News
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WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENIN' . . .
EARLY SEPTEMBER . . . into the dark evenings now, and our first September gig was very much on our home patch, with our debut gig at The Leopard, Bull Close Road, Norwich. Great sound in there, and the band went down really well with a knowledgeable and appreciative crowd. A warm , pleasant evening, a good gig, and many thanks to Sue at The Leopard for the booking. We should be back on stage there again early next year . . .
AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY . . . a brilliant start to a busy gigging Bank Holiday weekend with a rare Friday night visit to our regular end-of-month home from home at The Eaton Cottage on Unthank Road. Super crowd, good vibes, only one teeny train wreck in two hours of sweaty, funky, groovin' Rhythm & Blues - we loved it. Thanks as ever to Phil for the continued residency at The Eaton.
Johnny Boy was out and about Saturday night doing his cool blues duo thang, then the band hit the road for HONEYDRIPPER GIG NUMBER 50! This was intended to be played in the garden at Darby's Freehouse, Swanton Morley, but sadly the day dawned chilly, very windy and pissing down with rain, so we were tucked cosily into the inglenook area of the main bar along with numerous drinkers seeking refuge from the English summer. At 6 pm quickly back to The Bassdaddy's hovel for turkey rolls and choccy cake before hitting the road again for Suffolk. We closed the evening's entertainment at The Star Inn, Wenhaston, who were hosting their windswept summer Beer Festival. Incidentally, some great acoustic players featuring fiddle, Celtic harp and bodhran just before us - beautiful magical stuff. It was weird playing under canvas wearing hats, waterproofs and hoodies on what was supposed to be a balmy summer night, but we just avoided electrocution and certainly were appreciated by those hardy Beer Festival patrons who crowded the beer tent to see us. Free beer, free food, we could not have been treated better by a very friendly host and hostess - thanks indeed to Virginia and Carl; incidentally, they had some seriously drinkable ales in the beer tent, including a honey beer (how appropriate was that?) that caused Johnny Boy absolutely no pain at all as he got his beak into it - pity he had a forty mile drive home to think about, and also a pity about the appalling weather . . .
LATE AUGUST . . . A quick glance at the band diary reveals that the August Bank Holiday weekend will see the band play its 50th gig since forming last summer. That will be the afternoon outing (hopefully in the garden) at Darby's Freehouse in Swanton Morley, near Dereham. Later that day we're dropping down into Suffolk to play at the Beer Festival organised by The Star Inn at Wenhaston, near Southwold - something of a double whammy to mark the Honeydripper Half-Century. First, though, a return to the Eaton Cottage, Norwich, next Friday to link up with our regular Norwich followers. Should be a busy but excellent holiday weekend . .
MID AUGUST . . . On Saturday the Honeydripper boys made the trek to The Wash & Tope, Hunstanton. A heavy thunderstorm arrived over the West Norfolk coast just before we did, and the country lanes were awash, so things were quiet at first, but by the second set quite a decent-sized crowd of appreciative music fans had assembled. Hunstanton is one of the few places in East Anglia where the sun sets over the sea, and there really was a spectacular late evening cloudscape as the rain blew away over the water - nice one!T he W & T is a good venue to play in, lots of electrical outlets, plenty of room, and a good sound in the elongated bar. Hopefully we will get to do some repeat gigs there, as the guys all enjoyed that one a lot . . .
Friday last saw the band making a return to a great local venue, The King's Head Hotel, Beccles. The Manager there, Ian, is an object lesson to music venue bosses in the way he treats visiting bands - he provides drinks for the musicians, has laid on his own modern low temperature lighting rig, and is such a friendly, attentive and courteous guy that when you realise you're being treated like human beings, it can be a bit of a shock. We had a good gig, but sadly for bands anyway, the hotel is now being sold to become part of the Wetherspoons' chain so I guess this was the last time Honeydripper will grace the premises. Our warm thanks to Ian for the band's gigs at The King's Head, and here's hoping that we are able to play for him at another venue at some future date . . .
