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Hemsby......The fun continues! |
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Day two begins while day one is still carrying on. No, we hadn�t entered a space/time warp. We just had to get back to London for 10 a.m.(due to the Missus having double booked some knitting convention or something!). After a luxurious four hours sleep we left the site at 6.30 a.m. a full hour and a half before the soul all-nighter finishes.
While we were away, the battle of the bands took place, featuring two cover bands: Dan�s People and Repertoire Dogs; Grasp; Ark; Calm and the band that eventually won - Jensen. As winners, Jensen will play at Camber Sands next year. (Thanks to Robin @ Chelmsford S.C. for the information. Find out more details at www.thegreatestscooterexperience.com) |
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We struggle back into Lunar�s and find ourselves a place, ready for tonight�s offering. It is even more packed tonight and the mood is high. DJ Wolfie (?), is spinning some seriously good tracks, even a couple of numbers from that well-known mod band, Abba! He�s working really hard, especially as it sounds like one of his channels has gone down. The dance floor is still full as, after an hour�s delay, Smashing Time bounce onto the stage. |
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They open with the energetic �Be here now� and the maraca-laden �Holding on�. Paul and the boys were now putting everything into a good, tight set, including throwing sweets into the crowd during �Sugar sugar�. A couple more numbers, �London swings� and �Picking up the pieces to carry on�, take us, bounding like eager puppies, into two Truth songs. Obviously benefiting from backing Dennis Greaves in the summer, the boys do justice to �Love a go-go� and �Just can�t seem to stop�. As the end of the set nears, the crowd have forgotten the earlier problems with the sound system, and are now dancing along to the moody organ-driven �Glad to see the back of you�, they finished with the excellent �One of these days�. The Smashers should be congratulated on a fine, well-rounded set and with the professionalism that they showed, despite horrendous technical problems. Can�t wait to see you again, boys! |
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Apparently there were 1,600 people at Hemsby this weekend, this doesn�t surprise me, most of them were stood in front of me at the bar! As I fought my way back with my pint and the Missus� port and lemon, Who�s Who took to the stage. |
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The "Who" blokes were greeted with an almighty roar and they launched straight into �Can�t explain�. They moved seamlessly into a selection from Quadrophenia. These guys can�t put a foot wrong. As �Roger� asks us �Do you want to hear Moonie sing?� the crowd almost drown out the opening beats of �Bell Boy�. Even the feedback heavy �Young man blues� wasn�t going to dampen this atmosphere.
For the second night running it is decision time. As we have already seen Who�s Who a couple of times we choose to move into the Fun Factory to welcome the legendary Geno Washington. |
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The smoke-filled room reverberates to the sound of Brenda Holloway�s �Reconsider for a minute� - we could be back in Wigan Casino or the Twisted Wheel, circa 1972.
Geno�s rhythm section takes to the stage first, moodily led by the strangely named Spartacus (No, I�m Spartacus!). They give us a good warming up with �Pick up the pieces� Inevitably, the floor fills, never to empty again! To the opening bars of �Hi Hi Hazel�, the main man comes out, looking cool in his Cincinnati Bengal�s football shirt. The atmosphere was more of an intimate club, than a huge entertainment hall. At this point my memory becomes a little hazy, as the beer goggles weren�t focussing too well. I grooved to �Michael� and worked my way through the �Land of a thousand dances�. I recall a storming version of �Can�t turn you loose�and a dozen other sweet soul sounds. After he had left the stage, the combination of horns and applause ringing in my ears helped me float back to my digs. I carefully negotiated the rows of scooters, my eyes heavy and my feet throbbing. At least tonight I�d get more than four hours sleep!
Roll on next July in Camber Sands. See you there!
The Running Man |
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