ANA POPOVIC.

02 Islington, London, 10 March 2023.

Admirably filling the support slot this evening is the alarmingly young Brain Jones-alike, Toby Lee. 

Incredibly, this talented musician played guitar at BB King’s blues club when he was just 10 years old. At 16, he released the debut double album Acquarius (2021). Aged 18, he was invited aboard Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea VIII cruise this March; not surprisingly, as Joe has praised Toby as “a future superstar of the Blues.” Tonight, he airs tracks from both Acquarius and his new album of covers – paying homage to artists such as Hendrix, Jeff Healy and Bonamassa – Icons: Volume 1.

Toby’s band is the traditional rhythm and blues power trio, who to these novice Blues ears sound like Peter Green-era Fleetwood Mac. The Icons covers are proficient, but the stand-out for me is Toby’s own composition from Acquarius, ‘Take the Wheel’.

Ana Popovic’s stage act is the opposite of her support band’s head down, no-nonsense approach. She takes the stage after a James Brown-style instrumental intro from her soulful backing band, complete with a keyboard player and a trumpet-and-saxophone brass section. With a smile and a polite bow to the audience, Ana puts on her guitar and launches into the punchy ‘Can You Stand the Heat’, the title track from her sixth, 2013 album.

Always a very glamorous performer, tonight Ana is dressed in knee-high leopard print boots, fishnets, leather shorts and a revealing neckline. Having weathered breast cancer over the last couple of years, the quietly defiant mother of two has stated, “You can still feel attractive, you can feel sexy, feel good in your skin. Even if you're still recovering after life struggles, you can reinvent yourself and find power in that.” An inspiring philosophy that’s reflected in the joyous rhythms of her music.

Other highlights from her set include ‘Love You Tonight’, ‘Fencewalk’ and the Tom Waits cover, ‘New Coat of Paint’, from Trilogy (2016), as well as four songs from new album Power (released May 23): new single ‘Strong Taste’, ‘Luv’n Touch’, ‘Queen of the Pack’ and, from the encore, ‘Rise Up!’ The audience also enjoyed the sensual blues of old favourites: ‘Like It On Top’, ‘Ride It’ and ‘Object of Obsession’.

Ana's band affectionately refer to her as the 'Lady Boss', and a comparison with the male Boss, Bruce Springsteen, bears closer scrutiny. The on-stage, smiling byplay she enjoys with her bassist Buthel and her brass section, recalls the kind of joyful camaraderie you’d witness between Bruce and his E Steet Band saxophonist, the late Clarence Clemons (a.k.a. ‘The Big Man’.)

Ana and her band are a well-drilled musical unit working as one, just like Springsteen and the E Streets (even the drummer takes a turn as vocalist). She plays the sort of music that, if you arrive at the gig feeling a bit flat, you’ll leave grinning and walking on air.

Ana’s about to release her tenth album. I’d like to think she won’t even think about slowing down until she reaches LP 20.

Photographs © Robert Fairclough 2023.