06 June 2008 (gig)
07 June 2008
Originally this was billed as just a gig but with the passing of Bo Diddley in the week before the show it suddenly took on a new and greater meaning – sending off Bo to his next gig in STYLE.
The 100 Club was packed and the crowd were in the mood to party and to do the right thing, all that was needed was for the bands to reciprocate and this would be an incendiary mix.
The Malchicks were first up and it was good to see what a year of working with The Pretty Things and Arthur Brown had done for them. Scarlett has developed a stage presence but George has really come on as a guitarist and his slide playing was really good to hear. About time these two played a few solo gigs but the crowd loved them and their version of 'House of the Rising Sun’ went down a treat.
After a couple of minutes the stage was suddenly filled by a Neanderthal dressed all in black and carrying a guitar like a twig. Ed Rome played two numbers, 'Bo Diddley’ and a Bo Diddley instrumental, and the emphasis here was on the mental. He is a terrific presence, a good guitarist and really got the crowd on their toes with his lairy Essex hooraw.
Henry Padovani was next up and gave us 40 minutes of sheer edge of the seat adrenaline fuelled r&b. They are a three piece and play somewhere between Link Wray and the Shadows on crystal meth with elements of the Surfaris and a new York knife fight. Even when they slowed it down for a Blues there was an edge of excitement to the sound. They are supporting the Police shortly and Henry P’s erstwhile colleagues had better watch out.
And so to The Pretty Things. If Paul Weller is the Modfather then Phil May is his great-uncle and his command of the crowd is total: Dick Taylor looks like a one of the old-folks from 'Cocoon’ with his halo of white hair and his obvious sense of fun and George Perez (of The Malchicks) handles bass as well as he play guitar in his own band. Because they were celebrating their hero and the man who gave the band its name there seemed to be an edge to their performance and they poured out their unique brand of music with maximum passion and got the audience bopping like good-uns. The set included many of their usual faves and some superb guitar from Dick Taylor, especially some lovely slide, and their mid-set homage to Bo Diddley was particularly well received.
All in all a hell of a way to start the weekend and a great send off for Bo Diddley.
