#sthelier

10/10/25

I enter the room of The Troudadour's stage all while Olly Rybarczuk & The Blues Collective rip through Cream's thunderous 'Sunshine of Your Love', and it sounds just as evil, and as dirty as any live footage you could ever find of Clapton's clan bashing it out in their heyday, also a beast of a version of 'Voodoo Child' by The Jimi Hendrix Experience follows covering an even more legendary outfit. The venue is full, not much room to squeeze in so I hang at the back, as they smash through what can only be described as a batch of blues, punk, and classic rock hailstones. Their ability to completely nail The Clash's rendition of 'Brand New Cadillac' speaks volumes of the type of players they are. They even bash out an original that to be fair, fits right alongside the rest of the set, and it doesn't disappoint one bit. It's rare for me to go out and watch a full band playing in my home town these days just due to the fact I'm barred from most of the live music venues (the very few we have left), but lucky for me there was a change of hands at this one so I'm sound as a Jersey one pound note for ale, live music, and good times. Olly also lent his talents to now defunct metal outfit GAIA whom were a household name on the nu metal scene totally ripping up stages all over the UK and Europe as well as gracing some big name music festivals. I hope one day they can put their differences aside and reform, but for now I'm happy watching him rock out armed with some absolute stonking classics and performed in the best place for it. He also plays alongside Rich Allo, and the dynamic between them makes for an epic duo if I do say so myself also, Jersey's very own Beatles tribute band The Beantles; whom do Liverpool's fab four justice, as well as performing solo shows just him, and an acoustic guitar, sometimes even an electric, though it's the acoustic stuff that will really hits the hairs on the back of your neck. He belts out a somewhat haunting Layne Staley of Alice In Chains vocal delivery if anyone's keen to watch him solo, you won't be twiddling your thumbs. Back to the gig. I'm totally blown away by the solo's and shredding of sheer riffage and build ups to a climax of mass rock supreme proportions. Honestly this performance has left me wanting a strong scotch hot toddy plus a much needed pipe of medicinal before beddys. What a show!

By Gavin Tate

for Gavin Tate's Music Journal