Christmas Extravanga
with special guests
The Boss
15th December 2001
The upstairs room at the venue gave intimate a new meaning. It was like being at a house party.
I watched The Boss warming up. Danny gargled with a pint of Babycham. Mark had a back rub from his lovely Missus, Andy just kind of yawned and stretched, looking very relaxed. Rob, The Silver Fox, lovingly greased his sticks, did a couple of sit-ups and beat the barmaid in an arm wrestle!
Boss, I have it on good authority that they had played in front of a thousand armed Italian Communists!
Danny ripped straight into �Joseph Green�, a song about the second person to die in the miners� strike of the Eighties. This is one of The Boss� own numbers. It really is a top track! Pausing briefly for applause, we were soon rumbling through �The Streets Where I Live� with its meaty bass solo.
We all sang along to an excellent version of �I fought the law� - even Andy came up to sing for that one.
Suddenly the opening bars of �Eton Rifles� came at us like an angry bulldog freed from a Lonsdale Bag. Nearly begging for mercy, the soothing sounds of �Kids for ever� helped us get our breath back. This is a poignant song about getting lost in youth and not coming out the other side. According to Danny �this one�s from our pastoral phase�.
There was some great bass work on �Changing Man�. A dedication to Uncle Fester and straight into their own �It�s Alright� and �One good reason�- which apparently got to number 23 in the Bosnian charts. Danny was very impressed that there was plenty of dancing and no handbags. I don�t think he gets out much!
Wanting more Boss stuff, we waited at the platform for �Wake up children�. It rushed through the station like an Eastbound Express, leaving us windswept and breathless. We slowed into the gentle sidings of reggae, the buffet trolley came round and then we were off again, the Intercity 125 trailing behind, next stop Romford. What a fantastic track!!
Finishing now, �Do anything you wanna do�, guest vocals from the crowd. �Town called Malice� - yup, that�s Romford, again. A hearty rendition of �All or Nothing� followed by �Watcha gonna do about it?� with duelling Marriots at the end - yeah!! What a night, what a band. If you need some life in your function, get this lot along - satisfaction guaranteed! Later, when Danny asked �how was it for you?� I knew exactly what he meant!
They are hoping to be asked to play Camber Sands in July - if you are reading this Chelmsford SC, get �em down there!
Thanks to all those who turned up for the party. Thanks also to everybody who helped make it a great night, with a couple of top sets on the decks from Hedge and Jason. The next event is a family funday in August, but I heard a vicious rumour that there is an idea for an all-dayer before that. (Yes, please!) More details on their page: www.thespecialssc.homestead.com