EARLY AUGUST . . . last weekend kicked off for the band with a return visit to The Grebe Hotel, Stalham, out in the Norfolk Broads. A late start because of the Norwich match on Sky, but once fired up we rocked the house and went down well. The new sound-proofing boards look like they're preparing for the Luftwaffe to put in an appearance any minute now, but the dancers and the Guv'nor there liked us, and so we're back again in October, and also just after Christmas . . . Saturday night and it was a 70 mile drive (or more if you lose your way like The Bassdaddy - doh!) down to The Royal Oak, Halstead in Essex. Our first visit to this well-known live music venue, and a great debut gig for us. A big crowd, many of them up and shaking their interesting parts, plus Freddie the boss made us very welcome, and also did his well-known vocal turn on 'Blue Suede Shoes' with the band at the end of the night. Halstead on a warm summer Saturday night is a really busy, friendly little town with a great vibe, well-happy people absolutely everywhere at midnight, and we loved the gig. Some of the winsome lassies in the Royal Oak were merry and well lively, and a good time was had. Hope to be back there to rock the joint again soon . . . . . the previous weekend was pretty hectic for Honeydripper, with three gigs in two and a half days. We kicked off on Friday night with a return visit to The Cottage on Silver Road in Norwich, an excellent venue with its own grizzly bear patrolling the bar. Fortunately any carnivorous tendencies Murphy may have were forgotten in favour of a vegetarian lifestyle once The Bassdaddy opened his packet of salted peanuts. We played our latest two-set selection for the small but perfectly marked crowd, but I must be honest and admit that the highlight for most was probably the landlady's infant son Harry showing Chris how to play drums, and then sitting in with the band on miniature acoustic guitar. The lowlight was the torrential rainstorm just as it was time to load the gear into the cars after the gig . . . the next night the weather had cleared, and we did our end-of-the-month gig at The Eaton Cottage on Unthank Road, but Li'l Dave was away so Andy Jordan from the White Heat and Blind Spirit classic rock bands once again got his blues face on and did us proud with his depping skills, including his patented crowd walkabout while soloing. Nice one, Andy, and compliments too to Phil the landlord at The Eaton who has just extended our monthly booking through until the New Year - nice one, Phil, you run a great pub with an excellent clientele, and you know a red-hot band when you hear one . . . last gig of the weekend saw us visiting King's Lynn for the first time, with a teatime slot at a real R & B lover's venue, The London Porterhouse on the main road into town. A number of familiar faces from the west of the county pitched up to hear us again, and we rocked this very compact but attractive little pub big-time. The Porterhouse have booked us in again for some dates in the winter, and we look forward to going back and groovin' once more for the very knowledgeable and appreciative King's Lynn blues fans . . . . .
LATE JULY . . . the band just had a great weekend at the seaside - Sunday afternoon saw us playing in the garden behind The Dock Tavern, Gorleston, as part of a charity fund-raiser, along with noted local classic rock band Stealer. The folks turned out in droves, the barby got red hot, and the sun shone. Saturday night we played a blinding three-set gig at The Green Gate Inn, Caister-On-Sea - we really enjoyed that one; the lassies and lads were up on their hooves bopping away, and even at midnight they were still yelling for more. Some of the best vibes we've had with an audience for months, and with that kind of reception we would expect to be asked back instantly to repeat the dose, but it's never something one can count on, strangely. We'll wait and see in a patient and philosophical manner, as always . . .
MID-JULY . . . anyone who was thinking about catching the band at The King Edward VII on 20th August may want to note that the gig in question won't happen, due to what might be termed a calendar malfunction (on the part of the venue, obviously, we're way too efficient for that kind of mallarkey). The Eddy have confirmed that we're still booked to play there on November 5, mysterious diary disasters permitting, presumably . . .
MID-JULY . . . what a hot, steamy night last Friday at The King's Head Hotel in Beccles, but what a terrific buzz. The temperature outside was nearly 90, so inside with the amps and PA and lights bubbling away it was mega sweaty, but it's a great place to play, the band were made really welcome, and we had a reet gud time as they say where The Bassdaddy's lad lives. There were a few undulating bodies up and having a boogie, and we did a couple of hot sets. Many thanks to Ian for that booking and for the beer - he expressed himself well pleased with the band (well, we are getting pretty hot now) and he's booked us back in there for a month's time - can't wait to do it all again! Well done, Beccles, nice vibe . . .
EARLY JULY . . . with the "enforced" lay-off because of the football World Cup (by the way, belated congratulations to the England team on a wonderful showing) it seemed like ages since we last gigged, so it was great to visit The King's Head Hotel, Bungay, Suffolk on Saturday night and play a couple of sets for a modestly sized but really appreciative audience. We shoe-horned several new (new to us) songs into the set, and there were no noticeable train wrecks, so that's cool. The boys are keen to nail even more extra numbers, so in the end we'll be just like a real band, probably . . . many thanks to Geoff at Bungay for the booking; as Johnny Boy remarked, the music room there is a terrific place with a real ambience, and if some miracle-worker could persuade local blues lovers to turn out on a regular basis it would make a superb venue for a monthly blues club . . . . .
