Arriving at 8pm was like arriving at your second cousins wedding circa 1985. The venue was a large room carpeted, aside from a square 'dance floor' in front of a stage. Chairs were placed around the sides of the room for elderly relatives to catch up and there was a slight whiff of stale beer. In fact all that was missing was a table laden with vol-a-vents and a drunken uncle giving it all to 'Hi-Ho Silver Lining.' (Never fear - he made his presence felt later on)
The dance happy girls were accompanied by my gig-widow husband Guy and long time friend and gig rediscoverer Jerry, and I am somewhat ashamed to say we grabbed our seats around the edge to catch up. I'm glad that we did - we were in for a long wait! A great range of 'tunes' were played to keep our toes tapping; The Clash, The Jam, Buddy Holly, Souxie….. but as Gorgeous George were in our sight lines happily imbibing many beers - we knew that nothing was going to happen very quickly.
At 09.05 two of Gorgeous George (Charlie and Tom?) took to the stage and gave us a Horrible Historiesesque ode to Julius Caesar and a number of rants set to music. They were well played (Tom on bass was class) and performed with passion and volume. They dealt with hecklers with consummate good humour and potty mouthed comebacks and seemed genuinely thrilled to be on the same stage as the Blockheads. Complaining that they were being paid in beer that night they suggested we all chip in £1 for the set - they were amused and bemused in equal measure when Janie found them later that night and paid her contribution :)
Having hugged the edges of the 'dance floor' for Gorgeous George, we led the move to the front and took our places in touching distance of the stage for the arrival of The Blockheads at 10pm
And how can such an odd assortment of men make such a bloody great sound? On stage before me appeared to be Griphook the Goblin, an out of work Santa and a man wearing crocs
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Otherwise known as; Norman Watt-Roy, Derek the Draw, and Chaz Jankel (You'll have to take my word about the crocs) But the sound was unmistakable Blockheads and singing and dancing were the order of the night.
Janie and I and a petite blonde 'blockette' held court at the front of the stage and were forced to hold firm when the 'drunken uncle' descended. Waiting for songs he recognised 'sex and drugs and rock 'n' roll' or 'reasons to be cheerful' He swooped down forcing his way to the front with his proud beer baby (looked almost full term to me) swinging with abandon and destroying anything in his path. He hadn't reckoned with the dance happy girls who might look soft and fluffy but don't spend three hours on our feet to relinquish our spot to a fair weather fan, no matter how great his bulk!!! OI OI
Norman Watt-Roy is bloody marvellous - so entirely into the music he played with the most extraordinary skill and passion, sweating his own body weight into his dapper goblin suit. Derek the Drew is no Ian Dury - he secreted a crib sheet into his hand for the newer material and could have done with a sound boost as some of the lyrics were a little lost in drum and base but it was a credible performance and the audience were happy to add a little bulk to the lyrics.
It was a joyous set from start to finish and the audience got what they came for. A bloody good time. Well done Blockheads - a reason to be cheerful :)
