Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp create magic moments at the Royal Albert Hall

If you’re a truly avid music lover and concert goer, you’ll have seen and experienced your own share of great moments. A stand-out show or maybe a reunion of sorts with old band members and friends, these all add to the feeling of a having seen a great performance.

Magic moments however, are much rarer and usually don’t have that much to do with the performance of any one song. Those ones  are mix of circumstance, good luck and pure chance. They feel off the cuff and natural and everyone in attendance feels privileged to be there witnessing it.

After a pandemic induced delay or almost three years, the legend that is Jeff Beck has finally returned to play his scheduled pair of shows at The Royal Albert Hall. Walking out to little fanfare a big round of applause, Beck starts things off softly with his own Star Cycle and the Mahavishnu Orchestra’s You Know You Know. Still looking almost unbelievably sharp and young at age 77, Beck still walks a higher plane than any other guitarist, living or dead. Billy Cobham’s Stratus is given a great workout before Link Wray’s classic Rumble. “The First punk rock instrumental” says Beck, before adding “that’s what Jimmy Page thinks anyway”.

Beck’s own Big Block is played before a 2nd mic is brought on stage and Beck introduces tonight’s guest performer “He came knocking on my dressing room door about five years ago, and we haven’t stopped laughing” says Jeff Beck. “We’ve kept this one quiet for obvious reasons…he’s a good mate”.

As the entire Albert Hall erupts with applause and cries of “we love you Johnny”, the man himself strolls out with a 12 string acoustic and bows to Beck. They begin with Depp’s own composition Hedy Lemarr, a very poignant and heartfelt acoustic number about that the actress’ struggles; “It’s so hard to talk when no one will hear and everyone stares as you quiver in fear, its shameful, shameless, painful, painless, this song’s for you Ms Hedy Lemarr”.

Its followed by their electrifying version of the John Lennon classic Isolation. “I don’t expect you to understand, after you’ve caused so much pain. But then again, you’re not to blame. You’re just a human, a victim of the insane.” The sad and beautiful Dennis Wilson song Time is played with Beck accenting the mournful lyrics with his own sharp blues licks. “I forced Johnny to sing that one” says a smiling Jeff Beck

Beck’s playing is nothing less than stunning and Depp’s singing is so raw it leaves the listener almost floored with the amount emotion on display. “This is an album everyone should own – so prophetic” says Beck introducing the next song. ” I’ll get slaughtered for doing this one but I don’t care anyway”.  Beck and Depp jamming Marvin Gaye’s iconic What’s Going On is so brilliant and on point it feels like watching some old friends playing together for the love of it rather than two superstars performing to a crowd.

It’s followed by a superb run through of Little Wing before things take another unexpected turn with the rough industrial riffing and growling vocals of Killing Joke’s The Death and Resurrection Show. Beck ends the main set with his timeless classic Cause We’ve ended as Lovers before starting his encore with the absolutely electrifying Brush With The Blues. Depp rejoins Beck for the final song of the night, a most appropriate run through of The Beatles A Day In The Life. Now we all know what it takes to fill the Albert Hall – an absolutely unforgettable night from two true legends who still continue to impress with the artistry.