Tonight’s set opens with a heads down no nonsense boogie of ‘Rock Party’ which basically sets the template for the evenings rumbustiousness (think I just invented a word).  Funnily enough, more than half the set is given over to covers, which is a shame coz George has got a lot of great songs in his songwriting cannon. But I guess that’s being a bit picky as the band really do the songs justice. The pounding beat of Bo Diddley’s ‘Who Do You Love?’ gives George all the room he wants to flick through the riffs of some proper blues rocking.

Now George is currently 76 and the band has been going since 1973 with only Jeff Simon having been there for the whole journey from Delaware.  So given 53 years odd of experience George certainly knows how to handle and milk the crowd.  The band are still going strong and giving it their all.  He strikes some great poses mixed with a bit of cheeky sexual innuendo and constantly contorts his face mouth open pursing the notes from his body.  He is kind of sleazy and cool at the same time – very charming.   He has terrific stage presence and a great line of between song banter too, totally engaging, humorous and it really adds to the shows completeness.  As he says “tonight we are gonna play two kinds of music, we are gonna play some Rock and we are gonna play some Roll”😊).

The Band

• George Thorogood, lead guitar
• Jeff Simon, Drums
• Bill Blough, bass
• Jim Suhler, guitars
• Buddy Leach, Sax

As you might expect the band are as tight as a ducks arse.  All excellent musicians that have been with George for well over 25 years.  Now we can plainly see that George is having a blast out there and the rest of the band are in full swing, only Bill looks a bit miserable (I know he’s not inside) but I think that’s just the shape of his face?  His reliable ensemble fire away on all cylinders and get chances to show off their craft regularly – especially Buddy and Jim.  Jeff and Bill just hold the tight backbeat constantly and let the others get on with it.

The stage is totally empty, speaker stacks covered in fabric and 6 sets of lighting rigs at the back surrounding the drums.  Some songs are basic with repetitive riffs but that just add to the basic spirit and succulence of what’s on offer. It’s the first time I’ve seen George since he supported the Stones in Leeds in 1982 (and I remember nothing of that!!) so I’m not sure if it’s a bit rough or a roughly polished performance.  Once thing is for sure I had a smile on my face all night, which basically means it was a top evening’s entertainment.

His deep-voiced singing is perfect for some of the blues covers and his fingers tease notes out of the guitar. Oh yeah baby!, this is how to do it.  Not surprisingly, almost every song is longer, grittier and more explosive than its studio version – just as it should be played live.  Songs were extended with George making funny asides, stretching out a guitar solos, or with the whole band just jamming.  He quotes is early influence of the Stones as life affirming “that Mick Richards and Keith Jagger” 😊, they clearly had a lifelong effect on him!

‘I Drink Alone’ and ‘One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer’ explode into life and really get the audience engaged.  There is ad-libbing a plenty and audience singing all the names of the liquors in unison (you gotta love songs about booze 😊). 

Set List – (Click on links to watch the YouTube videos)

1. Rock Party – (The Hard Stuff, 2006)
2. Who Do You Love? – (Move It On Over, 1978)
3. Mama Talk to Your Daughter – (2120 South Michigan Ave., 2011)
4. I Drink Alone – (Maverick, 1985)
5. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer – (George Thorogood and the Destroyers, 1977)
6. Cocaine Blues – (Move It On Over, 1978)
7. Gear Jammer – (Maverick, 1985)
8. Get a Haircut – (Haircut, 1993)
9. Madison Blues – (George Thorogood and the Destroyers, 1977)
10. Bad to the Bone – (Bad to the Bone, 1982)
11. Gloria – (Them cover)
12. Move It on Over – (Move It On Over, 1978)

Encore:

1. Born to Be Bad – (Born to Be Bad, 1988)

‘Cocaine Blues’ is dedicated to Johnny Cash and June Carter-Cash “I met them once, he thought I was cool” he muses and the band launch into it no holes barred like an unstoppable steam train.  He goes off kilter and adds an unexpected some to the list tonight when whilst engaging with the audience someone cries out for ‘Madison Blues’ and the band duly oblige.

The band nip off stage for a short while before coming back for the only encore the barnstorming bad ass anthem ‘Born to be Bad’.  Jared James Nichols joins the band on stage for this one and George resplendent in his Keef Richards t-shirt just sings.  And then it’s all over.

It was a near relentless energising evening leaving me exceedingly happy that I’d made the effort to see a band that still remembers it’s RnR blues roots and spews energy into entertaining the audience, and having a damn good time.  My Highlights were ‘Rock Party’, ‘One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer’, ‘Cocaine Blues’, ‘Get a Haircut’ and ‘Born to be Bad’.   So if you want a good vibe night out be sure to catch these dudes in action while you can.

Support Band – Jared James Nichols

The support band were Jared James Nichols a trio from the States.  They were pretty damn good to be honest and Jared can sure play guitar, finger picking all the solos and riffs with ease.

Set List – Jared James Nichols

1. Let’s Go
2. Ghost
3. Way Back
4. Killing Time
5. Baby Can You Feel It?
6. Runnin’ Hot
7. Keep Your Light on Mama

Marko [1 July 2026]