Wilko Johnson Band

Wilko Johnson is a genuine legend. Not just one of the originators of Dr Feelgood, a crucial part of the Blockheads, a Solid Sender and, crucially, a survivor of Pancreatic tumours that nearly took him from us a few years back.

This show at the Royal Albert Hall was a combination of 70th birthday show and 30th anniversary of the formation of the Wilko Johnson Band and together with Norman Watt-Roy and drummer Dylan Howe they put on a superb show to a pretty well packed crowd.

Wilko still has all his trademark moves, tearing up the stage and in almost constant movement, while his guitar playing as sparse and choppy as ever.
The new Wilko Johnson signature Telecaster in his red and black livery sounded great and he showed that there really isn’t anyone else around who can rip up R&B in the classic manner.

Needless to say, the numbers included Feelgoods classics such as ‘Roxette’ and ‘Down By The Jetty’, ‘Back In The Night’ had the crowd baying the chorus with Wilko, and a few from his album with Roger Daltrey – ‘Goin’ Back Home’ tearing out with real venom as he sang the opening “I want to live”. It was great to hear the choppy ‘Walking On The Edge’ from his Solid Senders days.

This wasn’t a gig for musical purists – the Proms crowd of a couple of weeks back might have been horrified – but it was a night of celebrating the fact that he is still with us and an opportunity for the masses to hear one of the greats having a good time and doing what he always does – deliver.

Picture copyright Laurence Harvey