Hubert Sumlin - best known as guitarist for the late Howlin' Wolf - is one of the bona fide legends of modern blues. At a remarkably sprightly 68, he is also one of the last of the Chicago pioneers; and, to judge from this performance, it is difficult to imagine any of his surviving contemporaries still cutting the muster and electrifying an audience with such energy and panache.
Accompanied by the Sean Chambers Band, which opened the proceedings with an enjoyable if formulaic set of blues/rock from the Hendrix and Stevie Ray tradition, this was Sumlin's first visit to Ireland, and boy was he proud to be here. Noted for a decided quirkiness in his playing, the personality was no less engaging, and his obvious thrill at being welcomed so heartily resulted in a main set that was probably way in excess of his contractual obligations.
The Chambers trio proved both sympathetic and on the ball, while the maestro teased with a smattering of dextrous, if obscure, boogies and shuffles, laced with his trademark slides and over-bends, before letting loose with classics like Spoonful, Little Red Rooster, Mojo Working and, what could have been the triumphant finale, Smokestack Lightning.
Spurred on by his audience, a trio of deserved encores followed - one of them the most atonal, mesmerising and unChicago-like blues you could imagine. Ninety minutes plus of a blues legend, but not a cliched riff all night. Inspirational.