Blues purists can be a bit sniffy about guitar hero Gary Moore. They treat the Belfast axeman’s hard rock roots with suspicion and have trouble accepting him as a serious blues artist. And it’s unlikely Friday’s show at the Dome would have convinced them otherwise.

Not that Moore’s 90-minute set was bad – far from it. He is a terrific guitar player and always a consummate professional, as well as being an underrated singer and songwriter.

Still, even he can’t deny that although he is often thrilling live, he is not always very subtle.

Moore’s strength is bringing the power of his heavy rock playing to his real love – the blues.

He has created his own niche but it’s a fine line between brilliance and bluster – and on Friday it felt like he was heading over to the wrong side.

Some of the solos that used to inspire so much awe are starting to come across as mechanical and showboating rather than passionate playing.

He wasn’t helped by problems with the PA, which muffled a lot of the vocals. This was less Muddy Waters, more muddy sound.

Still, the highlights were good. Moore, backed by bass, drums and keyboards, was great on the title track of new album Bad For You Baby.

The Al Kooper ballad I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know, as well as older numbers Oh Pretty Woman and Walking By Myself were other standouts.

The audience lapped up the guitar acrobatics but, for once, I left thinking maybe less is Moore.