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Well, there we were sat at home on a typical Thursday night, sod all on telly and just about to argue about whose turn it was to wash the dishes and brew up. The start of a normal
Thursday night. The time of the week when you are wishing your life away. Tomorrow can't come quick enough, POETS day at work and the start of another soulful weekend.
This week though the weekend started a day early, Margaret rang and told us about a soulnight in Penketh, near Warrington…only 15 minutes away and Dick was offering to drive, even
better. The only drawback was that there was a live band playing called NORTHERN SOULS, a bit pretentious I thought, anyway we can go and have a
laugh at them.
The club was the Fiddlers Ferry, I did not even know it existed but Dick found it, at Fiddlers Ferry power station …funny that eh! Not really a northern venue but more of an up market
social club, nice seats, reasonable dance floor and a well stocked bar. Loads of flashing lights, even a smoke machine…..
The club DJ was playing tracks off the Casino 1 CD and most of the people were either local members or had come along with the group. There was not one other person from the 'normal
scene'.
I was not looking forward to this.
Eventually the group took to the stage, a five-piece band, plus male (Miguel Lates) and female (Kate Bell) vocals. The first thing that I noticed was that the band were not kids, no disrespect but they looked sort of my age or even older. Kate was a dead ringer for the lead singer (Polly) of
Picketty Witch, remember them.
Our worst fears were being realised when we heard the intro to 'out on the floor' but they seemed to cope with it and not a bad sound either. This was followed by 'rescue me' and 'girl why do you want to make me blue'. This was the first track to really make me
pay attention. Not heard that often but very well presented. This was followed by someday we will be together, the world is a great big onion, and a man like me. By this time I realised that we were listening to a
professional band with vocalists that could cover anything. Then came what for me was the highlight of the night…I'll be around, the
Detroit Spinners track I couldn't believe it, it was worth listening to the rest of the set just to hear this……… it was brilliant
, and I am not easily pleased. This was Miguel at his best. The first spot finished with 3 more tracks, heaven must have sent you, love makes a woman and then KISS MY LOVE GOODBYE…yes the Betty Swann track. The last two tracks really highlighted how good a
voice and how versatile Kate is. What a way to finish the spot, absolutely fabulous,
The second half was slightly disappointing, mainly due to the choice of music, but that is no disrespect to the band, it was down to what I want to listen to. The tracks performed were:
Heatwave
Backfield in motion
The snake
25 miles
Morning Glory
Needle in a haystack …probably the weakest track of the night.
Apples peaches pumpkin pie….second weakest
Nowhere to run
Home is where the heart is - excellent - Miguel again
Long after tonight is over.
This was sung by Miguel to a keyboard accompaniment, I think that he should have tried it without any accompaniment (I can't spell archipelago). He has the voice and presence to carry it.
One minute every hour was the encore.
After the band had finished I managed to have a chat with the manager /agent? Bert.
Bert told me that the band had only been together for about two months and had actually covered most of the stuff in their current repertoire. This really gives you some idea of the quality and
potential of the band. Three of the band also play with soul patrol, a band who've been around for ages and normally cover early stax and atlantic
tracks. The last time I saw them was a few years ago when they supported Jimmy Ruffin at the Parr Hall, Warrington. They were better than Mr. Ruffin.
Bert and the band are keen to move away from the 'poppy soul ' image and want to cover 'proper' northern tracks. Bert would like anybody on the scene to come forward with suggestions of tracks
they would like to hear played or if you want to know more about the band and where they are playing he can be contacted at bertjam@tesco.net
Northern Souls are back at Fiddlers Ferry on the first Thursday in May and I will certainly be making the effort to go.
One slight worry is the club DJ, I am sure that he is a good club DJ, he has the voice, if you know what I mean; but I have a sneaking feeling that he has not got a clue what northern is
all about. A 'proper' northern DJ must support the band.
Finally 'cover bands' are not everybody's cup of tea and if you don't like live music then don't go. If you want a different night and want to hear soul music well played with two
singers that could blow a lot of 'chart popstars' away, then go and have a listen. I think that you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Northern Souls had the last laugh on us!
Barry
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