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REVIEW
Mods v Rockers
The Quik Beats & The Delray Rockets
Artrix, Bromsgrove|Friday 8th April
The zoots may be a bit tight in places these days, but tucked
inside your parka, with the not so voluminous hair and hidden
under the pork pie hat, you're safe to check yourself over in the 50
mirrors that sprout from the Vespa like a porcupine. On the other
side of the promenade the aged leather creaks, feet are forced
into steel soled boots and chains checked as the third arthritic
swinging kick is rewarded with the rumble of low thunder, a
triumph of engineering as oil slowly pools on the paving.
Time to do battle then and in the left corner, the swaggering two
stroking Quick Beats - to the right, the quiff haired Delray Rockets;
a 4 stroke triple, moody and threatening. They've tossed up and
it's the double timing Quick Beats away first, as an unmistakable
sound of the Hammond underpins everything from Manfred
Mann's 'Sha-La-La' to oddly, the 'Boom Boom Boom' of John Lee
Hooker; wrong camp surely but I 'Can't Explain', Who or why. The
Delrays push back the Quick Beats and it's rockabilly time; raw,
edgy and loud as any Rocket 3 that manages to fire up. 'Too Tired
To Rock' - not these boys - it's early yet and they're 'Ready Willing
And Able' as they strut menacingly around the stage. The tide
turns and The Quick Beats are back in: 'What You Gonna Do About
It'? Bring out your 'Tin Soldier'? The tide ebbs again and it's a
second coming for 'Rockabilly Man' and they roared through,
taking the fight to the streets to 'Rock This Town'. Phew time out
then to all get a beer, there's plenty of time for more battle later.
The QB's come back out revving, leaving a blue haze of pop rock
with the Hammond in full flow for a stand out 'Green Onions'. It
was now 'All Or Nothing' as the 'Train Arrive'd' carrying the
Delrays. Johnny Cash is in Folsom Prison, but the Who lend a hand,
stepping over the line to play 'Pinball', before that big train pulls
in. This is a one rail rattling high speed shuffle of a ride; we've all
gotten a bit older, hopefully wiser and there's great music
everywhere for all tastes. Time to bring the camps together as
both bands 'Wipe Out' the score board and 'Johnny B Goode' rides
pillion on the Lambretta, escorted alongside by the low rumble of
the ever-present Ace clubmen.
An absolutely non-stop, brilliant evening of fun then, played to a
sell out and rabidly appreciative audience. This may have been a
Brighton Bash, but there's plenty of scope for a few repeats;
maybe a Clacton Crunch, Bournemouth Bustle, or a Margate
Mayhem. Which side are you on??
Graham Munn
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