The Live Room, Twickenham Stadium
Georgie Fame & Sons performed a one-off concert on Sunday 18 April 2010 as part of The Eel Pie Club 10th birthday celebrations.
Jilly and I went to see Georgie and his sons Tristan and James Powell and thought they gave an excellent performance!
As Georgie told us it was his first time at this venue. The event was seated and numbers were limited to 400 so early booking advised as it got really packed. Part of the proceeds from this event benefitted The Otakar Kraus Trust which provides music and voice therapy for children and young people with physical and mental difficulties.
Georgie started with a tribute to the great Ray Charles I GOT A WOMAN which he did very much in 'Rhythm Kings style' on his old organ, then told funny and most entertaining stories about his early days enjoying his beers between the songs. Still in my mind is his great monologue before a Hoagy Carmichael classic. Everything he said was so interesting, I do hope that there will be a book out someday. I especially enjoyed the stories about the old days at the Flamingo, Larry Parnes Stables and Ken Colyer's Jazzclub. Son Tristan did one Country & Western song on guitar "He'll have to go" (thanks to Jilly for recalling the title).
Later we were able to have a few words with Georgie which we enjoyed very much.
The gig was part of legendary Eel Pie Club's 10th birthday celebrations. There are lots of videos on YouTube from this event, just try and enjoy.
Jilly und ich sind hingegangen und haben uns das (supertolle) Konzert mit Georgie und seinen Söhnen Tristan und James Powell angesehen. Die Stimmung war einmalig, Georgie erzählte zwischen den Songs unterhaltsame Geschichten aus den 'good old days', dem Flamingo Club in Soho und wie seine lange Karriere begann. Nach der Show durften wir backstage und hatten Gelegenheit, uns mit Georgie ein wenig zu unterhalten. Da es sich um ein Eel Pie Club Event handelte, habe ich mich noch mit einem entsprechenden T-Shirt und einem Poster eingedeckt.
Bits and pieces from the setlist:
I got a woman
Yeh Yeh
Georgia on my mind
Green Onions
Help me
New Orleans Jam
Red House
Don't send me flowers when I'm in the graveyard (a Floyd Dixon classic)
He'll have to Go (Tristan on vocals)
You Came A Long Way From St Louis (a Peggy Lee classic)
Getaway (a petrol advert and Australian TV show theme")
Supporting Georgie Fame & Sons in Twickenham on 18 April 2010. All I remember is the last song, an Elmore James tune SHAKE YOUR MONEY MAKER (from 1966) which I had heard by different musicians earlier, Robin Bibi's
version was brilliant.
Some photos are included in the album, pls click on one of the pictures.
Band members:
Robin Bibi - Guitar,
Tony Marten/Chris Belshaw/Mat Beable - Bass
Hans Ferrao/Dave Innes - Drums
Bits and pieces about Robin Bibi Band:
Blues, funk, soul, rock, reggae and jazz are all rolled together in The Robin Bibi Band's own concoction. Because of the band's growing reputation with a highly entertaining stage
presentation, the Robin Bibi Band are becoming one of the busiest bands
round the Southern music venue circuit, and have succesfully broken into
the festival scene.
The Half Moon Putney
Band:
Albert Lee, git, voc, key
Gerry Hogan, steel guitar, git
Peter Baron, drums, voc
Brian Hodgson, bass, backgr voc
Elio Pace, key, acc, voc
Review from: Gudrun
Sent: 28/02/2007 15:20
I try to give a brief
review (just my personal thoughts in my own words) on the Half Moon gig
but Jilly please feel free to add whatever you want, would be most
grateful.My 3rd visit to the Half Moon, and as always - a great gig and a very
responding audience ! Many familiar faces in the crowd e.g. Mike Berry
and others. Met up with Jilly, Ange and Steve on Friday night and glad to see that Sarah
from Sheffield showed up as well. When we arrived at the Half Moon there
were only 2 tickets left and within seconds the gig was sold-out. We
managed to get to the front row and then - it started with
a bang! "Road Runner...", a song of Albert's new solo album, the lyrics of this song are a good description of the man
himself. Elio Pace was playing the piano and on some slow songs he switched over to
accordion. We all felt sorry for Brian's sore throat, hope that will
be over soon. They changed a couple of songs and added new ones, just
as Sue said before. But I was glad that "Hanging on" and "Brandnew
heartache" were still on as was the neckbreaking "Tiger Rag" (one of my
all-time favourites). "Ollie Vee" always reminds me of my 2nd Hogans'
gig ever which took place right here at the Half Moon in 2004 when
Sonny Curtis and the Crickets showed up and joined for a couple of
songs.
