Kent based trio The Zac Schulze Gang are known for their old-school blend of seventies classic blues rock with modern alternative influences and shared around forty minutes of no frills and no-nonsense rock this evening. It was a blend of blues standards and self-penned numbers from vocalist Zac Schulze, bassistAnthony Greenwell, and drummer Ben Schulze, who had this audience buzzing by the time they left the stage. We enjoyed a version of the Rufus Thomas classic `Walking the Dog`, Dr Feelgood`s `She Does It Right` and The Cellini Brothers `Dry Spell`. Their upcoming single `Woman` was aired with bassist Anthony taking over vocal duties for `Hole in my Pocket` and the fellas shared a number called `Ballyshannon Blues` which namechecks Rory Gallagher`s hometown in County Donegal, Ireland. They ended with a Gallager cover in `Messing with the Kid` which morphed into Fleetwood Mac`s `Oh Well`. They have an album out next year and on the strength of what they played tonight, it`ll be one to look forward to.
Samantha Fish is an American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist who Total Guitar Magazine voted as one of the “Top 100 Greatest Blues Guitarists” of all-time. Birmingham is the first stop on her ten date `Bulletproof Tour` of the UK where she was to play a selection of songs from her vast catalogue of albums including Wild Heart, Chills & Fever, Belle of the West, Faster, and Kill Or Be Kind.
The show opens with the searing `Kick Out the Jams`, before heading into the pounding `Wild Heart`, rhythmic and hypnotic `Better Be Lonely` and the alluring `Chills And Fever` which had everybody singing along. My Favourite track `Bulletproof` was a blistering showstopper and I’d have been happy for the show to end there but with cigar box guitar in hand the singer launched into the storming `Miles To Go`.
The introspective `Kill Or Be Kind` slowed it right down but `Watch It Die` upped the pace again before the band left the stage and Samantha shared an impressive soulful acoustic `Jim Lee Blues`. The band returned and threw out an extended `Somebody`s Always Tryin“ along with a rendition of `P O Mattie` that ZZ Top could have included in their set. The slow but powerful `Dream Girl` and heartbreaking `Black Wind Howlin“ mesmerised us all and closed out the set.
I didn`t expect an encore but the group returned with a really interesting take on the “Screamin’ Jay” Hawkins` classic `I Put a Spell On You before Zac Schulze joined the gang to close out on R.L. Burnside`s `Goin` Down South`. Tonight was my live introduction to Samantha Fish and it was a long time coming but it certainly ticked all the boxes for me and more. It`s rare that I’d want to see an artist twice on the same tour but this is one that I’d make an exception on.
ALL PHOTOS BY MARTIN TIERNEY
