Rocca DeLuca @ King Tut's

Rocca DeLuca has a strong blues pedigree - the son of Bo Diddley's guitarist, he attacks his steel guitar with passion, drawing on psychedelia and Appalachian folk. When the band rip into an instrumental break, his solos soar above howling feedback and he prowls the stage, enticing his Theremin into squeals of ecstasy. He re-invents 1970s' guitar heroics: virtuoso improvisations battle against busy drumming and taut bass. Sparse keyboards, alongside subtle percussion, lend atmosphere and his voice, an instrument in itself, ranges from uplifting falsetto to sonorous blues. Unfortunately, the songs are hardly memorable - apart from an acoustic encore and a powerful mid-tempo opener, they rely on traditional blues and lack distinctive melodies. The raging interludes hide predictable song-writing. Deluca has the potential to become a unique musician: enthusiastic, inspired and theatrical. Now, he is bound by influence and convention: his songs are expectant pauses, awaiting his blistering slide guitar solos. [Gareth K Vile]