Nice pics Roger and good to see you, Maggie, Michael, David and eldo again.
Likewise, I saw Philip at Dingwalls in October and therefore knew what to expect last night. I was really looking forward to this gig and wasn’t disappointed.
Stefan Schill kicked off his set at around 8.15pm and played until 8.50pm. Definitely one to watch, he plays with youthful enthusiasm and boundless energy and his playing ain’t bad either. Stefan and his very friendly band of bassist, drummer, keys and Stefan on guitar played songs from his current CD, Don’t Say A Word, which are strong on melody with memorable hooks. If you haven’t got it already I can thoroughly recommend it.
Philip came on around 9.25pm and played until 11pm. Set list was a mix of tracks from Peace Machine and the new CD, Innerevolution:
1. One Foot In The Grave
2. Powerful Thing
3. Over My Head
4. Bitter Monday
5. Changes
6. Alchemy
7. My Pearl
8. Take You Away
9. Slip Away
10. All I Want Is To Get Next To You (not on either of above albums)
Encore:
11. As The Years Go Passing By (in tribute to Jeff Healey)
12. Cinnamon Girl
I think I lasted about half way through One Foot before I had to put my ear plugs in (half way to preserve some of the top end frequencies) and boy was it LOUD. As before Philip really goes for it from the off and within a couple of minutes was completely drenched in perspiration. But he’s not just a showman, he can play really well and the tone he gets from his battered Strat is gorgeous.
If you don’t know the 100 Club, the stage is wide and shallow, meaning Philip had only about one yard (one metre) to rush back and forth across the stage, often stopping in front of Maggie for her face to be no more than two feet from Philip’s guitar. Philip also did his usual walk through the audience so that everyone could get up close and also used the overhead speakers to run his fretboard up and down. It was breathtaking and quite exhausting just watching him.
After Cinnamon Girl, Philip made sure there wouldn’t be another encore as he tore the strings off his much abused Strat and threw it onto the stage. He then walked off leaving us all gobsmacked. Roger’s last pic shows the remnants of Philip’s Strat.
If you get the chance to see Philip on his current tour (this was his last date in the UK before moving on to Germany where I think Stefan is supporting), you must. Philip is one of the most exciting and gifted guitarists I have ever seen and, with his powerful voice, he has everything.
Footnote 1
At Sandi’s Borderline gig on Tuesday, Michael and I tried to get Joe to come along to the 100 club last night, but due to Sandi and Joe appearing on Irish TV in Dublin to play This Ol’ World yesterday morning, it wasn’t possible. I think Joe would otherwise have been there for what would have been an unbelievable reunion.
Footnote 2
As Roger mentioned, a certain senior forum member had his 2 minutes of fame when Philip related the story of being interviewed on the phone in the only quiet place he could find at the 100 Club. That was until said forum member found him.
There's a bit more to this story but ethics prevent me from divulging the full details. 
Ars Longa, Vita Brevis
“The guy who has helped the blues industry the most is Joe Bonamassa and I would say he is more rock than some rock stuff, so to me blues is whatever you want it to be!”
Simon McBride in my interview with him in Blues Matters! Issue #56