With a great pedigree, having supported The Who and Elton John, Never The Bride are UK Female Rock Royalty. These two true Queens Of Blues Rock stand out not only in performance, but also in compositional terms, and with a maturity of experience, the iconic duo are an inspiration for both young up and coming singers as well as for all.

Firstly, shaking her long, flowing blonde hair, you only have to look at Catherine “Been” Feeney’s fluent keyboard skills, guitar and vocals. Indeed, it’s so hard as a photographer to get an image of her face when she plays, much easier when she sings. Then there’s the other blonde, Nikki Lamborn, who excels as a singer, with her breathing, expression and is also outspoken, but with a sense of fun, such as urging the audience to drink some tequila and take tomorrow off from work. Lamborn gives good commentary to all the songs, along with her Rock on Goddess attitude to the audience being let’s all have a party. And indeed what a great party we had on NTB’s musical pirate ship tonight, as Lamborn, Been and their accomplished band rocked out.

Joined by Dave Levy on bass, Fergus Gerrard on drums, and Al Vosper looking and playing coolly on guitar, this assured, tight band played so competently and with understatement, that these two flamboyant front ladies couldn’t fail to deliver a good time to a delighted packed out Eel Pie Club audience, of whom Lamborn found out, had travelled far and wide to see this must see band.

Delivering with great panache, their set contained all influences of Rock, Blues, ballad, as well as quasi orchestral at times, with great originality and scores throughout. Grand Dame Lamborn owned and feminised the opener, a cover of The Rolling Stones ‘Sympathy for the Devil’, along with her ultra attitude. Indeed, I love and admire Lamborn’s perfectionism and how she breathes and holds a note, with such expression and control.

Hence my earlier aside that aspiring Rock Goddesses should take note and learn from Nikki. Not for nothing is she a renowned vocal and performance teacher, having coached Beverley Knight, Lana del Ray and many more. As for their set it, it was full of variety. Later made famous and sung by Shirley Bassey, Lamborn and Been’s composition, ‘Living Tree’, saw the duo’s vocals rightfully own this big “Bond” movie scale performance.

‘This Is A Cry for Love’ and ‘April Rain’ were masterful, while ‘Mind How You Go’ and ‘Keep on Rockin in The Free World’ simply enchanted me, as did their whole set. Their reworking of the Thin Lizzy cover proved, if you needed it, that ‘The Girls were back in Town’, and they closed out with ‘Tiger Bay’, as well as a big anthemic flag wave in homage to Wales.

Indeed an evening where the audience had all been on board, collectively drinking tequila with the Never The Bridge Pirate Queens, sailing with them on this superb set. Never The Bride are sheer unique entertainment. Go sail with them!

Review and Photos: Denise Lester