It’s funny how time changes your perspective on things. At one time I used to flounce about wearing a blouse and crying to The Smiths of an evening. And then came the Stone Roses, who kickstarted a dream I clung to a for a decade or more: of becoming a Respected Musical Artist.
I’d never sell out, but would make a series of quietly great records that would attract a small but determined cult following. And maybe some liberated chicks along the way. I’d have a great haircut and perform legendary gigs.
Ha!
Here I am now, a bit paunchy, hairline in full-on retreat and our last 3 gigs have been a wedding and two birthdays. Luckily, my view of the world is considerably more relaxed than once ’twas 
So we’ve moved in the space of a short year from doing serious sets of our own stuff, to being a party band. And I’m starting to see something of a future in it. Rather than staying at home on a Saturday night and flatulently dozing through the X-Factor, or lumping our gear to a dingy hole to play a set to people who don’t know or care anything about us, we’re having fun.
We get in our cars, turn up at a party, play a load of tunes to people who actually dance, have a bit of buffet food at the half-time interval, play some more (usually more dancing after more beer) and then get given a few bob each for our troubles. There are worse things to do.
And if you’re looking for a little bit of live entertainment for some kind of event… check us out.
Typical Setlist
- Town Called Malice – The Jam
- Fun, Fun, Fun – The Beach Boys
- Lola – The Kinks
- Step On – The Happy Mondays
- Last Nite – The Strokes
- Substitute – The Who
- Be Bop A Lula – Gene Vincent
- All Your Love – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
- Saw Her Standing There – The Beatles
- Black Dog – Led Zeppelin
- Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes
- Come Together – The Beatles
- Tin Soldier – The Small Faces
- Can’t Explain – The Who
- Baby Please Don’t Go – Them
- Green Onions – Booker T and the MGs
- Waterfall – The Stone Roses
- Where Have All The Good Times Gone – The Kinks
- Subterranean Homesick Blues – Bob Dylan
- Queen Bitch – David Bowie
- All Or Nothing – The Small Faces
- Honky Tonk Woman – The Rolling Stones
- Season of the Witch – Donovan
- Steady as she Goes – The Raconteurs
- Hey Bulldog – The Beatles
I think I might have to get Bat Mitzvahed in order to book you (there’ll be no sausage rolls on the buffet though, so you’ll have to bring your own..) Oh and btw, I’d like ‘Waterfall’ played (by a paunchy middle-aged Yorkshirite or otherwise) at my funeral and so far you’re the only one I’ve mentioned it to, so if I croak before I get round to telling Mr C can you pass that on please? Cheers.
Also, love the pic of your burlesque gal getting her kit off to ‘Be Bop a Lula’ while you stare intently at your little organ. Are you poking your tongue out of the corner of your mouth?