16 January 2018 (gig)
18 January 2018
The Half Moon was the first date on the tour, the band had only properly gotten together a few days before and Sari was two days out of being hospitalised with the flu.
Not necessarily the best of omens or reasons to drag yourself out on a cold, damp and windy night.
End result though was that the crowd at the Half Moon were treated to an exceptional show and one that suggests that if you dig Blues music you should sell your soul for a ticket to see her on this tour.
Last year, the Engine Room backed up Sari Schorr and featured Innes Sibun on guitar and Anders Olinder (keys) – a damn fine noise they made too. This year she has Ash Wilson on guitar and Bob Fridzema on keyboards and they are even more supportive of her powerful and expressive vocals.
Wilson’s guitar was terrific and Bob Fridzema showed just why he was so popular with the King King fans – huge Hammond sound really delivering Sari’s vocals.
Overall, the sound was darker, funkier and more soulful than previously. Numbers such as ‘Demolition Man’ and ‘Ain’t Got No Money’ really coming over strongly. Wilson’s guitar in her imperious version of Leadbelly’s ‘Black Betty’ really cut through and the whole band cooked on ‘Oklahoma’.
There were some new numbers – ‘This Is For You’ was brilliant – and it sounds as though she is going back into the studio shortly for the follow up to ‘A Force Of Nature’ – can’t wait.
She finished up on a belting version of ‘Aunt Hazel’, really taking the crowd along with her and sending us out into the cold Putney night with big smiles on our faces.
Picture by Eric Duvet
The UK leg of the European tour looks like:
JAN 19
FRI
The Great British Rock and Blues Festival
Skegness, United Kingdom
JAN 20
SAT
The Citadel
St Helens, United Kingdom
MAR 2
FRI
The Harlington
Fleet, United Kingdom
MAR 3
SAT
The Meeting Room
Elland, United Kingdom
MAR 9
FRI
The Voodoo Room
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
MAR 10
SAT
The Tunnels
Aberdeen, United Kingdom
