SUCH an accomplished sideman deserved a larger York crowd.

Reeves Gabrels is best known as a songwriting foil and guitarist for David Bowie in Tin Machine (now receiving some critical re-appraisal) and his hard-to- love Nineties' work. He has been a member of The Cure since 2012, and his little black book is a veritable who’s who of famous United States musicians.

When he exchanged arenas for intimate pub settings, fewer than 30 souls made it to Fibbers on Monday. Gabrels was touring with his Imaginary Friends trio; presumably for light relief. The format is largely built on blues-based songs, with Hendrix an obvious reference. Reeves is the focal point, while bass player Frank Swart and drummer Adam Abrashoff provide road honed, rock solid but nondescript backing.

How to describe Gabrel’s style? With Bowie, his flashy, avant flourishes stung and buzzed like hornets, whereas the emphasis latterly has been on speed and technique. Formidable and occasionally brilliant, the soul in Gabrel’s playing was harder to discern. With younger guitarists such as TY Segall exploring similar territory in more interesting fashion, the set veered dangerously close to plodding before sparking back into life.

A standout was Yesterday’s Gone from 2002’s Ulysses (the original having been sung by Robert Smith), which showcased both a rare tuneful side and Gabrel’s underrated singing.

The Bowie link was never overplayed; I Can’t Read from the first Tin Machine album was the only nod to his one-time boss. Support Lisa Ronson (the daughter of Spiders From Mars guitarist Mick) displayed mannered gestures and a deadpan delivery made the debt more overt. Gabrels was more his own man, and enormously personable off stage, but needed better backing all round to rescue this show.