24/5/2009 Dollar$ For Deadbeat$ @ the 12 Bar Club

Subject	Dollar$ For Deadbeat$ @ the 12 Bar Club
PostedDate	5/24/2009
	This show was arranged by Rich Jones of the The Loyalties at short notice as a benefit gig for Roger Rags who finds himself broke and stranded in London after arriving in London off the back of another tour only to find his one with Sorry & The Sinatras cancelled! It's a bit of an all-star lineup and it's a ridiculously cheap £3 to get in! The place is packed, and I'm sure if it was five or six quid to get in the place would still be packed. Things got off to a late start so there was time for a few 'liveners' in the nearby Intrepid Fox beforehand. Then over at the 12 Bar Club the Eureka Machines opened up the batting and were are terrific as usual! Eureka Machines are the only regular band of the evening, and also the only people to play a set of their own material. The rest of the night consisted largely of classic punk covers played by a constantly changing band. Here we have Ginger and Rags. Things soon became a bit of a blur - like my crappy photos! We actually had some warm summer weather for once so I travelled light and left my jacket and camera at home - so you'll have to put up with shitty pics from my phone. There were so many people getting on stage for a song or two that I can't remember much about who played what, but I do remember that ex-Yo-Yo and now Loyalties man Tom Spencer belted out an excellent version of the Clash classic 'Safe European Home'. Acey Slade got up to knock out a few songs as well, but I can't remember which ones... And that Chris Catalyst reappeared on more than one occasion after his set with his own band earlier. Ginger reappeared as well, this time with Rich Jones. Then Chris McCormack (who seems to be popping up everywhere again these days) appeared and played a song or two with Ginger. Later we got a member of the Pogues (can't remember who) cracking out a storming version of the Damned classic 'New Rose' with Rich Jones and Ginger - who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying being 'just a guitarist' for a few songs. In fact Ginger even played drums on a couple of songs later on as well! Ginger kept reappearing in various roles throughout the night and looked like he was having the time of his life! He actually looked like he was enjoying this far more than the times I've seen him solo or with the Wildhearts in the last year or so - probably because he felt no pressure to 'perform' an be Ginger tonight and could just relax and have fun playing some old classic songs he loves. The atmosphere at the 12 Bar Club was terrific and both performers and audience were really up for it. Actually, this intimate west end venue normally has a pretty good atmosphere anyway - but tonight was something special! The see this constantly revolving lineup playing classics by The Clash, Ramones, Damned, Pistols, Thunders ect and obviously having a great time themselves was fantastic and this was easily one of the best gigs I've been to this year!