Leading by example at centre front, John Turnbull belted his way through an excellent mix of old, not so old and brand new material. Vocally sharp and clear he was driven along by the besuited Norman Watt-Roy with his busy and intricate bass and Dylan Howe's immaculate drums. The crisp, keyboards of the remarkably young looking Chaz Jankel combined with the beautiful Hammond/Lesley, jazzy feel of Mick Gallagher and the saxes and flute of the massive Gilad Atzmon provided the real classy feel that so typifies The Blockheads. Some guest vocal and percussion was added and together they gave us ninety minutes of heaven.
From great workings of classics 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick' and 'Reasons To Be Cheerful, Part 3', to always popular, 'Sweet Gene Vincent' and 'Sex And Drugs And Rock and Roll' through to the excellent 2002 stuff, 'Dance Little Rude Boy', 'I Believe', and 'Ballad Of The Sulphate Strangler' they tingled the feelgood buds in the body. When they entered into the realms of the still to be released stuff they opened up the receptor glands to maximum and whetted the appetite to drooling point. The new stuff sounded absolutely awesome!!
Whenever Chaz left his stool to pick up his Telecaster there was an noticeable increase in audience anticipation. Chaz is still 'The Man'!! Cleverly working in tandem with the guitar of John Turnbull he still managed to give the band another dimension.
When the set finally came to an end you could sense the disappointment - the enthusiastic crowd wanted even more - but sadly it didn't come. None the less, a great night, a night to remember!!
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