END OF JUNE . . . the band are having one of their rare practice sessions this week - you may have spotted the bunting in the streets and the general air of great excitement at this rare phenomenon. Should hopefully be some new (well, really old but different) songs added to the sets for the next batch of gigs. We're looking forward to our postponed gig at The King's Head in Bungay on Saturday; also, several new bookings for the summer just added - see the "GIGS" page of the website. We're doing a fund-raiser for Gorleston Lifeboat at The Dock Tavern, Gorleston along with respected rock band Stealer who are based out on the coast. If it's a nice day that will be outside, it's a family-friendly Sunday afternoon event, maybe a third act playing too, and all for an excellent cause, so we're looking forward to that one. Full details, as ever, of the current gig calendar on the "GIGS" page . . . . .
LATE JUNE . . . no Honeydripper gigs this coming weekend (did you know there's a football match on somewhere?) but The Bassdaddy hopes to be popping along to a rare local appearance by notable young singer/songwriter Alex Loughrey and his band. Axel is performing at The Bull in Dereham on Friday 25th June . . . . . while the boys are "off the road" because of this interminable World Cup football, you could get your ration of live blues by dropping into The Leopard, Bull Close, Norwich, on Saturday 19th June, where our front man Johnny Boy Watcham will be doing his laidback groovy duo thang with the redoubtable Phil Selby (of The Keno Kings, Dr Misfit, Acme Blues Company, Cleaving Heavages and any seventeen other fine bands) . . . . . as more or less expected, the scheduled gig at The Eaton Cottage on Saturday next 26th June has also been cancelled as the pub is firmly in the grip of World Cup fever. Hope to get gigging again once the football fest is all played out . . . . .
MID JUNE . . . Great excitement tonight (Monday 14th) as Honeydripper front man Johnny Boy appeared on Wayland Radio's FM Blues Show as one half of the renowned Blues By Two combo. Nice swinging live set, some excellent recorded blues tracks chosen by the guys, plus the expected modest and self-effacing commentary. Nice one, Phil and John - pity they couldn't get the Honeydripper name right, but what's new . . . . . the band should have been paying a return visit to The Grebe Hotel, Stalham, this coming Friday, June 18th, but the venue has called off the gig as it clashes with another England World Cup match. We reckon that's probably a sensible move - either there will be nobody in the place because they're all indoors watching the England goalie covering himself in glory, or they will be crowding into the Grebe in droves so we can't get our gear set up till about ten . . . we're waiting to see whether England will be involved in the second round match on Saturday 26th, because if they are we may find a similar situation with the Eaton Cottage gig scheduled for that evening . . . . . the band's first visit to Gooderstone Swan, in the outback beyond Swaffham, clashed with ITV showing the first England World Cup match live, so the gig didn't fire up until well after 10 pm (The Bassdaddy is usually getting out the Horlicks and comfy slippers by then) and we played in the big glass conservatory at the rear of the venue, where the sound was "unusual". Still, the band went down well, and were particularly appreciated by a bunch of USAF airmen from RAF Lakenheath. Don't know whether the guys picked up the connection between our well-intentioned slovenly noise-making and proper American Rhythm & Blues music, but as ever we live in hope . . . the drive home at half past midnight showed all manner of wildlife poncing about in the headlights - hares, bunnies, deer, you name it - you certainly don't want to be belting along on those narrow country lanes at any rate of knots . . .
EARLY JUNE . . . on Saturday we finished off our intensive Norfolk/Suffolk early summer tour (seven gigs in nine exhausting days!!) with a visit to Club Oasis at Caister-On-Sea, which is a lovely big venue with a terrific stage set-up, masses of electric power outlets, good stage lighting and good punchy sound. Many thanks to Sandra at the club for that booking, and thanks to our followers who pitched up for that one. In all honesty, I don't guess they have Rhythm & Blues bands playing to the family holiday-makers there too often, but we went down OK in between the kiddies' entertainment and the Madonna DJ fare. One big disappointment for front man Johnny Boy was that he didn't win a pair of flashing fluffy pink bunny's ears during the children's competions, but we told him you can't have everything. Time to put our feet up for a bit now . . . . . Friday last saw the boys running down to the Suffolk coast for our first gig at The Lord Nelson, Lowestoft, a venue normally presenting hard rock and heavy metal bands, but our punchy brand of lively R & B went down really well and they want us back again. Great stage set-up, loads of electric outlets (which makes a change) and excellent sound. One unexpected benefit of playing a pub which is used to heavy metal outfits is that for once nobody asked us to TURN IT DOWN! Thanks to The Lord Nelson for the free shots, thanks for the booking - nice one! Not so nice was the close encounter afterwards with a muntjac that The Bassdaddy collected on the A12 near Gorleston - not content with the very near miss on the first pass, the stupid little fecker decided to do a U-turn and headbutt the offside rear door after I'd almost cleared it - the motor is looking a bit more second-hand after that one . . . a summer evening drive through the North Norfolk back roads took the band to The Queen Victoria, Snettisham on Wednesday last for our first gig there. It was really good to play for a bunch of friendly, knowledgeable and appreciative blues followers. The Bassdaddy discovered during the interval that there were at least three bass players in the audience. He had played the whole of Set 1 using the good old Dean Pace upright electric (resembling a railway sleeper with four bits of wire) with his usual approximate sloppy technique, so it was a relief he didn't discover the crowd's specialist knowledge until afterwards! A good experience - it's brilliant when a pub crowd actually LISTENS TO THE MUSIC!
