16 / 02 /01
100 Club London
New & improved Friday nights!!!
Was what it said on the flyers for Lyon’s (cream of beats) at the 100 club
& This was to be the opening night for there ska & indie party
At which the headliners were you favourites & mine CRUNCH!
But before we even venture there let’s start at the beginning…………
Unfortunately I missed the usual suspects at the Dublin castle as some of us
Have commitments to this horrible thing called work.
So after passing the fire engines Rescuing trapped people from a burning building, down at a packed pub (It being a Friday night) in dean street, I caught up with MR swans & others
It was also great to see some of the faces I’m starting to recognise from the past few gigs
Always good to see the legend that is wee stoo, who had made he’s way down from bonny Scotland
& Was proudly kissing his rangers top & sporting a brand new (& rather well draw)
“Rockingest sound around” tattoo, so with hello’s from many & the cold shoulder from a few We made our way out towards the famous 100 club.
We got there a little too early but that soon passed, & were soon let in
Jerney was stopped on the way in with the poster she had torn out of the A frame outside
The 100 club.
(Just a little point here btw how do you expect someone to come & see the band if?
You’ve nicked the poster from outside?).
As always “the spotters” (including myself) made to the seats nearest the stage to get the dance floor as soon as possible When they needed to “shut up, listen & dance!!” & the next hour or so was spent chatting on past & further crunch meets,
Then as always up to the bar through the great mix of people whose age’s ranged from teens to the sixtys
(If mum’s still dancing round to ska at that age she’s ok by me) as always there’s one or two people who do stand out in a crowd such as the guy who was wearing a 3 quarter length coat who must have lost about a stone in weight, the jack Dee look-a-like, & of course some people who were jazz fan’s (niiiicccceeeee!!!) Who came on the wrong night, a pleasant surprise was £2.20 a pint!! & Then back to chatting & a few more hello’s, Then the support act made it’s way up onto the stage
Reece so I’m told are a fave of lee’s & they played a blinding set, which is a mix Of everything from oasis to inspiral carpets but with there own individual stamp which could be called nothing but reece, well worth a visit of there own. They played through there own set gave a rousing “hello to all the crunch spotters out there” nice one lad’s, hope to see you again.
& With a bit of a break with some kicking ska tunes supplied from DJ Gaz Mayall (heart shirt & oh my god hat!! Remember kid Creole??) & 10/10 for the selection of music by Gaz
& back to chatting & some dancing but Eventually it was time for crunch!!
Onwards the seven marched to music from James bond chanting “dangerous”
Up onto the stage lee had out done himself yet again looking the very part of Mr Bond
Who’s suit had to back at midnight or they’ll charge for the next day’s hire.
People who had been dozing off suddenly found a new lease of life as crunch made there way to the stage with spider announcing to the crowd “let’s play some proper songs”.
Informing us that “Chris is chrisser” & that he would in fact be playing all six of the cords he knows tonight. Without further a do, bang into
“Here he comes” during which lee proves to be a man unafraid of the crowd as he’s snatches a flashing camera from the same people who had been giving two fingers to the “no photography” sign earlier & places it in he’s pocket, but being the gent he is “can I take your photo”? & Hands it back.
Lee then brandishing a large pair of scissors & with the command “I’d like you all to line up & kiss my arse”
“Magic carpet” tads giving it large on bass & in the crowd swanny headbutting away just like the old days. At the end of this lee was interested to find out who stoo was because As lee put it “you are laggin mate, yeah four set’s of eye’s”,
“Tap dancing” fantastic sax from dream boat Dave“ don’t take the Mickey”(lee),
“Birthday girl” was next up & in the crowd some original nutty (or do we now call it crunchy?) dancing from Dave Johnston in very much he’s own style, nice one Dave.
“daydreamers” which was a really fast kicking & screaming son of a bitch, & one I dare you to sit through, it can’t be done even some stage diving from lee during this one
At the end of this lee then announces that “never mind 7 quid, we are paying you!!!” & that Chris had been sacked yet again. With spider telling lee “your gonna get the bumps tonight ya bloodclart!!”
