Car show day at VLV

Saturday is Car Show day at Viva Las Vegas so there were dozens of gleaming vintage gas guzzlers and hot rods on show, some of which had scantily clad models draped over their hoods. It was also the big day musically, with most of the headlining stars performing.
Undoubted highlight for me was Lloyd Price who at 81 is as good as ever. He began with Caldonia before running through a selection of his 50s material, including Just Because, Where Were You On Our Wedding Day, Stagger Lee, Lady Luck, I'm Gonna Get Married, Mailman Blues and Personality. A great set that was over too soon.
Also excellent were surf guitar band the Trashmen, who included King Of The Surf, Bird Dance Beat and their big early 60s hit The Bird's The Word in their set. Deke Dickerson joined them onstage for a couple of numbers from their new album.
Star act of the whole weekend was Imelda May, who coincidentally lives around the corner from me in rural Hampshire. She has a great voice and a good band which includes hubby Darrel Higham and enjoys a big following it seems, but she's more rock than rockabilly with a bit of country included. Enjoyable enough though. Another car show act was Robert Gordon, a big name in revival rockabilly, who was OK, but not as good as Tim Polecat who preceded him on stage. Other car show acts were the Aquasonics, the Chop Tops and the Rockats, none of whom were very impressive but the final act Los Straitjackets, wearing their wrestling masks as usual, were excellent.
Back inside the hotel I very much enjoyed the swing and humour of the Jive Aces, who included everything from Giddy Up A Ding Dong, to Bring Me Sunshine, a skiffle song and a wonderfully humorous version of Minnie The Moocher. There was also some country music from Lucky Tubb and some straight ahead teddy boy rock and roll from Crazy Cavan. Altogether a long and tiring day and an excellent one. The cars weren't bad either.
Nick Cobban.