The Temperance in Leamington Spa may not be the most glamorous of venues but it is an intimate club entirely suited to this band’s classic blues numbers.
Joff Watkins (harmonica, vocals), Sammy Samuels (drums), and CJ Williams (guitar) may come from South London but their musical soul would be at home in the Mississippi , Chicago, New Orleans or Mali.
This live recording features a modest yet intense set of nine tunes which begins and ends with two of their own instrumental compositions : the title track is a new tune while rip-roaring version of Regal Alley first appeared on their Late Night Chicken album.
To all intents and purposes Jimmy Regal are a tribute band paying respectful homage to blues masters like Howlin’ Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson II and Little Walter.
By playing familiar tunes such as Mean Old World the goal is not to re-invent the genre but to show how the blues has an excitement and immediacy that never goes out of style.