“Going solo” was the next song up, & I think lee enjoyed he’s stomach being rubbed by all those young girls but I think that chrissy will remember not to turn round so much, because he’s arse must have had some buses (from being pinched by the girlies I better quickly add).
Up the tempo yet again & without a breath straight into
“whistle” lee’s crying retort to “the golden age of 18”&
proud “Look at that rhythm section,” at which point lee as he was nearly
pulled off stage by the girlies once again“You can’t touch a F***** popstar!!”
was he’s tongue in cheek reply, but being the sport he is Then handed them the
Mic & just like Christmas had come early you could hear the girlies going
“oh yes!! 1.2,3,4” as
“boy
in the box” started up during which we
were treated to the wonderful can can dancers from crunch!
“Fur
Elsie” “Spider you got a right
sweat patch up your crotch” lee announced as he finished off what was left of
the white rum, without taking a breath, while Louie was trying to add a bit of
culture for the evening as The classical tones to the intro of “fur Elsie”
wafted through the speakers which quickly gave way to it’s ska version with a
kicking slap bass & guitar solo’s to much applause, praise & prying
fingers trying to help chrissy do he’s job & at the back spider was doing
he’s utmost to beat the Crap out of he’s drum kit, if Beethoven had of taken
this approach he’d had been famous by now.
“Round trip” Lee nipped of stage to get Champagne as “round trip” with it’s extended intro to cover this started, a few glasses were handed out & of course one of these had to be for wee stoo would was well on the way to being 12 eyed whilst swanny had diced to take a seat on stage & got a bit of a wake up slap from lee (whoops!! )
Lee then did he’s public
safety bit & announced that the fire thing was about four years out of date
& that we should all leave now !!
“You
got it “ started at which point lee must have felt like quick snack &
started chewing on Louie’s leg,
“Saint’s & sinners” With Louis's eary piano intro, vocals,
sax & guitar solo’s coming to the full, sending the crowd on into a full
frenzy, the champagne finaly made it’s way to the glasses at last & by the
way it was getting knocked back,it was well timed. it was also at this point
that the first couple of the night goes crashing through a table on there way to
the floor (I’d wished I’d have picked up that pint).
the best way he could as the crowd tugged at him
During which the MC jumps up to thank
“On 1st keyboard Hong Kong Dave”
Star of the bill, Eastenders, TAD
On sax dream boat Steve
The oldest man in music (he’s words not mine) Louie
Chrissy b, b, b, b, b, b, b,boy
Getting us to put out hands together for crunch & Mr lee “yer rough” Thompson
& Last but no means least spider
While the band kept playing, lee have some very good advice & offered to helpout
As a cigar made it’s way to the stage
“Don’t talk to strangers” & stick it up your butt I’ll supply the Vaseline
& To spider “shut up & drum for f*** sake”
Tad lead it up to a really big
rousing finish
& With that crunch! Left the stage to shout’s of encore!! & Much applause
At this point a girl would make you go Swing!! asked me “is that it”? To which I replied “no”
“Shame” was her reply , she wouldn’t give me her name or her phone number
damm! maybe I heard her wrong because all sound had been drowned out but the crowd
as the MC was back up & asking, “do you want the nutty boys”?
“Because we come here to function” of course we did & function they did
“Saving for a rainy day “ made an appearance to the set list
“Stir it up” & “Midnight rider” yet another sweet surprise as crunch went into a mix of two old classics to which lee “I’ve completely forgotten the words” managed to save face on
While chrissy concentrated on some class guitar.
At the end of this lee just wanted to know “ oi! Where are you lot going”?
To those who thought it was over
Daydreamers banging & crashing it’s way to end of
What had been a class night let them know it wasn’t quite over yet
But With that it was over as they left the stage
Yet the night still carried on with some nice touches from DJ Gaz yet again
the mc’ing over the top of the records was another class touch
Good night out I should say so
So to sum up a class night & as for crunch they are so underrated
My own point of view is selfish, to get to see them in such a venue
Where the band are free to have a laugh & enjoy themselves &
Where you can talk to them after & have fun with them on stage
That’s 1000 of times better then Wembley any day
Long live crunch! & There like
See ya soon
Luv to all whom came for the fun & the music
Scatty
Ps
PPS next time I’m having a beer
For defo