Catch Up - The Music Bit

OMG how far behind am I again?

Sorry, I kept meaning to update but I’ve been busy doing other things … although would have to admit that one of these ‘other things’ was actually playing Mah Jong to which I’ve become completely addicted (the peril of getting a new computer with all those games I didn’t have before) at the expensive of EVERYTHING else in my life.

Anyway, to be honest I was having a problem trying to decide what to write about the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. Not because they were bad … they definitely weren’t, but because they were brilliant.

Now you’ll remember I was rather looking forward to seeing them, knowing them as I did from clips on You Tube and a rave review that Ron Hopwood gave me about fifteen years ago when they played Chatham Central Hall, and I have to say that they didn’t disappoint. We saw them at the Cadogan Halls, in Sloane Square and the clientele certainly matched the area; in fact Mrs H3 and I were feeling a little out of place amongst all those posh talking la la’s.

And then the UOGB came on stage. Funny, charming and excellent ukulele players; they proceeded to blow us away with renditions of songs like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and Smells Like Teen Spirit. When they actually managed to convince the (mainly 55+) audience to join in the chorus to a little ‘folk’ song which began with the lines “I am an anti-christ, I am an anarchist ….” I knew we were onto a winner. The sight of all those aged, middle-class patrons bellowing along happily to the chorus of Anarchy in the UK was enough to uplift anyone’s evening. Irony much?

Add to that a stunning rendition of Hawkwind’s Silver Machine closely followed by the Talking Heads Psycho Killer (worth going for that alone, we agreed) and then a northern club singer’s take of that other great ‘folk’ classic Wuthering Heights and you get an idea of how out-to-lunch the entire evening was. Bad puns, silly jokes and amazing playing all added to the good time.

The highlights for me were the medley’s which were breathtaking in their complexity. Firstly a little ditty which they called Plagarism, which blended Life on Mars, My Way and For Once in My Life – and yes, amazingly when you hear them all played at the same time, they really do sound very similar. The encore brought a second such mash-up involving amongst others, the works of Handel, Hotel California and I Will Survive.

Original, exciting and fun, I would recommend the UOGB to everyone. If they’re playing in your area – go see them, you won’t regret it. In fact I believe we’re going to see them again, this time with Mrs H3’s parents, when they play Blackheath in September. (Yep, we’re sooo rock n’ roll!)

The following Monday saw us heading for Guildford and a date with my favourite man, Johnny Bramwell of I Am Kloot. The gig, at a venue called the Boileroom was one of the most intimate that we’d been to and was a real cracker. Johnny was in a good mood; far more upbeat than he’d been at the Half Moon, and soon dispensed with the set list, instead taking requests including the very rarely played Bigger Wheels and Titanic.

Cue me being the ultimate fan girl and heading to the bar for a chat with the great man at the end of the gig, pleased as punch when he recognised me and gave me a big kiss and cuddle, before stopping to have a discussion about why he couldn’t play my current favourite Kloot song Down at the Front at his solo gigs. The moment was ruined a little by a few stupid comments from a bunch of blokes, also at the bar, who I assume were jealous that Johnny had stopped talking to them to spend a few minutes with me, but otherwise it was an excellent evening. I did manage to video a couple of songs, both from the forthcoming album (which Johnny said they’re hoping to tour with in September/October…or maybe January) which can, as ever, be found on my YouTube channel.

Next was the first Chas and Dave concert of the season which was at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon. It was pretty much business as usual, with the Q&A session and the cover versions of others songs in the first half and their Greatest Hits package in the second. Mrs H3 and I had prime seats in the centre of the front row and were in the perfect position to see Dave, looking pretty pissed off for much of the evening. Rumour has it he’s had enough and he certainly looked like that was the case during the first half, although he perked up a bit in the second.

Chas and Dave also recognise us now as we’ve been so many times and we got another few photos with the guys before heading home for the evening, with Dave telling us he looked forward to seeing us at Chatham (yes, of course we’re going).

And so to the concert that we missed … the one that left Mrs H3 and I depressed and sobbing … and no, it wasn’t Dizzee Rascal. I refer, of course, to the reformation of The Libertines in the early hours of 16^th May at London’s Rhythm Factory. To say we were gutted would be a complete understatement. After so doggedly following Pete for all these months, to miss the one concert where he was reunited with Carl and Gary was heartbreaking. We can only hope that now they’ve got together once, more concerts will follow.