LATE MAY BANK HOLIDAY . . . we started off a busy Bank Holiday weekend with our first visit to The Heart in Wymondham. Many thanks for the booking to the lovely Jan, who really likes her live blues, and knows a hot blues band when she hears one. We had a good gig - there was a lively Friday night crowd of young drinkers, but also a pretty fair representation of more mature knowledgeable blues fans, several of whom said very complimentary things about our stuff, always good to hear. We hope to be back at The Heart once diaries have been compared . . . Saturday night saw us back in our now-regular slot at The Eaton Cottage, Norwich. A brilliant night, lots of happy grooving punters and band fans, and even a bunch of youngsters dressed up as beer cans (beer cans?!? No chance they were students, I suppose?) Thanks, as ever, to Phil for the booking . . . Sunday afternoon we moved across the city to The Spread Eagle, Sussex Street, where Adam the landlord was putting on a barbecue, which was sadly rain-affected. Again, largely due to the rain, one suspects, only a few hardy blues fans turned out to listen to us, but at least the pub's chickens popped in to hear what we had to offer . . . final stop on this mad Bank Holiday tour of Norfolk was a Monday afternoon session at The Red Lion, Needham, where the sun finally put in an appearance and people really seemed to like the band. We played out on the decking at the rear of the inn, and the sound was a bit bizarre as usual with outside gigs, but it was good fun and a well-received end to a busy, busy gigging weekend. Memo to our bandleader - don't book four gigs in four days again . . . ZZZZZZ!
LATE MAY : Friday 21st May saw the band play its first gig at The Crown, Pulham Market. There were several keen music enthusiasts there, including a couple of very young blues/rock band musicians who really seemed to love their blues. It's a nice room at The Crown, with plenty of space to set up, and for once The Bassdaddy had enough elbow room to set up a second amp and blow the dust of his electric fretless stand-up bass - great fun to play, and it brings a different sound to some of the band's songs too. The room, though, is pretty big, and really needs a bustling crowd to get that real rocking gig atmosphere. Many thanks to Steve the Guv'nor for the booking - chatting to him as we cleared away the gear it's clear that many country inns are still finding it a real struggle to entice enough customers in for band nights, despite all the posters, advert boards and gig guide and local paper entries, even on a beautiful balmy early summer night. The drive back was good, mist wreathing the back roads, and at one point a sudden stamp on the brakes as a fox sped across the road with a fat bunny clamped in its jaws. Oooh-er, nature red in tooth and claw . . . scarey stuff!
. . . . the gig planned for Saturday 22nd May at The King's Head Hotel, Bungay has been cancelled by the venue, not by the band. We are informed, at two day's notice, that another Bungay pub is having a "closing down" bash that night, and The King's Head management apparently consider that will be too much of a competing draw . . . . .
MID MAY . . . Li'l Dave back on parade and smokin' them Marshall valves for the start of a busy bee Honeydripper weekend at The Cottage, Silver Road in Norwich on Friday. Though I say it myself, we played some pretty good stuff, and it was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable crowd in attendance right through to the end. Nice to see some of the faithful lapping up them good-time Honey grooves : thanks to Ken, Clive, Margaret, Eric, Jean, Robert The Hitman and so many more - keep on keepin' on, you funky fools! Thanks to Sally and Clive for the booking - and for repeat bookings for later this summer. By the way, The Bassdaddy didn't really believe for one minute that Murphy is a German Shepherd - looks way more like a big ol' Grizzly bear strolling round the place . . . the next night down to The Cock Inn, Diss, for a lively couple of hot steamy sets for the happy border folks - think the summer's coming in, we had to wring our shirts out. Lots of swaying bodies, clearly getting into that downhome Honeydripper groove bliss. Chris The Stix had reskinned his snare drum, and was digging deeeep into the pocket - magic stuff - Idris Muhammad would have been proud of the lad. Thanks to our Southern friends for turning out, notably including that fine drummer Ash Seaman, noted stick man for Strange Brew and currently with John Stannard's Twangrenades - Ash thought we sounded hot, and that's good enough for us . . . and, to complete the long weekend, on Sunday 16th some tired li'l Honey bunnies paid a first visit to The York Tavern in Norwich, to lay down some modestly quietened blues grooves for the newly-formed York Tavern Bicycle Club and other ale aficionados. Although Chris The Stix is a well-known addition to the furniture at The York (he played many gigs there with an earlier band) it was the first Honeydripper outing there - our music seemed to find favour with the punters and The Guv'nor, and we may be back later . . .
