Dunk, Liz & I both really like the classic Ian Dury & the Blockheads so we went with mixed expectation. Although Ian was the main man and had an easily recognised and 'individual' voice, he wasn't what you'd call a 'good' singer imo, it was more his charismatic style (in Essex terms)
Anyway, if you know the music and listen beyond the novelty lyric, it's vry obvious that there's a bunch of superb musicians behind him. They seem to have a rock/modern jazz style that works really well. There's five originals, who've lost none of their abilities, in fact age seems to improve many of this era of musician and it seeems to come as a second nature.
The bassist is magical and a one off. He sweats buckets while producing the most intricate bass riffs. When comparing notes later, we were both transfixed by his amazing enthusiasm. Having see Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings twice, in as many months, the Blockheads' bassist is as opposite to Wyman's style as you could. He even does a solo in one song
There are two new guys, first a drummer, who plays every beat as per the original whilst adding a flair of his own. He performed a brilliant solo whilst one hand was taken up by trying to fix the top hat cymbal that suddenly developed a loose screw and refused to operate.
The other new guy is a saxophonist from heaven, or hell, depending on how you view bloody brilliant sax playing. tenor, baritone and I think, alto. He didn't stop smiling and looking to be really enjoying playing with this brilliantly talented bunch of oldies. He relished in doing a 'duelling banjos' Deliverance style with the lead guitar and the drummer on a few occasions.
Carl, The vocals was covered by the original guys, three in particular, lead guitar, percussive, singer and even the rapidly dehydrating bassist. No sign of Phil Jupitus and to be honest, I don't think he could have done the songs justice. The guys who did sing, maybe didn't have the tonal range, or lack of, of Ian D but they had the 'feeling'.
We're definitely going to see them again and I heartily recommend anyone who enjoyed Ian Dury, go and see them too.
They received TWO standing ovations
Go visit the website and download some of their songs.
http://www.theblockheads.com click on audio/video and enjoy.
We came away with two CDs and a DVD
and wnt to see The Blockheads, the late, great, Ian Dury's band.