Jack J. Hutchinson — O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London - 5th September 2026

Jack J. Hutchinson — O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London

5 September 2026

Review by Robert Corich

There are gigs where you walk away thinking, that was good. And then there are gigs where you walk away thinking, that could have been bloody great.

Jack J. Hutchinson at Shepherd’s Bush Empire was, frustratingly, very much the latter.

First, the positives. Jack and Greg Smith are clearly accomplished musicians and, stripped back to a two-piece, they were proficient, tight and perfectly capable of carrying the material. Nobody could reasonably argue otherwise. There was plenty of energy, Jack’s guitar playing was strong and the pair demonstrated that they could make a decent-sized room work without hiding behind a big production.

But therein lies the problem.

Why on earth would you choose Shepherd’s Bush Empire to play a stripped-down show without your drummer?

Jack himself even spoke about having waited more than 20 years to play the Empire, which makes the decision all the more baffling. This was an opportunity to finally play one of London’s great venues with the full force that the material deserves — and instead, they voluntarily left one of the most important ingredients sitting at home literally twiddling his sticks.

And I really don’t get it.

The absence of his drummer was particularly noticeable when they reached “Call of the Wild”, but the real head-scratcher was the closing number, “Soul Believer.” The studio version is a powerful single, and the drumming on that recording gives it a serious kick and presence. Live, without a drummer, that impact simply wasn’t there.

That, to my mind, was a complete own goal.

I’ll bet the drummer was pissed. I would’ve been if I was left at home holding just my sticks.

There was another surprise too: “Rise Again,” Jack’s latest single, wasn’t played. Given the opportunity to showcase new material in a venue he’d apparently dreamed of playing for two decades, that seemed an odd omission.

To be absolutely clear, this isn’t a criticism of Jack or Greg’s ability to perform as a duo. They did what they set out to do and did it competently. There is something admirable about stripping things back and proving that the songs can stand on their own.

But sometimes a song doesn’t need stripping back — it needs turning up and it needs a thumping good whacker of the skins.

Jack J. Hutchinson’s music has enough muscle, groove and attitude to warrant a proper, kick-ass drummer behind it. The riffs deserve the weight, the songs deserve the dynamics, and a venue like Shepherd’s Bush Empire deserves to be hit with the full bloody impact.

Add to the fact you were opening for quite probably the best living and playing guitarist on the planet! Opportunity lost.

So, Jack, if you’re reading this:

Next time I hear you’re playing, I’ll be checking one thing before I get the ticket — have you got your drummer with you.

Because the next time I see Jack J. Hutchinson at a venue like Shepherd’s Bush Empire, or anywhere in fact, I want the full-throttle version, not the reduced-fat edition.

You’ve waited 20 years for that stage.

Next time, come fully equipped with your drummer and give it everything you’ve got.