10/9/2008 Stray Cats @ Brixton Academy

Subject	Stray Cats @ Brixton Academy
PostedDate	9/10/2008
	This is another one I've been really looking forward to. This is the fourth time I've seen the Stray Cats and they've been terrific every time!   This show is unmissable for me - it looks like being my last ever chance to see the band as it's billed as their 'Farewell Tour'. There are only three people in the band and their music is about as basic and simple as you can get (unless you count the Ramones) but although I must have seen many hundreds of bands over the years - the Stray Cats are up there as one of the very best live acts I've ever seen. Last time I saw them a couple of years or so ago at this same venue it was one of the best gigs of the year - and as my regular readers (thank you both!) will know, I go to a lot of gigs every year! Last time I went with some trepidation, wondering if after all these years they would be old, bald, and fat. Amazingly, they didn't look like any of those things - and they still played like a young band.  Yes, the fire was still there. This time I didn't think they were quite as good. They were still great, but definitely not as good as last time. Maybe they were tired because of being on the road for a while, or maybe the years are just finally starting to catch up with them - maybe they have sensed this is the time to stop? Maybe they are right - go out while they are still a great band and just leave everyone with terrific memories. This was a 'greatest hits' set - but how could it be anything else? They have so many classic songs that it's easy for them to play for over and hour and a half without having to resort to covers - although they did throw some in. Their version of 'Shaking All Over' was particularly fine. Obviously we got all the hit singles, but it wasn't the same set as last time they played in London and it was great to hear some of their less heard songs like 'Something's Wrong With My Radio'. Then towards the end of the show, Brian Setzer said they had a 'special guest - from Wales'. I'd already guessed who it was before Dave Edmunds walked onto the stage! As well as being a highly successful artist in his own right, Dave also made himself quite a reputation as a producer - he was responsible for production duties on the first Stray Cats album (as well as some of Motörhead's early recordings). Dave Edmunds is one of my original guitar heroes and is responsible for some the the finest old school rock 'n' roll ever made in the UK, as well as being one of my major inspirations for picking up a guitar in the first place and my love for Gibson guitars. Maybe he has a lot to answer for... Dave's appearance tonight made a special night all the more special and memorable as chances to see him play are few and far between these days. Dave Edmunds played two songs with the Stray Cats at this show, and I thought this was more lively and exciting than his own show at Shepherds Bush Empire a couple of years ago - there was definitely more magic on stage at this gig!  After three encores it was all over. Slim Jim came bounding back over the stage to shake people's hands for a couple of minutes. Then as he jumped back up he slipped and fell clean off the stage! He hit the deck pretty hard - I heard the thump. He was down and out of sight for a couple of minutes, before reappearing and climbing back on the stage. He jumped up and waved to show that he was OK before running off the stage. PS: It transpired that Slim Jim had in fact broken his wrist in three places when he took that tumble off the stage.  This resulted in the Manchester, Glasgow, and Dublin shows being cancelled - plus the rest of the European tour. So maybe I just witnessed the last ever Stray Cats show in the UK? Fortunately, Jim is expected to make a full recovery and will be able to play the dates in Australia next year - so maybe the remaining cancelled UK shows will be rescheduled? With maybe another London date? Who knows? The Brixton show sold out well in advance so it would seem feasible...