100 CLUB, LONDON 2018 / DAGENHAM ROUNDHOUSE 2017
Another cool thing about playing in the KEN PUSTELNIK'S GROUNDHOGS band is that you get to play legendary venues - places steeped in the rich history of live music in the UK, the mere mention of the names conjuring visions of those halcyon days 'when rock was young'. Ken, of course, played at these places on a regular basis back in the day, being one of those that established that legendary status in the first place, but for the rest of us it is a rare and exciting privilege to tread those fabled stages that so many great acts have trodden before.
One such is the 100 CLUB in Soho, London, its front entrance modestly set on Oxford Street amongst the seemingly endless scaffolding and lines of barriers that currently beset the country's capital.
Tuesday night at the 100 Club is blues night, with Solid Entertainments putting on high quality showbills on a regular basis and we were fortunate to be able to be part of one such, supported by the excellent "Born Healer" and "Crow Black Chicken".
Although somewhat drizzly and cool outside the night was well attended and plenty hot inside as all three bands gave it their all to the enthusiastic crowd, ensuring a memorable night for all of us. Even better news is that we're due to return in December 2018!
Another such is the Dagenham Roundhouse, a venue we were fortunate enough to play in late 2017 in a double-header with fellow Roundhouse stalwarts (and early 70's Hog-Brothers) STRAY.
The place has changed a bit, them ol' regulars assured us, the stage now moved to the far end of the hall and the 'dome' now plastered flat, but the atmosphere is still very much in evidence as both bands stormed through their sets to rapturous applause. Del (Bromham), Stray's brilliant and underrated lead guitarist/vocalist, was on particularly fine form in his home-from-home, shredding mercilessly whilst climbing the PA stacks or joining the dancing mass frontstage.
And it was almost as if we were back to those late-60s/early 70s days as we assembled on stage for a final curtain call (not that there was an actual curtain) and took a traditional bow as the applause resounded through the room. A deeply satisfying evening for all concerned . . .