Jeff Beck & The Imelda May Band
London Greenwich IndigO2
21st September, 2009

View: mid-balcony, stage-left

A one-off event for a credit card company saw the guitar god team up with the rockabilly singer and her tight quartet, the Band doing the honours on the opening two numbers before Jeff strode on in his silver boots. What followed was a 23-song set devised the day before, taking in Jeff’s influences from the 50s and 60s. With Jimmy Page and Ron Wood looking on, the axeman strummed through numerous rock’n’rollers, double-tapping on Johnny Burnette’s The Train Kept A-Rollin’, while Imelda shone on Howlin’ Wolf’s Poor Boy (move over, Amy). Elvis’ My Baby Left Me was followed by some major brass section action before The Shadows’ Apache showcased Jeff’s peerless tones. Peter Gunn saw all hands raging before the bluesy Please Mr. Jailer and several more rockin’ efforts (and dress changes by Imelda). The Girl Can’t Help It summed things up, before a closing Rock Around The Clock and four-song encore, taking in a majestic Cry Me A River, Shake Rattle And Roll and superb, instrumental Somewhere Over The Rainbow, bringing a unique 100 minutes to a close.

Reviewed by Tim Jones
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