The gig opened at eight, closed at one and ran like clockwork. The first band Man To Lamb did the business. The band had asked their mate Mark Wozencroft to sit behind the drums. The rest of the band had never performed on stage before an audience although I've seen Johnny Barker do the raffle at Plessey Club. The band did a pile of covers but the tune that took the biscuit was a Barker original Judith Chalmers (In the Bahamas . . .). It's Barkers off the cuff way, the cut of Jordans guitar and Wozy steadying them at the back that makes this band one to cop again.
Space Hopper got up and cooked. The Baker bros at full vocal stretch. A guy from Porchfield is remarking to Vic King as the band groove into a Doobie Brothers tune that "It's like being at the Lagoon bars in 1976 . . ." They came on early, they blew a fine set and they left the stage with a buzz. A real foot tapping, bums on dancefloor band.
Lucy and Bran of Void then did a couple of numbers before the Jones' hit the stage. Steve Colebrook, who I had not seen since Hoggie and the Sharpetones at the Anchor 18 months ago, was taken by Lucy's voice as were the rest of the punters.
With the place a buzz it was time for the Jones'. Sans a drummer since Mark Wozencroft's beat nailing rhythm has been transferred to Mich Cooch's Carpet Blaggers some bands might have quickly drafted in a replacement. Not these boys.
Anyone who saw a four piece Wayward Sons blow Sam Brown's band off stage at the Wedgewood Rooms, Pompey will appreciate that musicians like we have on the Island can turn it to their own advantage. So Chiz and Russ grabbed a couple of barstools. Graham MacFarlane plundered a stand up piano from somewhere. Shaun readied his trusty tambourine.
The Jones' played as razor sharp as their dress. The men in black suits. Russ's topped off with a blazing red hairdo. Shaun's suit set off by a natty pair of trainers. Madcap MacFarlane, ginger hair spread like a rook's nest on his head. Chiz looking cool as he is collected. Cinematic or what.
Russ's booting bass lines spot on as ever. Chiz wrenching gut jamming chords from that old plugged in acoustic guitar. Shaun held the backline on tambourine. MacFarlane whamming the keys on that standup like a retake on Great Balls of Fire. His electric keyboard atop of the piano from where he'd send a stream of notes as sure as a maroon flare.
The kick of this band is the fuse that torches Chiz's voice. A voice that is rock and roll personified. MacFarlane's releases his emotion like he's been let out of a strait jacket. Leaps from the stage to shake his booties like some Gospel gone, speaking tonques, Southern preacher. Kicking.
The Jones' were being filmed by Ferret Theatre's Darren Cooper. Darren's just back from New York where a recent lottery funded visit allowed Islanders to make a film twinning the Isle of Wight with New York.
The film will feature the lives of four New Yorkers and four Islanders. One of the four will be a musician. Vic King had a great story from the boys about filming a busker at Central Station, New York who will be the New York musician featured. Bloke in the crowd says to the Islanders: "You know who that is don't you? The lead singer with the Spin Doctors . . ." Chiz is going to be the Island musician featured. Book me a seat for the premiere.
All evening the Spotlight Kid of Gurnard, Pete Evans, in Beefheartian tuxedo had sold the lottery tickets like he did last year. Pete raised £154 for the charity. I hope Darren Cooper got him on film because Pete is off on tour this week to Lancashire where he's been booked as a Father Christmas.
Jimmy's Big Fish were the solid, sure fire, cram the dance floor closers. Boy were they good tonight. Absolutely storming soul laden set of stuff. Mark Spencer on drums, Simon Holmes fired up and singing his heart into the microphone and the guitarist blowing some inspired guitar off the walls.
So everyone danced it to the close. And as Brian Sharpe once said: "It don't get any better than this . . ."
Ferdinand La Menthe