I was looking forward to this gig as I have not seen P45 play before; I had seen the previous version, the Coverup several times though. The band didn’t disappoint and played 2 excellent sets of Reggae, Ska (two tone) and mod numbers. They started with a record that I am not really keen on, Dexy’s Geno but after this it was all good. I am hopeless at remembering set lists but the tracks they played that I can remember were mod classics such as “Whatcha gonna do about it” and “my generation” plenty of Specials, Madness and Bad Manners. A lot of Jam, including a great version of “To be someone,” probably one of the best Jam tracks ever. “My Boy Lollypop” or the version they do because we are all real men, My Girl Lollypop. A Toots and the Maytails medley of Monkey man, 5446 that’s my number and pressure drop, UB40 and James Brown.

What is more important is that they play quite a bit of their own music including the excellent “Top Floor” I think that it used to be called living on the Gascoigne, about living on one of Barkings finest estates. I am sure that they wish the first set never ended as there was probably one of the biggest crowds I have seen on the small dance floor in front of the band skanking away. I am not sure if they brought there own fans with them but there was a lot of young people dressed up as though they should have been at the Corn Exchange in the late 60’s, there were a fair few crombies and the new style parkas on show. Anyway the crowd seemed to disappear for the second set and took quite a time to return.

They finished with the Toots medley and Tequila and Woolly Bully which they credit Bad Manners on their website but I will always associate with Feelgood. I know they are not Feelgood originals but Lee Brilleaux always made them his. They finished with an encore of Sweet Soul Music and the night came to an all too early end. Summing up if you want a good time I thoroughly recommend this group. They are a five piece which boast a saxophone, they are getting better and have just landed a well deserved recording contract (so perhaps the last time to see them in a pub for nothing). The main regret of the night was that they do a great version of Can you see the real me, but not tonight. As we left the Fleece we were treated to a winter wonderland of snow and Maurice fell of his bike. He blamed the snow and not the Brains SA gold which tasted so nice.

If you get a chance, go and see P45, I reckon next time I see them they will play even more original stuff.

http://www.p45band.co.uk/fr_gigdates.cfm

Duncan, Feb 2012

A new venue and a new band for us tonight. We have tried to find the New Crawdaddy before but have struggled in the darkness and always ended up at the Chequers in Billericay or down the Fleece. We made it this time and I am very glad we did. The club is a blues only place and it is on every Thursday night, it is a stop off for most blues band and artiste on their tours around the UK. I would think if you didn’t like blues you would hate it here, luckily I do, even though I don’t know much about it.

http://www.newcrawdaddyclub.co.uk

The band we went to see was The Wolfpack fronted by one of our favourite’s Tim Aves. Tim is a great showman and harmonica player, has a big personality and is front man for the fantastic Automatic Slim. The band has the best shuffle drummer in Britain, Paul Lester (or so I was told that night, I’m not quite sure what one is though), A great bass guitarist Rob Barry and Hokie Joints, Joel Fisk on guitar. I wasn’t sure what to expect as I wouldn’t really fancy a night of authentic 50 to 60’s blues. The band are named after Hubert Sumlin’s band that formed after Howling Wolf died in 1976 ( I looked that up on Wikepedia). I didn’t need to worry though, what we got was 2 sets of blues, a fair slice of rhythm and lots of good humour and fun. As I said earlier, a lot of the songs I didn’t know, I have heard them before but haven’t got a clue what they are. I did recognise, “Back door man” “Killing floor” “Jesus just left Chicago” I think that’s a ZZ Top song? A couple of Fabulous Thunderbirds tracks with “Smokestack lightning” as an encore. My favourite was one that I didn’t know “Tail dragger.” They are a great band who don’t play that often so I would recommend that you see them when you get a chance.

http://timwolfpack.moonfruit.com

If I get the time I will definitely get to St Annes to see them on the 18th of February

Duncan, January 2012.

Summing up a good band well worth seeing again but perhaps the wrong night for them. I hope they got paid. I don’t blame the manager of the Fleece either as he has a business to run and they do give 10% discount on the beer to CAMRA members.

http://amazingfsp.com/index.html

Duncan, January 2012