"Sleepless nights" and "Wild child" were missing, but I think
Jerry Lee Lewis' "Breathless" came out very well with Gerry on guitar
and Albert on his new piano. Peter did 2 songs to my surprise "Fool's
gold" written by Brian was on and PB's incomparable "Wake up screaming". Another
surprise: Albert did a moving version of "Dimming of the Day" from his
solo album where it's a duet with his daughter Alexandra. It goes
without saying that "Country Boy" was as fantastic as ever and the
encore just did what it says in the title "Tear it up". Great night!
Thanks to the band, also for the signatures and chats later. Gerry signed me a photo I took at an earlier gig at the Musician in Leicester, which shows him playing the guitar and pulling a grim face - priceless!
Thanks also to Ange and Jilly for sending me their photos and letting me use them.
We all agreed: another great gig not to be missed and a good time with friends and music buddies.
The day after the gig, Jilly and I paid a visit to Twickenham, the famous footbridge to Eel Pie Island with legendary Eel Pie Hotel. Many famous names had performed at the hotel between 1962 and 1967: Kenny Ball, Long John Baldry's Hoochie Coochie Men (including Rod Stewart), Ivor Cutler, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (featuring Eric Clapton), George Melly, Pink Floyd, Georgie Fame's Blue Flames, The Rolling Stones, The Tridents (featuring Jeff Beck), The Who, The Yardbirds. We also visited the Twickenham Museum run by some lovely ladies and picked up a few booklets with useful information about the history. Weather wasn't too good for a walk on the riverside, wet and windy so just a few quick shots taken and off to our next destination.
Set List (not complete and probably not always in the right order):
Road Runner
Rock around with Ollie Vee
Pulling it Off
Fool's Gold
Brandnew heartache
Tiger Rag
Crying in the rain
Real Wild Child Breathless
Set 2
Baby that is Rock'n Roll
Hanging on
A Man of constant sorrow
Wake up screaming
One way rider
Sleepless nights
Dimming of the day
Country Boy
Encore:
Don't
Hound Dog
Tear it up
Comment by Jilly:
Sent: 06/03/2007 23:32
Not
much to add to your excellent reviews, Gudrun, it's been many years
since I was last at the Half Moon - it doesn't seem to have changed
much! Excellent atmosphere, tiny area for the band, good sound ... and
what a great evening . The new running order was good, I missed
'Sleepless Nights' - a personal favourite - but enjoyed 'Breathless'.
Being at the front (and I won't say who pushed me to be right in front
of the stage ... but you know who you are) I could see the cues and more
of the rapport between the guys. Good to catch up with everyone -
although the least said about the 'bouncers', the better. Now looking
forward to The Cellars and Chiddingfold ... love, Jilly xxx
Another comment by Jilly:
Sent: 08/03/2007 00:02
Wow!
Gudrun, the collection of photos from the Half Moon is excellent, 'well
done' to you and Ange for the photos I'm hoping that my pics (from my
non-digital camera) will be OK . Yes, that will be great to meet there
next year ..
Strange coincidence this evening - I received a phone
call from a friend (Malcolm) I've not heard from for 20 years ... he
lives in Cornwall, and is going to see Albert & HHs in Truro! We had
a great chat about the Half Moon and the musicians we had seen there
many years ago!
