Philip Sayce brought his brand of fiery Blues-Rock to a packed Islington Assembly Hall, delivering a performance that balanced technical brilliance with an obvious love of the music. Backed by bassist Sam Bollie and drummer Bryan Head, the Welsh-born, Canadian-raised guitarist demonstrated why he has earned such a formidable reputation on both sides of the Atlantic.

Opening with 'Out Of My Mind' from 2015's 'Influence', the power trio immediately locked into a groove that showcased both precision and power. 'Bitter Monday' followed, adding a harder Rock edge while retaining enough melody to keep the songs accessible beyond Blues purists.

One of the evening's highlights arrived with Don Covay's 'Blues Ain't Nothing But A Good Woman On Your Mind'. Sayce's soulful vocal delivery complemented his expressive guitar playing. Throughout the set, he displayed an inventive streak, weaving fragments of classical themes and familiar melodies into his solos, keeping even extended instrumental passages engaging.

The set was cleverly structured around a number of song pairings. 'Standing Around Crying' began with a beautifully restrained guitar introduction before gradually gathering momentum as Bollie and Head joined the fray. It flowed seamlessly into 'Aberystwyth', a nod to Sayce's Welsh birthplace. Later, the driving 'Steamroller' was coupled with 'Powerful Thing', maintaining the night's relentless energy.

New material also featured prominently. Both 'Tongue Twister' and 'Chosen One' suggested there is plenty of creative life left in Sayce's songwriting, sitting comfortably alongside more established material. 'Angels Live Inside' highlighted the trio's collective strengths, with Bollie contributing a concise but impressive bass solo. At times, Sayce appeared almost inseparable from his guitar, every movement and phrase flowing naturally from instrument to player.

Instrumentals '5.55' and 'Alchemy' provided further opportunities for Sayce to display his technical prowess and melodic sensibility. The evening concluded with a thrilling rendition of Jimi Hendrix's 'Manic Depression', complete with playful musical quotations and even fleeting snippets of Beatles lyrics. It was a fitting end to a set that perfectly balanced virtuosity with musicality.

Earlier, Tom Moriarty opened proceedings with an engaging acoustic set. Possessing a distinctive gravelly vocal style, he complemented his songs with warm guitar playing, aided by a custom-built instrument that produced a particularly rich tone. Joined by Ryan Robinson for the closing numbers, Moriarty gradually built momentum throughout his set before finishing with 'Hard Times', a song whose title neatly summed up the mood of the times. It provided a solid opening to the evening and prepared the audience well for the main attraction.

Review: Ivan De Mello
Photos and Video: Denise Lester