DeWolff/Dawn Brothers/Lightning Threads -
The 100 Club, London, 14th October, 2025
DeWolff return to the capital and put on a heart stopping kind of show. These retro rockers consisting of Pablo Van De Poel on Guitar & Vocals with ‘little baby’ brother Luka on Drums & Vocals and Robin Piso on Organ have made the city a regular stop over the last few years.
This is my sixth encounter with their psychedelic Blues and honestly, they just get better and better. But before we delve deep into their performance let me introduce you to Lightning Threads who opened this triple bill.
Set List: Wild One/Devil Inside Of Me/What Can I Say/Preacher/What A Fever Does/No Where To Go/Brown Liquor Black Coffee/Fire.
Hailing from the Steel city of Sheffield, Lightning Threads are an unknown entity to me, but no longer. Their take on retro blues catches the imagination of all present. Opening with ‘Wild One’ they have a soulful swagger that oozes from the stage. The trio having gained many new fans judging by their performance.
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The band consist of Tom Jane (Guitar/Vocals), Sam Burgum (Bass/Vocals) and Hugh Butler (Drums/Keys). Jane is a striking frontman looking cool in his hat and Andy Pandy dungarees and what a great voice. Burgum is constantly moving and engaging with the crowd looking like he is having the time of his life, especially when he leaves the stage to do a crowd walk.
Butler provides the beats that fuse the groove with energy and demonstrates his fantastic skill of playing the keys and drums simultaneously. Wow! These are a band I need to see again. Check out their debut album, 'Off The Lonely Road', which was nominated best Blues album 2024 and look out for a new album coming soon.
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The set featured two songs from the debut, the rest are all from what will be their sophomore release. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. With only a 30-minute set they certainly create an impact and utilise the time magnificently. If you like the Blues in its purest form, you will love Lightning Threads.
Set List: Staying Out Late/How Come/It’s So Easy/F.Bow (a new song)/I’ll Be Your Baby/ Devil Woman.
Dawn Brothers and DeWolff have a strong bond. Not only do they regularly perform together, they also combined to make the incredible 'Double Cream' album, an album drenched in 60’s Soul and R&B. I am hoping that they will perform something from that together tonight. This four-piece are from Rotterdam, their music is an amalgam of Folk, Rock, Blues, Soul and Americana.
On stage at the 100 Club, my first live encounter with them, they create a laid-back aura of finesse and style. The members are Bas van Holt (Guitar/Vocals), Rowan de Vos (Keys/Vocals), Rafael Schwiddessen (Drums/Vocals) and Tammo Deuling (Bass/Vocals). They combine perfectly and deliver a set of delightful dexterity and harmonies which perfectly demonstrate their talents.
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It is also noticeable what a great connection they have with one another, watching them constantly looking to each other with smiles of encouragement, respect and pure joy throughout. The ‘brothers’ are so pleased to be able to use the equipment of their fellow ‘brothers’ thanking them for this privilege. De Vos uses Piso’s organ expertly and with a degree of awe (at the end of the set I had a chat with him stating that he gave Piso a run for his money, sounding just as inspired).
Don’t expect any crazy stage antics from this band, the focus is on the craftsmanship of the music. ‘Staying Out Late’ is the show opener, it has a funky blues vibe that makes you move. ‘Devil Woman’ is the closer, keys and uplifting power capture the attention almost effortlessly. In between we get a lesson in how to make inspiring sounds with masses of groovy guitar with the rhythm section in fine form, Rafael Schwiddessen drumming the foundation for it all to build on.
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I have to give a special mention to ‘It’s So Easy’, it blew my mind with shimmering soulful sound. Dawn Brothers are another band that I need to give more attention to. In a live setting their music just flows with passion thus embracing the listener. What a night this is turning out to be. Three bands for just over £20 is incredible value for money. I feel privileged to be at the 100 Club.
Set List: Night Train/In Love/Natural Woman/Out On The Town/Treasure City Moonchild/ Snowbird/War Pigs (Black Sabbath cover)/Nothing’s Changing/Rosita.
Now we have arrived at our headliner, and no sooner do Robin, Luka and Pablo take to the stage and begin ‘Night Train’ then we know we are going on the ride of our lives! This trio are simply incomparable to any other acts out there. There is a rawness, an intensity that transcends genres, there is lightness, a gravitas that fills the venue.
There are lots of amazing faces, mostly pulled by Pablo as he delivers with fluidity and feel. Robin creates an organic mesmerising sound from his instrument, Luka’s drumsticks dance with a power and dextrous touch that glue the whole thing together. This trio are simply musical masters of all they touch.
“Are you ready for the Night Train…I said, are you ready for the Night Train?” Yes, we are breathless and ready for the rest of the journey, a journey that has deep cuts and surprises ahead. But before those ‘In Love’ drops the tempo, its groove infectious, the instrumentation and guitar solo dazzling. ‘Natural Woman’ keeps the place bouncing. Pablo constantly talking to his crowd between songs adds a dimension that makes each and everyone feel special and part of the event.
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The next highlight for me is ‘Treasure City Moonchild’ which explodes from the off thanks to Luka’s drumming. Robin pounds the keys, his hair taking on a life of its own! Each getting their chance to shine as they perform their solos. Pablo rarely stands still as he continues to deliver sounds from his guitar and catching the eyes of the crowd. Luka gets his turn at the microphone engaging us all singing loudly in some repetitive ‘buh buh ba, da buh buh bas.
‘Snowbird’ changes the entire feel of the gig with a gentle almost haunting feel, that is until the midsection when the song transforms and transcends into a thing of improvised beauty, built around Luka’s touch and feel with guitar and organ intertwining in a flow of free-flowing musicianship that only a band of this immense calibre can provide. The tempo may have subsided, for now, but what happens next is stunning!
Suddenly and explosively, Boom! Boom! Black Sabbath’s ‘War Pigs’ erupts and the 100 Club goes mad! We are no longer on the ‘Night Train’ we are now aboard the ‘Crazy Train’! I have no words to express the impact this song had on the venue. At its conclusion we needed to calm down and take a breather, that comes in the shape of ‘Nothing’s Changing’ from Tascam Tapes, an album recorded for $50 but sound like a million bucks!
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We are getting to the end, there is only one more song left, ‘Rosita’, it is slightly shorter than previous versions, 19 minutes only! However, it still manages to astound as it goes through its many different tempos. Pablo hugs the crowd, including my wife Jane who appears to have reverted to a teenager in love!
Then it is over, DeWolff take their bows leaving the stage to acclaim and applause, before meeting and talking and posing for photos with everyone. Could the show have been better? For me, yes. DeWolff need to play bigger stages, there was no room for Dawn Brothers to perform with them, which was a shame.
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Also, I think maybe it is time for ‘Rosita’ to be dropped from the set, especially in its current form. You may not agree but DeWolff have so much wonderful music that needs to be heard. Perhaps a rejuvenated set list is required.
All in all, a fantastic show, thank you guys.
By Paul Mace