WHAT a partnership: a Titan of the Telecaster guitar, Austin-based Bill Kirchen, and a guy at the core of the emergence of pub rock, keyboards genius Austin De Lone.

Backed by well-versed acts Malcolm Mills (drums) and the electric bass of Paul Riley, the veterans performed with zeal material from their new album Transatlanticana, plus a few chestnut from their respective careers, solo or otherwise.

While the opening was, in part, a bedding-in period, they showed greater freedom on their return for the second set.

Kirchen’s hunger on guitar and De Lone’s wizardry, especially classy on the slow numbers, upped the stakes.

A highlight was their working of Kirchen’s showpiece Hot Rod Lincoln, a song he may not have written but made his own as he switched styles from the likes of Johnny Cash to Merle Haggard by way of Muddy Waters, Iggy Pop to The Ventures and BB King, all greatly enhanced through De Lone’s playing.

Back to their own work, they performed Wine, Wine, Wine from the new album and, with the tempo lifted, All Tore Up, plus of a feel -good factoring No Need For Knocking.

Closing the show as their encore they produced a brilliant version of recently deceased rock ’n’ roll legend, Chuck Berry’s Nadine to send the audience home happy.

Maurice Hope