Gary Moore is a man of few words - but who needs them when you play guitar like he does?

A shy and modest character, Moore would sooner dive straight into a song than indulge in frivolous banter with the crowd.

This was exactly what he did in Brighton. He walked on stage and launched into two hours of pure, perfect, blues-rock.

With his new band Scars, which features the now-defunct Skunk Anansie's uncompromising bass player, Cass Lewis, and dance-rock pioneers Primal Scream's powerhouse drummer Darrin Mooney, Moore was in his element.

Sweating profusely, he contorts his face with every high-intensity lick that he wrings out of his guitar.

Moore's band remain more chilled - particularly Cass, who hypnotises us with his swinging dreadlocks.

Combining the subtleties of blues with the powerful grace of rock, Scars master a sound which signals a new chapter in Moore's already prolific career.

A protege of Fleetwood Mac's Peter Green, a member of Thin Lizzy, a session player and a solo artist in his own right, Moore has enjoyed a career of legendary status.

But he isn't living in his past - he ignored calls for the classic Empty Rooms, saying: "We only play full rooms."

Surprisingly, Moore used a red Fender Stratocaster for the first half the show but got a roar of approval when he picked up his famous Gibson Les Paul - bought from Green - and played Still Got The Blues.

The lack of backing vocals did make a cover of Hendrix's Fire seem a little hollow but every other song was pumped with energy and delivered with sheer class.

Review by Phil Stewart, features@theargus.co.uk