2024 – Elvis in The Clouds

West One: Ruts DC, General Saint, WitchDoktors – 229 – 211224

Whoever is out there… Whoever is left… We’ve got to look out for each other… If we don’t, who will? The future is already here and it’s not some idealistic future of the past! Over..

Well who’d ‘a’ thunk it, yet again, on a (not so) sunny Saturday in December here we were, Mr. Silverback and EiTC, stomping around West One in anticipation of a solstice spectacular with none other than the magnificent Ruts DC.

We traipsed around the heart of London’s west end reminiscing about and seeing what remains of the London of our youth. We took in the Gibson Garage and looked at the ridiculously overpriced instruments on display there. In all fairness, the staff are very friendly and welcoming. And more than happy to sit you down with the latest Jimmy Page double neck, which was nice and a joy to play. But coming in at a shade under 9K, won’t be adding one of those to the EiTC armoury any time soon… We took in a tray of thali just off Leicester Square for sustenance before strolling north toward tonight’s venue 229.

We ventured inside, to discover a sea of friendly faces being bathed in the sound of The WitchDoktors. A sound which is both well-constructed and deftly delivered. The crowd were enjoying it and the sound inside the venue was comfortingly clear.

A short break and the amazing General Saint took over the stage for a set of tunes from his latest release. We enjoyed a great set delivered with energy, humour and authenticity.

In a flash it was time for Ruts DC.

Ruffy, Segs and Leigh took the stage to a warm welcome and proceeded to deliver a storming Solstice set.

The sound tonight was simply magical in addition to the band being on form, kudos to the sound crew and something about the venue.

Ruts DC served up song after song stunning us into musical submission with apparent ease from the very first note until the very last. Not a single of those notes or beats going to waste.

Talking of notes and beats, the bass was prominent tonight and locked in with both Drum and Guitar. I’ve referred to Ruffy and Segs as the Sly and Robbie of Punk before – tonight, as ever, they reinforced this notion. Not forgetting Mr. Heggarty’s contribution to rhythmic proceedings. Rhytmically they collide tight as a unit!

With the mix being very clear, it was great to have that clarity with the BVs backing up Segs, both Leigh and Dave sounding on form, particularly Mr. Ruffy’s croon-ful harmonising.

A band with such a tight, almost telepathic bond becomes a platform from which to explore subtle changes and improvisations with which tonight’s set was replete.

In between songs Segs was on his best form with banter, both humorous and serious. Reminding us of the bond we all share in a genuine, heartfelt manner. Namechecking familiar faces. And joking with Dave that the set may be a bit long (it was perfect)! And the aforementioned Mr. Ruffy even namechecked EiTC – Cheers Sir! On the subject of bonds we were treated tonight to new number Bound in Blood.

Channeling the mystical powers of the Winter Solstice was like falling off a log for Ruts DC, much to the gratitude of those assembled to witness such finery.

Verdict: Blimey!

Over…

Words: EiTC

Images: Karl Silverback

Pigeon and EiTC photo: Adam Salem

Bonus:

Controlled Chaos: The Damned – Winter Gardens – Eastbourne – 141224

Hello, this is a recorded message, if you receive this please seek the information enclosed within – Digest this information and disseminate to the masses… It is for their own salvation – The future depends on it! Over..

Blimey, so there I was with Two-Pint Pete, on a sunny Saturday in December as it were, en-route for Eastbourne for recuperation, cleansing and restoration…

After taking in fluids at a local hostelry, we retired back to our sea front lodgings for sustenance… Suitably sustained, we returned to said hostelry before finally ending up at our destination. The charming Winter Gardens in Eastbourne. Set a stone’s throw from the shores of sunny East Sussex.
We ventured inside, Pete said hello to the Captain, then we queued for drinks, said hello to a few familiar faces, by which time it was time, as it were, for the main attraction…

The Damned took to the stage, said their How do?’s to the assembled Ladies and Gentlemen before ripping us into an absolute corker of a show of classic Damned material.
As ever, Mr Vanian had the whole of the stage covered – with the energy of 3 men a third his age… Closely matched for stage stalking by Messrs. Sensible and Grey. Monty seemed a little more contained as far as stage vibes go but his playing and BVs were spot on.

