Wilko Johnson and Ian Siegal, 02 Academy, Islington, London

Extraordinarily, on a night featuring two electrifying rhythm-and-blues guitarists, Wilko Johnson, the headlining British, veteran, bug-eyed chord-chopper, ended up as the third-most-exciting musician on show.

Johnson is enjoying his highest profile for some time, on the back of his turn in Oil City Confidential, the award-winning documentary about his original band, 1970s British R'n'B heroes Dr Feelgood, as well for his appearance as a tongueless executioner in TV's Game of Thrones. Added to this was last month's slot on Jools Holland's BBC2 show, so it was no surprise that London's Islington 02 Academy filled rapidly during support act Ian Siegal's set.

Like Johnson, Siegal, Male Vocalist of the Year at the British Blues Awards, fronts a trio. Most of the audience have patently never heard of him but are quickly rapt. Siegal is definitely a bluesman, but his isn't reverential, hushed music for pedantic purists. Among the original compositions and uncommon covers he plays, he draws from funk, pop, country rock and rock'n'roll, and the end result is a barnstorming barrage of gravelly vocals and growling, then compelling, virtuoso, guitar.

Johnson, looking ever more like the Steven Berkoff of rock, takes the stage in his signature all-black garb, toting a black Fender Telecaster with red scratchplate and lead. Soon, to the audience's delight, he is hurtling around the stage, sniping and machine-gunning them as he slashes his damped strings just as he has done for the last 35 years.

His set builds inexorably, via an unlikely version of "Out on the Western Plain", to the hits of the heyday of Canvey Island R'n'B, when the Feelgoods' live album, Stupidity, went to No 1. "Sneaking Suspicion", "Back in the Night", "Don't Let Your Daddy Know", and more build to a climactic, extended "Bye Bye Johnny". If you've never seen or heard him before, he is something to experience, but today's Wilko Johnson inevitably lacks the freshness, speed and menace of both his glory days and, frankly, of today's support act.

I know what you're thinking. This makes Johnson second-, not third-best. But no. On stage with him is his long-time bassist, Norman Watt-Roy of [Ian Dury and] The Blockheads, who underpins the music with the most relentless, funky, and fascinating bass-lines imaginable. He must be standing in a pool of sweat by the end of the evening – those dancing to him certainly are. On a night of exceptional guitarists, Norman is No 1.