There was a hint of Groundhog Day about this evening, as these two guitarists had played nearby at The Garage almost exactly a year previously. There wasn’t a great deal of change from 2023 in the setlists either, although that didn’t seem to worry the audience one little bit.

Last time Troy performed entirely solo, but this year his guitar was backed by Nick Waters’ minimalist drum kit. He was also less reliant on his most recent two albums, ‘The Fire Cosmic!’ (2021) and ‘The Wings Of Salvation’ (2022), for his material; indeed, none of the night’s first three songs appear in those releases.

Relying largely on his amplified resonator guitar and his slide, Troy did dip into those albums later, with ‘Dark Religion’ coming from 2022 and the final pair of ‘Waiting For Your Love’ and ‘Sanctify’ from a year earlier. The extended ‘Sanctify’ sent me into the interval with my head pounding nearly as much as the relentless drums! It was all well received, though, judging by the business done later at Troy’s well-stocked merch table.

While I don’t think I’ve ever seen Troy without his trademark hat, Mr Sayce had decided to forego last winter’s impressive headgear for this year’s tour, for which he was again accompanied by bassist Sam Bolle and drummer Bryan Head.

They once again opened up with ‘Out Of My Mind’ (from ‘Influence’, 2014), before following it up with ‘Bitter Monday’ (from ‘Innerevolution’, 2010). The pace was maintained with a medley comprising the title track from ‘Steamroller’ (2012) and ‘Powerful Thing’ (originally from ‘Peace Machine’, 2005, before reappearing on ‘Ruby Electric’, 2011).

The ‘Blues Ain’t Nothin’ But A Good Woman On Your Mind’ is a song far snappier than its title and was lifted from Don Covay’s 1969 album “House Of Blue Lights”, while Muddy Waters’ classic ‘Standing Around Crying’ pre-dates it by nearly two decades! The latter song segued into a song dedicated to the leader’s birthplace in North Wales (although he relocated with his family to Canada as an infant).

‘Lady Love Divine’ was taken from Philip’s latest album ‘The Wolves Are Coming’ (2024) and, like the following ‘She’s The Music’ (from the download only ‘Spirits Rising’, 2020), it is dedicated to his wife. After a romp through John Lee Hooker’s ‘This Is Hip’ (also from the new album), Mrs Sayce was given a third dedication in the shape of ‘Beautiful’ (from ‘Steamroller’).

The guitarheads in the audience lapped it all up, as ‘5:55’ (from ‘Spirits Rising’) segued into ‘Alchemy’ (which, like the earlier ‘Powerful Thing’, had appeared on CD in both 2005 and 2011), before a welcome look back at the leader’s underrated 1996 debut (‘Philip Sayce Group’) in the shape of ‘Morning Star’.

Of course, few Blues/Rock gigs pass without a tip of the hat to Hendrix and Philip’s was ‘Manic Depression’ from Jimi’s ‘Are You Experienced’ (1967). Troy was welcomed back on stage for ‘Goin’ Down’, which had a suitably jam session feel to it, before a brief burst of ‘I’m Going Home’ as a closer (like the opener, it’s taken from ‘Influence’).

With a newly released album to promote, it was perhaps a little surprising that only two songs from it were included in the setlist, but maybe some of the others will be road tested for potential inclusion next time around. On tonight’s evidence I’m sure most of the audience will be back to find out.

Gary Smith

Photos: Les Linyard

Setlists:

TR – Shake It; Takin’ My Soul; NATO; Dark Religion; Waiting For Your Love;
Sanctify.

PS – Out Of My Mind; Bitter Monday; Steamroller/Powerful Thing; Blues Ain’t
Nothin’ But A Good Woman On Your Mind; Standing Around Crying/
Aberystwyth; Lady Love Divine; She’s The Music; This Is Hip; Beautiful;
5:55/Alchemy; Morning Star; Manic Depression; Goin’ Down; I’m Going
Home.