Just back from Norwich Arts Centre, where I witnessed a storming set from James Hunter. What a singer : it's as if Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson somehow had a child who plays stinging lead guitar into the bargain. A very friendly and approachable chap too - I bumped into him a few hours before the gig, and had a brief chat. Great band, too. (And the sax players look like a pair of gangland debt collectors, which only added to my enjoyment. I had visions of them screwing to a cake stand the pelvis of any promoter who tried to renegotiate their fee.) I'd urge anyone who's up for a healthy dose of sweaty rhythm & blues to try and see them - they play Newcastle on 26th, Brighton on 30th and Cranleigh on 31st. NAC was sold out, but you might be lucky.

Anyway, I owe the good people at The Word a vote of thanks. I discovered James's music when 'People Gonna Talk' was on one of the covermount CDs - I went and bought the eponymous album the next day, and loved it. But live.... bloody hell! How his voice holds out over the course of a tour I can't imagine. Here's a taste :