Review and Images By Kirsty Middlemist
On Friday 26th September 2025, Oxford Street’s legendary 100 Club once again proved why it remains one of London’s most enduring and important live music venues. With a bill boasting CJ Wildheart in support and Ricky Warwick and the Fighting Hearts headlining, the historic basement venue was packed with anticipation. For those lucky enough to secure a ticket, it was an evening of raw punk energy, blistering rock, and storytelling charisma – a reminder that live music in small, sweaty clubs still has the power to feel utterly vital.
The Venue: A Character All of Its Own
The 100 Club, with its unassuming street entrance and long, storied past, has a mythology all its own. Once a hotbed of jazz, later synonymous with punk, and now a steadfast part of London’s gigging circuit, it is a place that carries its own weight in atmosphere before a note is even struck. Holding around 300 people, it retains that sense of intimacy that makes every performance personal. The club is not without its quirks, most notably the infamous pillars that sit in the middle of the floor and occasionally frustrate sightlines. Yet even these structural annoyances somehow add to the authenticity: this is not a sanitised, polished venue but a living, breathing slice of music history, and it was the perfect setting for tonight’s raucous line-up.
CJ Wildheart: Loud, Unapologetic, and Relentless
Opening the night, CJ Wildheart wasted no time in launching into his set with the kind of ferocity that has defined his career. Known primarily for co-founding The Wildhearts and his work with Honeycrack, CJ arrived with plenty of credibility and a new album, Slots, to showcase.
What followed was a relentless 45 minutes of punk-infused rock, unapologetically brash and utterly uncompromising. His performance wasn’t about slick polish or crowd-pleasing gimmicks but about raw power and honesty. The setlist spanned his latest material while peppering in tracks from his back catalogue, including nods to Honeycrack and The Wildhearts, reminding long-time fans of his enduring versatility.
Between songs, CJ displayed a dry, self-deprecating humour, sharing anecdotes about life as a musician, as well as the trials of living in Yorkshire. His offhand observation that “you can’t get a decent Sri Lankan curry north of Watford” had the audience laughing, even as the next track crashed in with uncompromising force. This blend of humour and ferocity made for a strangely engaging balance: part stand-up raconteur, part punk powerhouse.
While CJ’s brand of punk rock may not appeal universally – certainly it leans towards the “all or nothing” school of performance – there is no denying his talent or the conviction with which he delivers. As a support act, he did exactly what was required: shook the audience awake, raised the energy levels sky-high, and set the stage for the main event.
Ricky Warwick: A Masterclass in Rock ’n’ Roll Storytelling
When Ricky Warwick and the Fighting Hearts took the stage, there was an immediate shift in atmosphere. Where CJ’s set was raw and unrelenting, Warwick brought power tempered with charisma and narrative. Best known as the frontman for The Almighty and Black Star Riders and for carrying Thin Lizzy’s torch in recent years, Warwick is a figure who commands instant respect. And yet, what makes him so captivating live is not just his resume but the way he engages an audience: equal parts rock star and raconteur.
This tour, titled Blood Ties, is in support of Warwick’s new solo album, and much of the set was understandably dedicated to showcasing this fresh material. Over the course of 90 minutes, the band took the crowd on a journey that blended new tracks with beloved staples from Warwick’s storied career.
Highlights from the new record included ‘Rise and Grind‘ and ‘Don’t Leave Me in the Dark‘. The latter, originally recorded as a duet with Lita Ford, was delivered with gusto despite Ford’s absence. Warwick’s humorous recounting of how the duet came to be gave the performance added warmth, turning what could have been a missed opportunity into an engaging anecdote.
Of course, no Warwick show would be complete without dipping into his musical past. Thin Lizzy’s Jailbreak had the crowd singing every word, while Free and Easy from The Almighty brought a nostalgic roar of approval, made even more special by the surprise guest appearance of Floyd London, Warwick’s old bandmate. For long-time fans, it was a moment steeped in history and emotion, a tangible connection to Warwick’s roots.
Elsewhere, songs such as Born to Lose, Here I Am Baby, Battle Cry, and the rousing closer Fighting Heart showcased the depth and range of Warwick’s songwriting. There were nods to his Irish heritage in the rhythmic patterns and drumming, but always grounded in his signature blend of rock and blues.
Charisma at 11
From the opening chord to the final encore, Warwick held the audience firmly in the palm of his hand. His stage presence is magnetic – not through flamboyance or theatrics, but through an effortless confidence and an ability to connect. He tells stories between songs, often hilarious, occasionally poignant, always entertaining. It is a rare skill: to make a room of hundreds feel like you are talking directly to them while still maintaining the larger-than-life aura of a rock star.
The Fighting Hearts themselves deserve enormous credit too. The band played with an intensity that never dropped below full throttle. To state that the energy was “at 11” was no exaggeration – the interplay between band and audience created a feedback loop of energy that never once faltered.
A Night of Contrast and Complements
What made the evening so effective was the contrast between the two acts. CJ Wildheart’s opening set was a barrage of punk ferocity, shaking the cobwebs loose and raising the energy in the room. Ricky Warwick’s headlining performance, by contrast, was about dynamics – highs and lows, new material balanced with old favourites, intimate stories sitting alongside anthemic choruses. Together, the two acts provided a perfectly balanced night of live music: raw, uncompromising punk followed by rock ’n’ roll storytelling at its finest.
By the time Warwick closed with Fighting Heart, the crowd was buzzing with the kind of euphoria that only a truly great gig can provide. Both CJ Wildheart and Ricky Warwick proved that they remain forces to be reckoned with, artists who have weathered decades in the industry but still perform with the hunger and fire of musicians half their age.
The 100 Club, with its sticky floors, awkward pillars, and unparalleled intimacy, provided the perfect backdrop for an evening that was equal parts history lesson and celebration of rock’s enduring power. For those in attendance, it was not just another gig but a reminder of why live music matters – of the electricity that sparks when artist and audience meet in a room that seems barely able to contain the energy.
If you get the chance to see either CJ Wildheart or Ricky Warwick live, don’t hesitate. Together, they proved on this night in London that rock and punk are far from relics of the past – they are alive, kicking, and still capable of making your heart race and your ears ring long after the final chord fades.
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