Chilworth Hall, Southampton, Saturday January 16th, 1999

The Dance Preachers

It was Jim's 50th birthday tonight. I didn't know Jim as his sister discovered when I became her boogie partner on the crowded dance floor. And she thought my name was Henry. Identification over I found myself cavorting in the swell of bodies careering around like dodgem cars. It was a bit of a madcap evening on that dancefloor. Jim was the guy madcap dancing all night. He was easy to spot by the three balloons tied about his body that floated above him all night. That and his barefeet.

The Chilworth Hall is situated behind the Clump Inn on the outskirts of Southampton. Place for ballet dancing classes and origami. Probably plays host to the odd pantomime or musical judging by the old piano up on the stage. I recognised Nick from last week and he and Margaret (I think that was her name I've got a terrible memory) made me welcome. Is this Nick and Margaret from Jake 'Shabby' Rodriques excellent song 'We Went For Supper'?

Jim's had the good taste to book the Isle of Wight's very own Dance Preachers to give his 50th some welly. I got there after eight, the band were already on stage having opened up by playing Jim 'Happy Birthday' The first set of music was just a warm up as the party got to know everyone, hardly anybody getting onto the floor. A break for the food and then the whole event 'revved' up a gear.

I have to say being the band's special guest at Jim's birthday was a privilege not only did I get fed and watered but I danced through an absolute stonker of a set. Well four sets. Yes four. I counted 'em. The material was almost a total change from the excellent set that JC and Angelina did the previous week. These are my highlights:

Angelina Grimshaw singing a beautiful rendition of Summertime with some of Rupert Brown's most tasteful shimmies of cymbal. A song crystallised by Dave Godby, the man from Province, on a mini electric guitar about the size of a mandolin, he calls it a Notocaster. I call it a scene stealer. Boy did he play the stuff on this one.

Paul Armfield singing another Tom Wait's song, as good as the one I heard him do last week. It was called Clap Hands. A slinky, blues lounge song that glided from end to end. Bloody perfection. Paul also played bass in that unmistakable mark of his. Right in the groove.

Dave Godby on Notocaster, electric guitar and even vocals at the end when he did one of those drunken blues songs that fitted the last numbers of the show and the dancers mood to a Texas T. My favourite moment was watching him whang out juke joint boogie piano from the old stage pianna. The bit when he had to reach up with his left hand to steady his half full glass as it was about to topple down on the keys. Kept playing with his right hand. Booking kicking stuff.

Rupert Brown rattling the traps all night never missing a beat. Looks like he ain't breaking sweat while the steam is rising from the dancefloor. One day we will get to sit down and talk to him about the rest of musical career from the slabs of movie like dance stuff called Hubble to those famous sessions he's been involved with.

JC Grimshaw. What do you say about this guy which hasn't been said many times before. At the moment he's playing with a definite Django Rheinhardt influence in his blood. Mix in the New Orleans, Cajun, Chicago, Mississippi music that his mandolin and guitar work is splattered with and you have one hell of a cocktail. JC and Angelina are off to Germany on tour on February 18th. They are going to knock people's ears off over there.

Where didn't the music go tonight. How can one band be so talented. Rock'n'roll, blues, Celtic, folk, Cajun, Mexican, jazz standards. Hard to find the join where the standards stop and the originals begin. The party went wahoo dance bloody crazy. JC had em going with a tune he said they last heard at school. The party responded with some wild reels to something that used to be played along with the Gay Gordons which I suppose ain't quite politically correct these days. Sod that it was great to dance to. Jim's sister got into and ended up reeling some bloke crashing through a glass laden table. The band never missed a beat.

To cap that in the final numbers the band did a Mexican song which resulted in the dancefloor all doing takes on the Lambada and Flamenco. Rupert's drums were amazing on this and the clicking heels on the dancefloor played the rhythms back at him.

Getting towards twelve the band had to call it a night with Old Jack Lightning and Old Joe Clark that got the dancers wound up tighter than a watch spring. The Dance Preachers had to catch the one o'clock ferry. Jim's sister insisted the boat had been cancelled. 'Madame,' said Rupert, 'I think you are telling porkies . . .' So it was out of the back door of the stage with drums, guitars and amps. Paul Armfield making one last check to see if there was nothing left behind. He stopped on the steps 'Hey we forgot the piano . . .'

Mike Plumbley

I found a discarded list of songs on stage. Turned out it wasn't a set list more a set of songs to work out what Dave Godby could play piano on. This band don't need a set list they play from the heart. Originals and standards:

Songs: Midnight Special (A), Korrina Korrina (G), Ain't Nobody's Business (E flat), Dark Eyes (Am), All of Me (G), Stealin' (G), Mystery Train (E), Botherika, I think, (B), Summertime Blues (E), Don't Rock Me (G), Move That Thing (G), Peanut Man (C), Athol Highlander (A), Tamlyn (Am), Horses Drawn (F), Dirty Old Town (F), Partin' Hands (D), Worried Man (G), Walking The Dog (A), Dimples (E), Hey Good Looking (C), Baby Do What You Want (A), Down and Out (C), Salty Dog (G), Chatanooga (G), Well Well Willy (D), Turkey Straw (A,D,G), Buffalo Girls (G), High Reel Medley, Craw Fish (F), Red Hen (F), Not Fade Away (E), It's All Over Now (G), Summertime (Am), Am I Blue, House of the Rising Sun, Old Jack Lightning (A), Scottish Medley, Kesh Medley, Bluebell Polka, Wheels Are Rolling Now, Uncle Joe, Steady Roll, Ireen Goodnight, Tena Dude (A), Old Joe Clark.