Dirty Robbers in Guildford

Many thanks to Dave Williams for inviting me along to his birthday gig at the Boiler Room in Guildford. It was an excellent evening and the band, the Dirty Robbers, were exceptional. Featuring guitarist and vocalist Oliver Darling, formerly with Mike Sanchez, and boogie woogie piano player Matt Empson, who played the role of Jerry Lee Lewis in the West End production of the Million Dollar Quartet, theirs was a varied set ranging from rock and roll (Slow Down, Nothin' Shaking, Sweet Little Sixteen, Ruby Baby and a great Runaround Sue) to blues (Love Me With A Feeling, The Walk, Shame Shame Shame) with some T Bone Walker guitar work and Jerry Lee styled piano thrown in for good measure. Despite their name, these are four clean cut guys who wear matching striped robber T shirts and white Chelsea boots. They really rocked and I look forward to catching them again. They have a track out called Going Fucking Nowhere, but I don't think this applies in their case. I think they could be around for a while. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GD7RF5mMf90

Thanks again to 'Da Chairman' Dave for an excellent gig. I know John Spencely, who was with me, picked up a few ideas.

* A final word for blues harmonica player Jerry McCain, who has died aged 81. Jerry recorded for Excello in the 1950s and later with Okeh and Jewel. More recently he had success with Ichiban.