And so, The Crocketts came onstage to what was a pretty packed venue - I've no idea how many people were there. And they started with Billy The Bunt, and it was good. And when that was over Davey introduced himself as our Host, and how we were the lucky ones he had chosen, and lo it was great. And we worshipped him.

Then the first wild rocking song, Lucifer, put the crowd into shock for the first time, with Davey flying through the air like a man possessed by the Dark Lord himself, almost taking out Owen's kit several times. Dan was "yowling" in the background, and hell I was frightened. I'd never seen or heard this live before, and was well impressed with it. "You never explain to me, why it ever happened", is how Explain was introduced. And seeing as how it was often played on the radio, it was known to more of the crowd than the newer stuff, and it was also a cracking rendition, and was followed by Mrs Playing Dead and a superbly beautiful version of Ella Luciano.

Owen showed off his keyboard skills with the intro of On Something, and I'm sure some of the crowd were thinking that there was more than one of them "on something" up on the stage! Maybe some Red Bull or such like! Then they played Closet Heroine, followed by James Dean-esque, which was, as were all the songs, totally amazing. Davey's trademark "Drunken Guitarist" act, stumbling himself around the stage before grabbing hold of the microphone and shaking like a leaf from head to toe had me wondering when he was going to tire himself out, and low-and-behold he jumps down from the stage and sits with his back to it as the lads start up Will You Still Care behind him.

He gratefully accepts the pints offered to quench his raging thirst after 9 fully tanked songs, before leaping to his feet to start a mosh which would last all night (well ok it was a 10 person mosh to be fair, but it was a GREAT 10 person mosh) as he sung the immortal words printed on the fronts and backs of all the TShirts : I DON'T FUCKING THINK SO! The fans went wild. The curious ones were amused. The ones that were dragged along were confused. It slowed down a bit for Lady Killer, and then "The Messiah" was introduced to give us his rendition of Ring Of Fire. Everyone knew the words to that! Even people who wandered in by accident.

Davey bemoaned their lack of muscle as they launched into Strong Guy, which blended into Tennessee, just as it does on the "Morfa" Host single. And then they were gone, and the crowd looked like they were all still in shock, probably at the sight of "Himself" having come down to sing with the band.

But they came back to give us Time Of My Life, and another song or two that I can't remember due to imbibing too much Guinness. I think Flower Girl may have got an airing though. And then they were gone again, and the amps were switched off. That was it. Time to get more drink and wait for them to come back out and chat.

They were all in cracking form. Dan's Evil Eyes must have scared half the people there - something he's perfected since last time I saw them. I must say that they have really come together as one tight unit since the Levellers gig - all the touring and the residency has obviously paid off. I was left wanting more, and seem to remember saying that I'd see them in August, for Leeds and Reading. I'm gonna have to go. I can't leave it over a year till the next time.

Seeya there.

Ken McCullagh

Live Reviews
The Music Bar