Northampton Weekender Review 2005

by Paul d

Its whats in the groove that counts errr dunno about that after this weekend.

Several months ago Paddy from Nton who Id done some work for in that past asked me if I'd do a weekender for him with the highlight being some live USA acts, I agreed but advised him I could only two sessions as a weekend of NS would do my head in.

As the gig approached and the news of the live acts became known I was looking forward to my first ever 'weekender' appearance and watching some live stuff. The announcement that the Just Bros had been cancelled was a huge disappointment however the replacement group left me literally counting the hours back in August, the Might yMasqueraders were coming to the UK and I'm on the same bill!!!!!

Its now I should tell you that How is one of my all time favourite records, not a classic but a record that imho epitomises 1960s soul, its so atmospheric you can smell the Ford car plant in Detroit, who ever sang that record had a voice that has lived with me since the day I heard ˜how' for the first time, would they sing it, would they remember the words ¦we would find out/

FRI

So off I trundles off from my Peterborough home with my bother Mick who had recently come back from the States telling me about chats he had with Popcorn Wylie, Laura Lee, Little Jimmy Scot to name but a few we arrived at the Moat House though we couldn't understand why the exit barrier wouldn't go UP'¦lol. Into the reception area where people were congregating after their evening meal, a shower and in Tony Dellars case a '2hr nap'..Met some of the old lads I hadn’t seen for Donkeys a few beers and watched this 70 year old black bloke sipping from a pint of lager grey goatee beard probably no more than 9st and the biggest cowboy hat you've ever seen, I turned to my brother and said..'look at that ole bugger I bet he's the drummer in the backing band'it was then my turn to play a few, The Cautions, Dicky Wonder, Lada Edmund Jnr, Brice Coefield, Marie Knight, kept those that wanted to dance busy, 45 mins up and I made way for Rob Moss who played some nice un-released Detroit stuff then the backing band for Saturdays main event took to the stage, wow!!! One of the tightest soul bands I think I'd ever heard, the lead vocalist was fantastic not only did he look like Edwin Star he sounded remarkably like him, it was then Paddy told me he was in fact Edwin Stars younger brother…

SAT

Me and Brookey turned up at 8pm again had a few with friends I hadn't seen for years such as Bickers, Evo, Glen Bellamy, Mark Freeman, Katrina, Cliff Steel and before we knew it my ole mucker Tony Dellar was on, SAM WILIAMS, RUTH REECE, some R&B thing which filled the floor but was actually quite appalling, Tony was followed by the delectable Jo Wallace who I had never met before, what a breath of fresh air this lass was behind the decks, smash bang wallop, 'you will f***kin dance geezer'  was her attitude, a spot full of diversity from'''˜she blew a good thing to gonna be a big thing she also played a record which I used to play and clear the floor too in 1976 a gritty up-tempo number on Nu-tone but me and Brooky couldn remember who it was buy?? We did ask her to play The Magic Night and The Philharmonics for us but she forgot :~)

Evo followed Jo with a typical Evo spot, I actually think Dave is technically one of the greatest NS jocks ever, with the emphasise on jock, it was then Brookey asked me what I was going to play, it had been agreed prior to the gig that I would do a TORCH spot as it was OCT 1st 1972 that myself and three other guys from Peterborough gained entrance to that converted cinema in a Tunstall back street, but I had to wait until the live acts were finished I was looking forward to saying tongue in cheek, thanks Chuck Jackson for an excellent 60 mins as if Id just followed Pat Brady at Keele

The room was hardly crammed but a nice atmosphere was building up, me I was dead excited would the Masquerders do How..Enter Rob Moss who did an excellent job compeering the first part of the show, introducing the Adorables who waded into Oh Boy the left the stage for them to be hauled back on individually, Pat Lewis sang cant shake it loose, enter her Sister Diane who brilliantly sung her Wand recording I thank you kindly and enter a very nervous Betty Boo who did her very best to sing say it isnât so a bloody difficult song to sing at the best of times but with a few yells of “go on Betty go†from the crowd she got through it to rapturous applause, it was then it dawned on me just how good the backing band were, I turned to Brookey and said “you know what mate, HOW is a real possibilityâ€

Next on Stage was Barbara Mercer who sang liked shed been doing the circuit for the last 40years, Im sure she sung “happiness is here but I had to go off to the bogs for wee as my prostrate had gone into overdrive for some bizarre reason, my it was looking forward to the Masqueraders as much as I were.

Enter Rob Moss again a great intro to the Maskies telling us how he met them in Memphis etc and all of a sudden they were on stage¦and bugger me the old black dud with the goatee we had seen in the bar was one of them not only that but he was the lead singer on their first number HOW the place went wild, I had goose bumps on my bell end, well I think they were goose bumps…one with I got the Power and then a slow un and finishing with Do you love me baby†awesome, they sounded as if they were miming to the record they were that good.

A short break to refuel with Kalibar and Chuck Jackson entered, a master of deliverance, described as Mr Everything by someone who I thought was the compeer off Phoenix Nights.

He did a 90 min set churning out all his classics whilst interacting with the crowd telling them stories about Ready Steady go and the Rolling Stones, Edwin Starr and Smokey Robinson a truly wonderful showman however I could have done with a 60min set and more than four songs from the Masquerders they were so good.

Chuck Jackson finally left the stage singing Love lights it then dawned on me I had a job to and how the hell do I follow that, decided to stick with me guns and do me Torch spot

FIDELS-TRY A LITTLE HARDER

CINDY SCOTT-I LOVE YOU BABY

ALICE CLARK-YOU HIT ME

THE VIBRATIONS-SURPRISE PARTY

EARL WRIGHT-THUMB A RIDE

THE SUPERIORS-WHAT WOULD I DO

THE TYMES-WHAT WOULD I DO

BOBBY PATTERSON-MY BABYS COMING BACK

MAXINE BROWN-ONE IN A MILLION

CHARLES WRIGHT-KEEP SAYING

MR FLOODS PARTY-AND COMPARED TO WHAT

THE MOB-OPEN THE DOOR TO YOU HEART

THE OLYMPICS-THE SAME OLD THING

LORENZO MANLEY-SWOOP DOWN ON YOU

JEAN CARTER-LIKE ONE

And as I was so happy I finished with William Bell, superb night.

I can't go without praising the lads who promoted the weekender, they went out on limb with this and although I got the impression numbers could have been more the organisation, equipment we had to use plus the facilities were first class.

Well done to everyone and here's to next year.

Paul D

Oct 2005