This is the second year in succession that these three legends, Slim Jim Phantom of the Stray Cats, Phil Polecat of the Polecats, and Neal X of Sigue Sigue Sputnik, have got together. The result is a splendid trip down memory lane. The West Hampstead Arts Club is perhaps best described as an intimate venue and it came as no surprise that it was packed to the gills.

The band opens up with a song that could have been for this magazine, Little Richard’s ‘Rip It Up,’ that sees Neal X take vocal duties and executes them with ease. Then it’s the iconic ‘Rumble in Brighton’ whilst Jim might not be the most confident singer, he manages to convey the real spirit of the song.

Then it is a song called ‘Born to Rock & Roll’, based around the riff from ‘Summertime Blues’ and features Neal singing. The Polecats’ most iconic single ‘Rockabilly Guy’ which was originally sung by Phil sees the bass maestro taking vocal duties once more and acquitting himself with considerable aplomb.  ‘My California Beach House’ a recent song written by Neal, but before the fires, is next.

Jim is evidently quite chatty this evening and declares that ‘I love coming to London, it’s my second home.’ ‘Stray Cat Strut’, perhaps the greatest song of the neo-rockabilly era is sung by Jim but with lots of crowd participation. The song also features quite a sublime bass solo from the maestro, Phil Polecat.

This is followed by Link Wrays’ supreme instrumental,‘Rumble’. Phil Polecat then says, ‘you might know this one’ as he launches into the classic ‘Little Pig’.

“I wanna bring up my true rockabilly pal, you might know him, he plays with the Pretenders, James Walbourne. The band launches into Jack Scott’s ‘The Way I Walk’ which is quite the fest of duelling guitars. 

Mr. Walbourne stays on stage for a rendition of ‘That’s Alright’ which exposes the limitations of Slim Jim’s vocals. The song segued wayed into Jeepster mid-way through which was a nice transition handled by Neal. Then we were back into ‘That’s Alright’ with a Walbourne solo and then crowd singing. James Walbourne’s band His Lordship are rightly advertised as being awesome.

Then to much applause Neal announces that he is going to do a Sigue Sigue Sputnik song. No, it’s not that one instead it’s ‘Hey Jayne Mansfield Superstar’ a very good song.

Jim eulogises about England in the summertime, arriving on these shores on 10^th June 1980 and his son being born and going to school in London. He then launches into ‘Summertime Blues’ and is arguably his best vocal performance of the night. is next with Jim singing and not doing too badly. Next, there is quite a nice rendition of ‘Wondrous Place’ sung by Neal with a terrific bass solo by Phil.

The band then cranks out ‘Runaway Boys’ with Jim and the audience singing in unison. Sigue Sigue Sputnik’s classic, from 1986, is up next. ‘Love Missile F1-11’, features a nice section taken from the Stones’ ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ neatly sandwiched in the middle.

Phil announces that the next song is their last of the evening. ‘Rock This Town’ hass some immaculate bass playing from Phil and after his guitar cut out and he picked up the guitar that Mr. Walbourne had used there was some splendid lead work from Mr. X.

The band however is up for an encore of their new single, a rockabilly rendition of Mud’s ‘Tiger Feet’ which Neal tells the assembled is available upstairs in the foyer to which Phil Polecat, mischievously adds, it is also available at Our Price, John Menzies and Woolworths. The song also takes in Bill Haley’s ‘Rock Around the Clock’, before ending to rapturous applause.

This has been a splendid evening enjoyed by all in this hot sweaty environment. Let’s hope that we are all able to enjoy a repeat performance next summer. 

Nick Kemp