Last night I had
a couple of dreams relating to mine and Glyn’s comedy club, Mostly Comedy. In the
first the stand-up James Acaster was not a real person, but an actor
playing a part – and in the second, the cockney legends Chas & Dave came
up to Hitchin to play for us.
I’m now determined to make my dream a reality (the second one, that is).
I’m now determined to make my dream a reality (the second one, that is).
I watched an
excellent documentary about them (‘Last Orders’) on BBC4 about a year ago. It was
one of those programmes that you switch on by chance before bed, only intending
to watch a few minutes, then find yourself engrossed. I’d never realized just
how far-reaching their careers were.
Did you know that
Chas did stints in both Jerry Lee Lewis and Gene Vincent’s backing bands? He
also jammed with Paul, George and Ringo at Eric Clapton’s wedding in 1983; the
only time The Threetles ever played publically after John’s death.
Also, Eminem’s
1999 breakthrough hit, ‘My Name Is’ is built around a sample that features Chas
on guitar and Dave on bass. Madness.
(Not Madness;
Chas & Dave.)
My earliest
run-in with the ‘rockney’ duo was thanks to my parents. They were huge fans of
Tottenham Hotspur – still are, in fact – and I suspect they both harboured
dreams of me becoming a footballer.
I was born,
portentously, on the day of a Spurs v. Man City F.A. Cup Final replay. I think
my mum still resents missing it; I recently bought her a DVD of the match, by
way of an apology.
Despite being signed up to the Junior Spurs Fan Club from
birth, I never showed much interest in football. I took a book and Walkman with me on my
first visit to White Hart Lane - and tutted to myself every time the crowd
cheered.
I was a little git even then.
One thing I did
like from an early age was music – and thanks to a regular rummage though my
parents' vinyl, I would often end up listening to Chas & Dave’s Spurs’
duets, ‘Ossie’s Dream (Spurs Are On Their Way To Wembley)’ and ‘When The Year
Ends in One’.
I also knew all
the dance moves to Black Lace’s ‘Agadoo’ by heart, thanks to expert tutorage
from the dancing pineapple on the back of the ‘45.
Mine was a simple
childhood.
As well as
touching on their musical careers both together and apart, the BBC4 documentary served to illustrate Chas & Dave's exceptional musicianship. Their live
act is exceptionally tight - involving intricate wordplay that would be difficult
to replicate – and is jam-packed with humour and musicality.
Their sound is
also unmistakably individual; you only need be a bar in before you know who
you’re listening to.
My favourite part
of the documentary showed them backstage before a gig, discussing their skiffle
roots. Within seconds they’d launched into an excellent impromptu version of
the Lonnie Donegan number, ‘Lost John’. (Watch it yourself here; it
starts about nine minutes in).
Unfortunately
today’s blog has a sting in the tail: I sent an
email to their promoter this morning, inspired by my vision – and they’re sadly out of our budget.
If we ever manage
to entice them along to Mostly Comedy, however, it’ll be one dream that I’d be
delighted came true.
...and if they come, I hope they play this: