I had the great pleasure of seeing neo-rockabilly legends on two dates of their recent tour in the UK. The first occasion was at Reading’s Facebar and the second was at Oxford Street’s iconic 100 Club. Both were absolutely terrific gigs, the most notable difference being that there was a support act on the second night in the form of Brighton’s finest the Long Tall Texans. As one has come to expect over many, many years the performance of Mark Carew and his boys was quite exemplary. Playing material from 1987’s ‘Poison’, ‘Get Back Wetback’, through to more recent material such as ‘Girlfriend’, ‘Headless’ and ‘What Part of Fuck Off Don’t You Understand’ the band exudes energy and enjoyment that is truly infectious. You will never be disappointed by a Texans’ show.

The Polecats, a year shy of the 50^th anniversary of their first incarnation positively explode into the stage with Tim Polecat exhibiting all the energy of a man a third of his age being really quite remarkable. As ever, the band opens with Bowie’s ‘John I’m Only Dancing’, a song that the band has really made its own. The it’s the thunderous drums of the mighty John Buck as the band segue-ways delightfully into ‘Big Green Car’ with Boz Boorer playing his guitar with what seems to be a re-discovered passion and inventiveness, all the while backed by the uber-cool and most capable and versatile bass player on the scene, nay, the planet , Mr Phil Polecat. 50 years of playing together has dampened the bands love of performing one iota and the band’s technical prowess only continues to blossom. ‘Hip Hip Baby’ with ska-inflected rhythm guitar is as absolute joy, as is the incredibly fast ‘I’m Ready’ and ‘Dow the Line’. With new song ‘Crepe Soul’ the band manages the exceptionally rare feat of being able to craft a new, inventive and wonderfully catchy song and being able to introduce it into a set-list choc-a-block with classics and it, not only not appearing out of place but actually enhancing their arsenal. The song is a very clever celebration of all things 70s from Larry Grayson to Tesco bomber jackets – it’s a gem! ‘Jeepster’ sees Boz work his magic on the T-Rex classic in a fashion that could only have wowed his hero. A quick look around the room sees a legion of smiling faces. As the band completes its set with the terrific ‘Marie Celeste’ and the obligatory ‘Rockabilly Guy’ no-one can be in any doubt that we have just witnessed a neo-rockabilly behemoth absolutely at the zenith of its powers. I take my hat off to Tim, Boz, Phil and John, for a quite incredible masterclass of rockabilly nirvana.

Nick Kemp