EARLY MAY . . . on Friday 7th we played our first gig in the lively Grebe Hotel, Stalham. Our guitarist Dave found himself unavailable for this gig, so we were pleased that Mark Howes could step in at short notice and lay down some lovely jazzy blues licks that were as tasty and appetising as the unusual and original Broadland cocktails advertised in the main bar. Mark is currently very busy in the studios putting the final touches to the new album by his much-respected "Dove & Boweevil" acoustic blues outfit, so we are lucky to be able to call on his talents. The Bassdaddy recalled after the gig that Stalham is in the neck of the Norfolk outback where he first picked up a bass many years back, accompanying talented blues singer/guitarist Roger Billings, and so he took the "long way home" in the pouring rain to retrace the route of many a rehearsal session from those days, across the country roads and over the flat lonely marshlands stretching in from the east coast. If you're out there reading this, RB, the old boy is still blowing the blues, hope you are too . . . we should be back at The Grebe later in the summer - hope the rain has stopped by then . . . . . by the way, thanks to our buddy Will Flittner, Clapton fan extraordinaire, who described Honeydripper on Facebook recently as "an awesome band". A man of great perception and faultless taste, he will go far . . .
SPRING BANK HOLIDAY . . . we played on the opening night of the East Harling Blues & Beer Festival, but it was a much-shortened gig (the previous outfit were pretty relaxed about clearing their gear off the stage) and the boys were just hitting the groove big-time when the witching hour arrived and we all turned back into pumpkins. Still, the late-night punters who were still about seemed to like what we offered, and it was good to play on the same bill as Paul Lamb & The Kingsnakes plus several American artists currently on tour in the UK. Thanks to Dave Thomas for bringing the boys in on this event . . . then on the Bank Holiday Sunday we did a last-minute gig for the monthly blues night at The Ribs Of Beef, Norwich, after the booked band called off late. Li'l Dave was away all weekend in strange foreign parts, so much-respected blues axe-man Mark Howes brought his red 335 to fill our guitar slot. It was dark and cosy in The Ribs, but everybody breathed in, and we squeezed in a tiny drumkit, itsy-bitsy Roland Bass Cube and half a PA and bluesed up a storm. Mark played an absolute blinder for us with his patented Buddy Guy-meets-B B King lines, and we had a great time and got some very complimentary remarks (one lady even admired The Bassdaddy's shirt - no accounting for taste). Big thanks to Mark for faultless guitar licks, and to Tom at The Ribs for the booking.
LATE APRIL . . . on Friday last Honeydripper played The Park Hotel, Diss, for their St George's Day Beer Festival. We tried out a few new numbers, and with three sets over three hours we were cream-crackered, especially Johnny Boy, who was red in the chops after all that funky leg action . . . BUT! it was a great gig, the good folk from the mystical border lands were up on their dainty little hooves shaking all manner of shapely appendages, and our CD was selling like hot cakes. It's a pity it doesn't sell like CDs, but you can't have everything . . . many thanks to Tracy at The Park for the booking; I think it's fair to say we impressed the punters there, so we hope to be back at The Park later, it's a great room to play . . . . . and if the Park gig was a blast, what about The Eaton Cottage, Norwich, the following night? A mega-blinder, methinks. The Bassdaddy dusted the fretless Jazz Bass off for once, for that DEEEEEEP throb, and it immediately gobbled up a dodgy cable. LAWDY!! Once that red-faced false start was out of the way, the Honeydripper team rocked the mutha big-time. We always love playing at The Eaton Cottage, but this was a special night - they cheered, they booked us for private gigs, and one guy reckoned we made all the bands in his local music venue sound like ordure. And the boppers were out in force -there was so much hot vibrating bodywork it was like a Top Fuel Drag Race. A brilliant night - thanks, as ever to the excellent Phil for the booking - back there again end of May to do it all again (well, apart from the equipment SNAFU, hopefully . . . )
MID-APRIL . . . last weekend was busy for the Honeydripper boys, with a Friday night gig on home turf at The Black Horse, Norwich, followed by a three-hour stint Sunday teatime at The Chequers Inn, Bungay, just over the Suffolk border. The crowds were not vast, it's true, but we got some pretty enthusiastic punters at both gigs, shaking their wobbly bits, supping their ale and saying complimentary things to the band. The longer stint at The Chequers gave the band a chance to try out a few new numbers. We've added an interesting version of the seventy-year-old swing era instrumental 'After Hours' to the band repertoire, but with the addition of recent lyrics by Boz Scaggs. Mrs Bassdaddy thinks it's terrific, "close enough for jazz", and as Chip Taylor once sang, "she ain't hardly never wrong".
