Linda Gail Lewis & Chas Hodges at the Half Moon

Two sets of keyboards took a real pounding at the Half Moon, Putney, last night when rock and roll queen Linda Gail Lewis shared the stage with cockney piano thumper Chas Hodges. Between them they set the place alight, roaring through such classics as Linda's brother Jerry Lee's Whole Lotta Shaking Goin' On, Roll Over Beethoven, Crazy Arms, Great Balls Of Fire and Long Tall Sally, among others. Linda has greater finesse than Chas on the keyboards, but Chas can certainly hammer out a tune and their voices harmonised well together.
Woodies hoping to see Linda Gail at the weekend would have been disappointed by the show's cancellation, but this was a chance to catch her live and it was surprising that more weren't there. Those who did attend saw an exciting show, with Linda Gail in typical rocking mood and excellent support from her daughter Annie Marie Dolan and backing band Some Like It Hot, with guitarist Andy Williams outstanding. She rocked right from the start, with Boogie Woogie Country Girl and Rip It Up. After the country flavoured Gas Station Flowers she handed over to Annie Marie, who sounded (and looked) great on Should I Ever Love Again from her album Heart To Heart. Then it was back to more rock and roll with Good Golly Miss Molly and High School Confidential before Chas joined her on stage for the final half hour.

Earlier Chas Hodges stuck mostly to his good time cockney songs, many of them first recorded with Dave, including London Girls, Down To Margate, Mike Berry's Sunshine Of Your Love, Gertcha, My Blue Heaven, I've Got A Ticket For The Darts, That Old Piano and Ain't No pleasing You, the only genuine rock and roll song being Breathless. A predictable, but lively set.

Between them, Linda Gail and Chas really thumped up a storm as the two boogie woogie players went head to head. It was good fun and the rather thin crowd certainly enjoyed the evening.