Did you feel the heat in Newbury with Nine Below Zero?

Nine Below Zero with support Tom Webber at Arlington Arts, Snelsmore on Thursday, December 2. Review and pictures by BRIAN HARRINGTON

Support tonight was supplied by Tom Webber, a young singer/songwriter who is clearly influenced by the early days of rock ‘n’ roll.

Playing a mix of self-penned songs and covers, he opened with his own songs I’m Yours and Stop And Think About It. Both in look and style Tom reminded me of a young Billy Fury. He included covers of the classic Love Potion Number 9 and Chuck Berry’s I Gotta Find My Baby along with, more surprisingly, Tarheel Slim’s blues track Number 9 Train.

I particularly enjoyed his own songs The Doctor Won’t Help Me and Martha.

Nine Below Zero, whose name is taken from a Sonny Boy Williamson song, were formed in 1977 and their first album Live At The Marquee was released in 1980. They still feature founding members Dennis Greaves, on lead guitar and vocals and Mark Feltham on harmonica. Charlie Austen’s female vocals are superb and have added an extra dimension since she joined in 2016. With Sonny Greaves on percussion (son of Dennis), Tom Monks on keys and guitar and Ben Willis on bass they have an incredibly tight sound.

The band has a loyal fan base who are willing to travel to see them, so Arlington Arts was full and we were treated to a high-powered and energetic set which was simply superb. Opening with the excellent Zebulon from their 2019 album Avalanche, they included some great covers, notably a storming rendition of Can’t Help Myself, the Four Tops classic, and Can I Get A Witness. Don’t Point Your Finger At The Guitar Man from the band’s first studio album was great to hear, as was their long and powerful version of Stormy Monday Blues.

I Wannabe A Wannabe, Cold Cruel Heart and Riding On The L&N were all stand-out tracks for me and the three-song encore of Rockin’ Robin, Wooly Bully and Austerity Blues had a great party feel.

A great show.