Aynsley Lister made a modest entrance onto the stage amidst a ripple of applause. This was a no-thrills gig, there was no special lighting effects-just the talent of the musicians to keep the audience occupied. Aynsley started the gig with the title track from his new album `Everything I Need`. However, the crowd didn't respond much to the music, and that was pretty much the story for the rest of the night.

Aynsley Lister is an extremely talented guitarist but his performance evidently demands no audience involvement. What you see is what you get, nothing more, and if you don't like what you see then go and bitch about it somewhere else. You get a feeling of `Audience? What audience? ` He could have been playing to the walls of his bedroom for all the interaction there was. But as this is the first gig I have attended of a Blues genre, perhaps I am shrouded with ignorance and this is the norm. With nothing to compare it to I have no way of knowing, but it was a bit of a culture shock to find myself among an audience of no movement or sound. Perhaps the music is absorbed gradually through the skin and gently delivers itself to the brain, working in a way similar to nicotine patches.

Aynsley performed songs such as `Got it Bad`, `Soundman` and `Quiet Boy` as well as slipping in a new track, `Fallen Down`. On a technical level, it's impossible to find fault with Aynsley`s musical ability. It was flawless, all the guitar bends and notes perfectly executed, and this was a pleasure to witness. However, it felt like all the songs merged into one long, long song and the guitar solo's seemed endless. I have a genuine appreciation for his talent but this in itself wasn't enough and it became tainted right around the time I became bored.

After he had left the stage there followed a half-hearted murmur from the audience for an encore. Aynsley returned and presented a medley which included `Purple Haze` and `The Riverboat Song` and they were played with such assurance that you forgot how young he is.

Aynsley is a brilliant musician but without being disrespectful, I wouldn't want to see him live again unless he altered his style of delivery and shortened some of his solo's. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I got to see one of the most talented guitarists of his generation but I wouldn't fancy sitting through it again.

Review used by kind permission from Rock City