall stack, this was a double bill that wore its 1970s Hard-Rock influences proudly. The 100 Club audience seemed more than happy to go along for the ride.

Review + pics: Ivan De Mello
Video + pics: Denise Lester