The fine folks at The Chequers asked us to keep the volume well under wraps - apparently a recent band there turned it up to eleven and brassed off some of the neighbours; we turned it up to two, as requested, Johnny Boy did his acoustic harp thang, and Chris The Stix used brushes all evening. Well, it's good for the soul to be all cool and mellow, I guess. . . . .
. . . . . the band are great believers in the old saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it", so we don't rehearse too much; however, we did have a little studio session this week to work up a few "new" songs (well, they were new 50 years ago). Among other things, we learned that harmonica reeds don't last forever, that we dare not perform stuff at 2 mph like Muddy did, and that Chris really, really does lust after some new Ludwig drum gear; however, we never did discover just how many beats there are to the bar in Howlin' Wolf's 'I Ain't Superstitious' - it sure as hell ain't four, though . . . still, we reckon we got it nailed, and this weekend we'll find out, when we gig it for the first time . . .
EARLY APRIL . . . last weekend saw the boys visit The Sandboy in Bawsey, a really attractive tavern on the back road to King's Lynn. We played in a well-appointed function room they have over there, and we did a good couple of sets. However, the excellent Oakham Ales cask beers in the main bar easily proved more attractive for the punters than two hours of grooving R & B in the big room, so the Friday night drinkers all stayed glued resolutely to their bar stools. Thanks to an enthusiastic group of Salsa dancers (small but beautifully formed) we had an audience to work to, but it's difficult to work out why the pub would have a large "Events" blackboard facing the main road and then not put on there that there's a live band on . . . or indeed not put up the posters that the band sent (unless, of course, the latter were intercepted in transit by aliens - yes, that would be it). So, a bit like a paid practice session in the end. Still, the starry night sky looked brilliant out there miles from any light pollution, and the rustic drive back through the boondocks at midnight was the usual duck-and-dive slalom round the foxes, bunnies and muntjacs . . . . .
END OF MARCH . . . a particularly enjoyable weekend's gigging, especially with Li'l Dave back in the fold after his 10,000 mile service - on Friday night we played, for the first time, The Spread Eagle in Norwich. The band went down really well - what a nice bunch of people in there, friendly, polite, even helping us load the gear afterwards. The landlord bought drinks for the band, and wants us back for the Whitsun weekend (blimey, how out of date am I? The "Late Spring Bank Holiday") Nice one, folks, really enjoyed that, and got a couple of nice video clips from the gig too . . . . . the following evening saw us back at The Eaton Cottage, again in Norwich. I think this is about the sixth time we've played there since last autumn - what can I say? Big enthusiastic crowd who really love what we do, a great selection of ales, and a super ambience - Phil really knows how to run a neighbourhood pub, and he also knows a good band when he hears one. I love that bit when you've finished the gig, you're sitting there chilling out and downing a cheeky pint, and they put your CD album on the sound system - genius!!
LATE MARCH . . . Li'l Dave's back!! The diamond geezer is back in harness and rocking the blues once more. Mega-thanks to Paul Tinkler and Andy Jordan for filling in so brilliantly at recent gigs while Dave was so patiently(!?!) wearing his plaster cast, but the lad is now freed from his shackles and we can't wait to get them old blues grooves going with him at the weekend's gigs. Go get 'em, Dave; as the man himself would say, "Quality!" . . .
