Ahead of their highly anticipated debut album launch at the legendary 100 Club in London’s West End on Thursday 25th September, last Friday saw 2024 UK Blues Awards ‘Emerging Artist of the Year’ winners, The Zac Schulze Gang, kick off their current eight-date April UK tour at a sold out and very intimate The Grace in London, the Medway invasion being completed by special guests and former WRC Award winners Bad Pennies.

Hailing from the Garden of England, and although originally a covers band, Bad Pennies are a tight, no-nonsense and well respected four-piece Blues Rock band - inspired by the finest Blues-Rockers of the 70's & 80's - who deservedly walked away with our 2018 WRC Best Reviewed CD award thanks to their debut album 'Songs From The Medway Delta'. As one very astute Facebook wag pointed out, "a very apt support for the end of the Tax Year", the quartet comprising founder/guitarist Gary Seager, drummer Rich Bailey, bassist Gavin Matthews and lead vocalist Adam Walker, didn't short change a delighted audience with their half hour/seven song nicely balanced originals/covers set.

Thy kicked off with 'Come On', a cover of both Jimi Hendrix and Steve Ray Vaughan's rocked up arrangement of Freddie KIng's ‘Let The Good Times Roll’, which they most certainly did! This was followed by the raucous 'Hometown Blues', taken from their aforementioned debut album, featuring the superbly Homburg hatted Seager's rocking guitar, no doubt taking the vastly experienced Matthews back to his NWOBHM days. An unmistakeable Psychedelic Pop backing vocal intro (matched by Walker's blue and orange shirt), saw the band then launch into Cream's iconic 'I Feel Fine', before they returned to their WRC award winning album, with the classic stock, Stevie Ray Vaughan Blues Rock riff of the Matthews & Seager penned, 'Mynah Bird', another track that gave Gary licence for some groovy guitar moves as well as some great diction delivered by Adam.

The final track aired tonight from their first and only album, the leather 'Outback' hatted Matthews' 'Queen of All The City', kept things rocking, as this edgy boogie with its infectious chorus, saw Gavin's bass as well as the capped Rich's drums driving things along very nicely, with more great work from Seager and Walker. The guys completed this thoroughly enjoyable aperitif with two knock-out covers, namely Deep Purple's 'Lazy' and Rory Gallagher's 'Tattoo'd Lady'. Having developed their own unique style of raw, unadulterated Blues Rock, make sure in future you're in for a penny, in for a pound, by checking out their busy gig itinerary at https://www.badpennies.co.uk/Bad_Pennies/Dates.html

Indeed, tonight was the third time I'd witnessed these ultimate Men Of Kent whirlwind headliner's, the last of which was supporting the equally impressive Samantha Fish back in October at Camden's Koko in London. Suffice to say, off the back off those two electrifying performances I invited two TZSG virgins along tonight to see what all the fuss was all about, and indeed, how good was it to see their jaws drop in amazement at this power trio's brilliant musicianship, equally matched by their rambunctious stagecraft, that deservedly earned the band at least two more fans by the end of proceedings

Comprising Schulze brothers Zac (guitar/lead vocals) and Ben (drums), as well as Ant Greenwell on bass, the trio burnt their way through a number of R’n’B standards as well as their own material, all played with high energy, great fun plus Zac's stunningly powerful Blues guitar. They opened with two storming songs from their forthcoming album, 'Woman' and 'Hi-Roller', of which the former was their captivating first album single, delivered fast and loud with a cool bass solo from Ant, as well as punchy vocal from Zac.

Taken from their 2023 EP, 'Made Of Three', Hole In My Pocket had the venue jumpin' as the red and white striped shirted Greenwell took over vocal duties, before Zac's equally awesome riff on Rufus Thomas's 'Walking The Dog' led us across the Thames to Canvey Island and an all action cover of Dr. Feelgood's 'She Does It Right', with Zac's iconic Wilko Johnson-esque shuffle across the stage, poignantly thrown in for good measure.

Another cover, Rory Gallagher's 'I Take What I Want' was deliciously sandwiched in between two more mouthwatering appetisers from the new album, namely the next single 'The Rocker' (not to be confused with the Thin Lizzy track) and 'Keep It Up'. Two further outstanding covers of Rory Gallagher's 'Off The Handle' and 'Fleetwood Mac's 'Oh Well followed, before they played their current album single, 'I Won't Do This Any More', with its classic British R'n'B sound, Punk bravado, hi-octane energy plus bundles of aggression.

Once again Ant took over on lead vocals on an amusing and entertaining cover of The Robins' 'Framed', although the song is probably best known for its Jerry Reed version. Next was one of the highlights for me when i first saw the gang at Faversham's A New Day Festival last August. Cue their take on The Cinelli Brothers groovy 'Dry Spell', which had it all, with yet another outstanding bass solo by Greenwell, a drum solo from Zac's Gromit t-shirt wearing bro Ben, plus the traditional chord numbers game from this wild eyed, facial gurning guitarist, that had to be seen to be believed!

Despite his incredible physical exertions on stage, amazingly Zac kept his jacket on for the whole set, although we could just make out his Jesse Garwood Blues Rock Band t-shirt he was proudly wearing underneath, given that his mate Jesse was also present tonight. A very tempting Zac snippet of Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway To Heaven' gave way to another classic and set closer, cue an explosive cover of Mel London's 'Messin' With The Kid', showcasing another Ant solo, before they thankfully returned for an awesome rockin' cover of Rory Gallagher's 'Ballyshannon Blues', no doubt bringing back fond memories of when they had the well deserved honour of performing at Rory Fest last June.

Punchy, engaging and superb, tomorrow night Gillingham's finest stop off on the fourth leg of their tour at Newcastle's The Cluny 2 with special guests Abnorm. Do not miss them!

AJ

Photos: Ricardo Marques