As the Blockheads hit the stage they met a much more enthusiastic audience than at their previous Zodiac gig and launched headlong into Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll.
With no Gilad or Dylan, Dave Lewis was on sax duty and Will Parnell's (of Warts 'n' Audience/All The Best Mate percussion fame) brother on drums.
I'm always slightly dissapointed when there's no Dylan or Gilad as I love both of their playing immensely but the Blockheads were none the less on top form.
The set was dominated by tunes from Where's The Party with standout performances of Moving On, Mona and Funny Farm. Johnny's vocal performances seem to go from strength to strength and does anyone else get a lump in their throat when Chaz sings "I don't ever want to stop while I'm having such a good time"? Cos it gets me every time.
Del Boy was also in full force turning in great renditions of Where's The Party, Spread It (dedicated to "all those slippery fuckers in Whitehall") and Dance Little Rude Boy from Turnips. Nice to see Derek getting more involved in the rest of the set these days with plenty of backing vocals and percussion as well. Other Turnips songs
included I Believe and One Love.
Johnny had his old red strat on tonight as opposed to the Les Paul of more recent times and boy did he play it. Mickey looked great in his sparkly shirt and new beard and Chaz's beard was also back.
What A Waste was snuck in half way through and the last portion of the gig was given over, as you'd expect, to some of the old stuff with one of my personal faves in there You're More Than Fair. Sweet Gene Vincent was especially good and it never ceases to be a wonderful experience to hear Norman play "that" bass line.
Following Hit Me they returned for the encores with Lee for a kicking performance of Reasons with Lee and Johnny trading licks in the middle and finally a thumping performance of Blockheads. Derek sang this so well that, for a moment, it was almost as if Ian was up there, his spirit was truly with Del Boy at that moment, absolutely
wonderful.
I had a fantastic night, here's to the Blockheads!
Paul from Cheltenham
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