MID MARCH . . . What a super night at The Jubilee Hall in Loddon on 20th March. Li'l Dave was still recovering from his fractured wrist, but the boys were very lucky to secure the lively axeman services of Andy Jordan, ex-White Heat and now part of the front line of outstanding classic rock band Blind Spirit (they have a brilliant bass player too). The sound was similar to Dave's (Marshall amp and what someone recently called a "Gibson Les Dawson"). Not sure that anyone from 1950s Chicago South Side would have recognised the barnet though (our Super-Dep has more hair than the rest of the band has between them), but Andy played us a blinder, rockin' them R & B boogie grooves and adding a little crowd walking into the mix. By the last set the dancefloor was heaving with strutting bodies of every age and ability, having as good a time as the band. Our compliments to Andy for doing his rowdy thang for us, and many thanks indeed to Simon for the booking - a great venue, and hope to get back in there later this year . . .
EARLY MARCH . . . Bandleader Johnny Boy has been chasing up bookings like some kind of rabid gig-hunting hound after an injection of gig-hunting juice. Check out the "GIGS" page for an up-to-date listing, as ever. We've just been booked back into The Eaton Cottage every month through Spring and Summer in our now-regular last-Saturday-of-the-month slot . . . big compliments to Phil of The Eaton for that one, we just luurrve it in there. Another notable upcoming appearance - opening night of the early spring Bank Holiday Blues & Beer Festival at East Harling - we'll just rock their funky little socks off. Plus we're on home turf at The Black Horse, Norwich and The Spread Eagle, Norwich and . . . oh! too many great venues to mention, just look at the "GIGS" page and be totally amazed at our ubiquity.
END OF FEBRUARY . . . We rounded out a busy month with a super gig back at The Eaton Cottage in Norwich (and thanks, indeed, to the Guv'nor, Phil, at The Eaton for booking the band in there every month over this nasty winter) Avid followers of this page will know that Li'l Dave Thompson has been in dock with a damaged hand, but the Honey gang were delighted, for the second gig in a row, to secure a Super Sub, this time the highly-talented Paul Tinkler, bossman of The Part Time Blues band.
The Eaton was heaving, with an all-cheering, all-dancing,
butt-wobbling crowd of joyous little blues bunnies (or maybe they were really keen beer fans, it's hard to tell sometimes). Any road up (as they say where my lad lives in t'frozen North) they loved us and we had a great time. Our guest guitarist played like a dream, and the boys in the band would like to record how grateful we've been to have Paul Tinkler (guitar/vocals) and Phil Davison (drums, scarf) stepping in for the last couple of bookings - way to go, gents, you played up a storm! Li'l Dave came along to support the band, this time from the other side of the mic stand, and seemed to think we were doing OK in his enforced absence. Don't get any ideas, buddy, we need you back in harness and mega-soon . . .
LATE FEBRUARY . . . Shock! Gasp! Horror! Guitarist Dave Thompson is hors de combat at present, having gotten well and truly plastered (at the hospital, that is) after damaging his hand. How do you replace the irreplaceable? Quelle probleme - however, for the next gig at Eaton Cottage we've been very fortunate to secure the mighty assistance of Part Time Blues Band honcho Paul Tinkler. Here's hoping Lil Dave is soon back riffing like a demon once more . . .
. . . what a crying shame it is to walk past The Walnut Tree Shades bar/restaurant in central Norwich these days and see it locked up and forlorn, with all the shades down. For decades this great venue has been open all week for a meal, a decent pint, and for more years than The Bassdaddy cares to remember it has been THE Norwich bar to visit on a Thursday night to hear some of the best blues bands in the region. Last time I played a gig there it was so busy you had to go out of one door, down the alley and in the other just to reach the gents, it was quicker than forcing your way through the throng. The management of the Walnut has changed several times in recent years, and I guess the recession has not helped, but let's hope that this cornerstone of the East Anglian live music landscape will soon be open for trade once more, and promoting blues bands like Honeydripper to a discerning and enthusiastic clientele as in times past . . .
LATE FEBRUARY . . . we had a great outing at The White Horse in Cromer last weekend. This was a new venue for us, and we did a well-received couple of sets to an appreciative audience. Thanks to all hardy souls who pitched up on this below-zero night by the North Sea coast, including Jean, Eric, Andy, Jane, Margaret, the Phantom Harpman, Pan's People and the rest of the knee-shaking boppers. The band was missing Chris The Stix on the traps, but we were lucky to have mega-dep Phil Davison manning the percussion equipment for one night only and laying down his mean, wicked backbeats. Phil, you are a star and played a blinder for us. The Bassdaddy brought his new/old/customised Yamaha BB bass for its first outing since its recent trip to the guitar tech, and it sounded like a dream.
Hope to get back into The White Horse later this year, it was a really good place to do one's stuff.
