A Sunday afternoon in north London what better way to pass the time than to amble into a traditional boozer for a dose of pre-Christmas rockabilly with one of the greatest neo-rockabilly bands ever to have come out of this country the Deltas.

The Deltas including wonder guitarist Captain Pat Marvel, singer Stevie Bongo, and newish bass player Kev Magee, of Johnny and the Roccos, Paul Ansell’s Number 9, and Demented Are Go fame, and brand-new drummer Ronnie. The latter, playing a super pink drum kit, is female and she fitted in perfectly.

‘Heart Attack’, ‘Raging Sea’, ‘Good Time’, ‘London Girls’, ‘Pie and Mash’ are just a small sample of a terrific set-list. The stand-out track from my perspective, however, was ‘How Come You Do Me’ which features a splendidly compelling vocal performance from Bongo who seems almost possessed in his delivery. As a whole, this is a wonderfully low key and intimate performance from one of the original neo-rockabilly bands that is still rocking it like they have been for the past 40 years – absolutely outstanding!

From here it was a shortish journey across town to the West Hampstead Arts Club, a venue that in recent years has become the home from home for the Polecats. Not surprisingly the band opens with ‘John I’m Only Dancing’. Tim in lurching forward and a very fit and healthy looking Boz Boorer is tearing it up on guitar like nobody’s business. John Buck is phenomenal on drums, especially on ‘Black Magic’, whilst on bass for the first time since 2017 it is Kev Magee, of Deltas fame. Kev had less than 24hours notice that he would be depping for Phil Polecat who is, unfortunately poorly. And what a stand in he is! As the band works its way through classic after classic, from ’Hip Hip Baby’, ‘Little Pig’, ‘Rockabilly Guy’ to ‘Mary Celeste’ it is perfectly evident that this is a well-oiled machine that impresses throughout.

Nick Kemp