Archive 45
With a passion for the Clash an obvious influence Archive 45 put in a solid performance, dealing well with an unfortunately long period of bass-string changing by their front man putting in a Billy Bragg style solo number, followed by some more classic old fashioned punk rock.
The Racketeers
With a strong local following Racketeers were given a lengthy support slot, although a sound that is very contrived albeit with a great horn section, this energetic 7 piece Ska band started to get the rather static crowd bouncing creating a good dancehall vibe ready for the main act.
The Blockheads
It would be hard to write this review without mentioning the late great Ian Dury, after all he was the man behind the lyrics of most of tonight’s tunes, but with the combination of Norman Watt-Roy’s amazing bass playing and Chaz Jankel as co-writer/musician the Blockheads were always so much more than a one man band and this evening was even better than I could have imagined.
After Ian Dury’s passing Derek Hussey, a man who had always been at Dury’s side as friend and carer, has since stepped up to the vocals and going on this performance probably the only person capable of re-creating the unique vocal delivery of such poetic numbers as I Wanna Be Straight and Reasons to be Cheerful.
Playing newer songs “Greed” and “A Little Knowledge” (with the line “Tchaikovsky’s from Pompey”) these fitted in right alongside the obvious crowd pleasers such as “Sex and Drugs and Rock n Roll” and “Hit me with your Rhythm Stick” proving Hussey as a great lyricist in his own right… it was also nice to hear “We’re on our way to Wembley replaced with the words “We’re on our way to Fratton” during Mash it up Harry.
So, ultimately, this isn’t a band going through the motions as a session band or glorified tribute act, but one who are keeping the essence of Ian Dury very much alive and kicking whilst enjoying it every inch of the way.
Keith