FEBRUARY . . . we played The Jolly Farmers at Swanton Abbott last week to a very receptive and knowledgeable crowd with a number of musicians present. Nobody yelled "Get off!" so we reckon that was a result. Seriously, we got a good punchy sound on the Jolly's nice little stage, and received some very complimentary comments from the Guv'nor and the customers after the gig. We even got some dancers up and shaking their wicked booties . . .
Once again, when we packed up the cars after midnight it was time to scrape ice off windscreens - it's a good job we're all of a sunny disposition, otherwise this endless winter would really be getting us down. Still, we are a blues band, so it's probably helpful artistically to be a bit hacked off now and then . . .
We're back at The Jolly Farmers in early July, when it will be Bermuda shorts instead of overcoats. Looking forward to that one, it's a great place to gig. Thanks to all concerned for that booking and the good response . . .
LATE JANUARY . . . we paid a return visit to that great Norwich bar, The Eaton Cottage, Unthank Road, last Saturday, and had a super gig (although The Bassdaddy still can't quite remember what key 'Down At The Doctor's' is in - it's an age thing). The place was packed, the punters really liked the band, and halfway through Set One we were visited by a large flock of leggy, busty sheep pursued by various mangy sheepdogs and well-dodgy Middle Eastern shepherds (you would never guess that Norwich is full of students). Watch out for our return to The Cottage in a month's time . . .
EARLY JANUARY . . . we made the trek to the frozen north (well, North Norfolk, anyway) to revisit The Coach & Horses at Dersingham. Thanks to Sheila and her bar staff for making us welcome and thanks to the customers for getting down and digging the band and buying our CD. It was a late night drive back to Norwich, and it took time as The Bassdaddy didn't want to demolish the fine assortment of muntjac deer, foxes and fluffy little bunnies mincing about on the roads up in them thar wild parts . . .
. . . then on the following Saturday down to Suffolk (oh yes, we do get to see the world) to lay our R & B grooves on the fine folk at The Duke Of York in Ditchingham. Another lively night, and I must say a great sound in that hostelry; thanks to Simon and the gang for a good evening - the Dr Feelgood stuff went down particularly well.
One of the lads in the pub was particularly complimentary about Chris's drumming - steady on, guys, he's only just got his new hat, if his head swells with all this praise he'll need a larger size. Pity about the 18 hours of continuous rain, but at least it eased up a little when we needed to load the gear back into the van at midnight.
NEW YEAR'S EVE . . . The band's first ever New Year's Eve gig was at The Buck on Yarmouth Road. There was a good turnout, and the new management made the band welcome, keeping us supplied with free ale, which can't be bad.
It was a foul night, snowy and freezing cold, but driving through Norwich on the way there The Bassdaddy spotted scores of lads in T-shirts and lasses in nothing much at all battling their way through the sleet and wind on their way to clubland . . . nowt so queer as folk with a raging thirst.
John Boy started the evening all droopy and flu-ridden, but a couple of magic pills from one of the groupies (I think they were blue) soon perked him up and he completed our 3 hour stint like a trouper. The band's debut gig was at The Buck, many months ago, and it was good to return to the scene of the crime and rock the old year out in suitable fashion . . .
DECEMBER '09 . . . late December saw our return to The Eaton Cottage, and a hot rockin' evening it was too. The temperature outside was well below freezing, the snow was falling, and the streets were like glass, but the Honeydripper boys were on fire.
Pints of Tipples Moonrocket were consumed (in moderation, of course), the groupies cheered and whistled, the patrons got up and shook various body parts, and the band even got the end of 'Help Me' right - does it get better than this? We're back at The Cottage again the last Saturday of each month through till spring - it's a great venue, lovely ambience and a smashing pint - come and give us a look.
We also had a great night at The Stracey Hotel in Norwich the same week. The snow belted down all evening, but our faithful followers turned out (thanks, boys and girls) and the fine folk who own/run this beautiful hotel (and it really is a super place) were most welcoming - they fed and watered us, and really seemed to like having their peaceful oasis disturbed by two hours of rackety R & B.
When you play in bands for a few years you get to see some pretty, ahem, ropey dives, so it is an absolute delight to play a beautiful venue like The Stracey.
NEW CD ALBUM NOW AVAILABLE!
Honeydripper's first 12 track CD album, 'Rockin' Rhythm & Blues', is still available for a mere £8 at all band gigs. What a groovy bargain!
Engineered for us by the renowned blues player Steve Jinks, and featuring many of our gig favourites, the album has proven popular with audiences. If you can't wait for the next gig, and want a copy by post, e-mail us using the contact form on the "Contact" page of the website.
Rockin' Rhythm & Blues - it does what it says on the tin . . .
