There are gigs that feel special before the first note is played. Henri Herbert’s return to the 100 Club was one of them. A packed room, ages ranging from teenagers to old-school rockers, waited patiently as the planned 7pm start time drifted closer to 8.30.
WORDS & IMAGES: Callum Smyth
No one minded. Word had spread. This would be Henri’s final scheduled UK show for the foreseeable future, and the atmosphere buzzed with the anticipation of something unrepeatable.
The band were a tight, international unit: Amsterdam-based guitarist Dusty Cigar, Josh Williams on bass, Adam Sinclair on drums, and Henri himself at the grand piano. From the opening Ray Charles classic What’d I Say, it was clear this would not be a night of polite nostalgia. Henri launched straight into the crowd, leading a call-and-response as naturally as if he were working the floor of a juke joint.
Audience interaction is a hallmark of his shows, and it was out in full force here. At one point, he told the crowd the band had been awake for 24 hours after chaotic flights from Europe, losing half their merchandise along the way. If he was exhausted, it never showed. A nod of the head, a stomp of the foot, and the band followed every cue with razor-sharp precision.
What’d I Say set the tone: loose, wild, and joyous.
Nothing for Free
Introduced with a wry story about Nashville’s tip-jar economy, Henri told the audience, “You get nothing for free except rock and roll.” The song rolled forward on a heavy groove, showcasing the chemistry within this new line-up. Dusty tore through solos with fiery confidence, Sinclair’s drum breaks landed with pinpoint force, and the band locked together like they’d been touring for years.
Cold City
A highlight of the night and a standout single from Get It While It’s Hot. Cold City erupted live with raw, street-corner attitude. The piano sat perfectly within the mix, driving the song forward without overshadowing the band. Henri’s vocals were rough, soulful and reminiscent of the explosive energy of Little Richard or Paul McCartney’s early rock shouts.
One audience member summed it up perfectly: “Jetlagged, stoned or drunk, he’s amazing.”
Another put it more simply: “He’s the first real rock and roll star since 1994.”
Guests and surprises
Henri welcomed several old friends onto the stage, reminding the crowd how rarely he’s back in London. The standout guest was Bee Ororo, whose powerhouse take on Big Mama Thornton’s Hound Dog stopped the room cold. With commanding vocals and a magnetic presence, she looked every bit a headliner in her own right.
Saxophonist Aaron Liddard also joined the party, adding classy flourishes to the sweaty, high-octane proceedings.
A show to remember
By the end of the night, the 100 Club was buzzing. Henri played like a man with nothing to lose and everything to share. Whether tearing through classics like Fire and Summertime or sinking into the grit of his own material, he brought the room to life in a way few performers can.
With no future UK dates booked, these shows feel even more precious. Henri Herbert is a rare performer, equal parts musician and showman, capable of turning a basement club into the centre of the rock and roll universe for ninety unforgettable minutes.
A flawless night.
10 out of 10.
Check out our recent interview with Henri
