This is the first leg of the Raucous Records 40^th birthday celebration held in Leicester at Duffy’s Bar. As befits the occasion, tonight’s gig is a sell-out and the venue, which is quite small in any case, is packed to the gills and really very sweaty.

The first band on are a rockabilly outfit called Big Black Cadillac. They play an excellent mixture of covers and originals. A terrific rendition of Brand New Cadillac and a triumvirate of Polecats’ numbers in the shape of Little Pig, Marie Celeste, and Rockabilly Guy, are worthy of particular mention.

Next up are Howard Raucous’ band the Go-Katz who were the first band to put out a release on Raucous Records. I think that this might be the first time that I have seen the band play and I was impressed. The band open’s their set with a stonking version of Gene Vincent’s ‘Say Mama’. The band itself is composed of fine musicians, none more so than the guitarist who certainly wouldn’t have been born when the band released its first record. The moustachioed, classic rock looking, six-string slinger, named Fabio was absolutely fabulous. A great rendition of The Meteors’ ‘Maniac’ really gilded the band’s lily – an excellent performance.

Having a band the calibre of the Long Tall Texans second on the bill was like a throwback to the days of the Klub Foot. As we have all come to expect the band produce the goods from the off. Mark Carew typically takes his top off no more than three songs into the set as we are treated to all of the favourites from ‘Poison’, ‘Get Back Wetback’, ‘Bloody’, ‘Saints and Sinners’ to more recent numbers such as ‘Girlfriend’ and ‘What Part of Fuck Off Don’t You Understand’. The band’s set is an absolute delight.

Which, of course, leaves just one band: Restless. This neo-rockabilly behemoth is simply brilliant. I have long waxed lyrical about the band’s prowess as musicians which is second to none, but here I will stress an altogether more visceral quality, the feel-good factor that these three gentlemen generate. From opening number ‘It’s a Scam’ through ‘Mercury Blues’, ‘Sixteen Tons’, ‘Long Black Shiny Car’, ‘Edge on You’, and ‘Ice Cold’, this band can’t fail to generate smiling faces throughout the room. And when the band finally leaves the stage after a superb rendition of ‘Rock n’ Roll Train’ no one can be in any doubt whatsoever that they have been well and truly entertained. This was a superb evening and I feel privileged to have been present.

Nick Kemp

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