By Andras Paul, Rock At Night London
Review: Erja Lyytinen at the O2 Academy Islington, London – April 11, 2025
I haven’t seen Erja Lyytinen perform since 2017 at the late Borderline venue in the “pre-pandemic era.” She’s been super active releasing two live albums Lockdown Live 2020′ (2020), Diamonds on the Road – Live (2023), and three studio albums Another World (2019), Waiting For the Daylight (2022), and most recently Smell the Roses, released on March 28th. This collection is literally a blues transport. If that’s not enough, she was recognised as an Angel of Rock at the HRH Awards in Great Yarmouth last November. Her latest album, Smell The Roses, was performed tonight, along with classics from previous albums.
From the onset of the concert, “Ball and Chain” caught my ears and made a strong, fiery start. It maintained a constant energy flow and followed with fast, sudden moves, which incarnate her style. Erja is awesome on stage! She made those guitar strings dizzy with one magic chord after another by wringing the guitar’s neck. She finished with an exaggerated smile, almost saying, “Look how magic this sounds.” She showed a smile-provoking attitude even when playing the slightly melancholy song “Abyss.” While it is thought-provoking, it carries a brooding, contemplative mood. At the same time, “Dragonfly” raised a higher spirit with its wandering lines. “Going to Hell” reminded me of places played in the atmosphere of Angus Young.
Sometimes bassist Heikki Saarenkunnas suddenly takes the lead and passionately jumps into improvising, letting Erja answer wholeheartedly, striking a chord towards each other back and forth while Jesse Lehto does not leave out for a second on drums. Both prove engaging performers.
“Wings to Fly” was performed in a manner that makes one feel she could easily touch the sky if she really wanted to. The song just got into my Evergreen playlist with its catchy riff. “The Ring” joins the same club, keeping up with the speed with never a dull moment. If one looks away momentarily, they will fall behind, regrettably.
“Empty Hours” was another favourite. What can I say? It has a catchy melody and a deeply touching echo from the guitar slide. I can listen to this song again and again without tiring.
At the concert’s end, we had an encore (my apologies, I do not know the song title) and received an extra load of improvisation in all that heavenly style. Thank you for that!
The remaining two destinations of the final leg of the tour Sittingbourne at The Appleyard on the 12th.
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Andras Paul came from a traditional art background back in Hungary. He studied drawing, painting and animation and later began his interest in photography too.
Open to any kind of gig with decent music-- let it be a big concert or the smallest darkest pub on earth.
- Erja Lyytinen, Queen of the Slide, performs a sizzling concert in London - April 12, 2025
- Saint Agnes brings London along for a hot ride at Scala - July 3, 2022
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