WHAT a night and what a band. You have to hand it to Bill Wyman. In the nicest possible way he sticks two sticky fingers up at the biggest rock band in the world so that he and a few of his mates can indulge their love of R&B.

Well we know it wasn't quite that simple but lets face it, when your friends are Albert Lee and the incomparable Georgie Fame it is not immodest to call the resultant combo the Rhythm Kings.

So when the Kings succeeded to the stage of the Barbican last night they promised much, but delivered quite a surprise in the form of new band member Mike Sanchez.

Dressed like an escaped Butlins Red Coat Mr Sanchez turned the gig into a Showwaddywaddy revival, much to the delight of the York audience.

It was as if there were two acts sharing the same stage, not uneasily, but if you came wanting jazz and blues you would have been disappointed, and it seemed criminal that the phenomenal talents of Georgie Fame were forsaken for showbiz.

I suppose Bill could be forgiven for the 'knees up' element to the evening, solely because he introduced us to the awesome Beverley Skeete. Britain's Aretha? Well time will tell, but what a voice.

As for the very affable and witty Mr Wyman, well, he likes to shuffle the pack, and it can't be long before another old superstar joins the band. Let's hope it's a blues singer.

Updated: 09:34 Saturday, November 08, 2003