What of Mr Scabies? I hear you ask… Well, it’s been a quite a while for me since I had the pleasure. And what a joyous pleasure it was too. I try not to mention the G word in every review but here it’s appropriate… Rat’s picking up the Damned sticks, has for me, being here now in Eastbourne Winter Gardens (or I was there at the time and it was indeed now at the time – EiTC), an almost magical Gestalt effect on the band, while the sum of the whole is, of course greater, it is even greater for his constituent part.

There was a glorious sense of controlled chaos throughout tonight’s show. The extended improvisational passages felt dreamlike, edgy and genuine.
For an oddly shaped venue, which Mr Vanian likened to being at a gig inside the Hindenberg (spot on he was too), The sound had a clarity which served the detail of these finely crafted gems well. From Paul’s Melodic low frequency ramblings and Monty’s masterful keys, via Rat’s demon drum delivery and Captain’s controlled mid/high-frequency madness to Dave’s amazing vocal delivery and stage presence.
Like all good things, all too soon, it passed. Dave’s parting thoughts of gratitude were Thank you you’ve made five old men even older…. My riposte is Thank you, you made this old man rather chipper…
After two marvellous encores, Captain serenaded us out with that song! Yeah, you know the one, that’s right!

Verdict: Damn fine!
Over…
Words and images: EiTC

Bonus:

The Stranglers – Portsmouth Guildhall – 23rd March 2024

So, after leaving Elvis Towers, I swung by Sunny Stanwell and collected my Bro and Nephew for a day down by the south coast in Pompey…

After checking into our billeted quarters, a quick mosey around the centre of town found the area around the Guildhall all but deserted apart from the familiar red/black uniformed faithful. Not only deserted (guess most of the students had gone home for Easter) but also devoid of any nearby eateries. After walking around for the best part of an hour our search for sustenance proved fruitless (literally - a banana would have been good at this point)! 

Aware as we were of the time, we decided to head back toward the venue. Only to realise that we were in fact only a minute away from it! Ever decreasing circles and wheels within starving wheels!

Setting up camp with other FiB at the local ‘Spoons’ opposite the venue, Bro and Nep took a punt on the delights of Sainsburys Local (more on that later). Wired on the ‘Spoons’ endless coffee, suit was followed by yours truly in the shape of a meal deal for the princely sum of £3.25. Blimey!

Fast forward an hour or so after meeting/greeting FiB after FiB, we made our way to the venue and before long the lights dimmed. To my surprise and delight the PA rang out not with the familiar strains of Waltzinblack but the awesomely addictive synth sequence signalling the intro of Just Like Nothing on Earth and (almost) before you could say ‘A Woman in Wellington wet her whistle with a Wildman from way back when’ We were treated to both the opener and subsequently the closer from Gospel According to The Meninblack – a brilliant and bold start to the show!

Very soon I was amidst a jolly and joyful bunch of dancing loons, gleefully sharing in this Stranglers obsession…

I won’t go too much into the details of the set but suffice to say, Hanging Around brought me back to my earlier experience with Sainsburys Local. In that, travelling through Fulham recently, it was noted the site of The Coleherne (the famous leather bar referred to in the lyric of HA), is now a Sainsburys Local. So, I pondered, as I’m prone to, how this might affect the song, if the lyrics were updated to reflect the current occupiers of that site – I’m moving in Sainsburys local, with the leather all around me (not something we experienced in Pompey SL that’s for sure)…

But, as ever, I ramble on…

The gig was an absolute corker!
The sound was powerful, clear and magnificent. The venue was top notch and the crowd were intent on boogying and woogying to both sets as brilliantly delivered by the Stranglers.

Baz, had an extra edge in his delivery for this show. His guitar gurning was ramped up to the extreme. As it was, it made the show even more enjoyable but I fear he may have pushed himself a bit far this Saturday night as we’ve just received news from MiB HQ, that he has lost his voice and The Bristol show has now unfortunately had to be cancelled.