Thursday, 28 October. Nothing special, other than another Merseycats’ Jam Night at the Old Roan British Legion. And who did we have this week? Well, you could tell Dennis was back from his hols as the music was up and running from early doors. Young Paul on drums, Mike and Norman, Dennis and Jimmy on guitars and vocals and John on bass warmed the night up with lots of familiar, cheerful rock’n’roll. It’s always interesting to hear instrumentals and The Shadows’ Apache and Guitar Boogie led to the bizarre, amusing and all too brief sight of Norman and Mike trying to do the Shadows’ Walk.

Newcomer Paddy got up with old-timers Wally, Dave and Ian to do Kansas City and Take the ribbon from your hair, before being joined by Pete, Frank and Neil, with Stan switching with Ian on drums. Sweet Little rock’n’roller and Neil’s soulful version of the old Jim Reeves’ classic He’ll have to go were the stand-outs of this spot, with some exemplary lead guitar work from Dave and Peter.

Forty Years Too Late began with a couple of tributes from singer John, the first to Faron - Talking about you - and the second to Jeff Nugent - Just a little bit. Neither the same as the original but a good song is a good song! Then up stepped Beryl. What a performer! She gave us her all with  powerful, soulful renditions of the rocky Doctor, Doctor, the smoochy Take a little piece of my heart and the tearful I’d rather go blind (no comments please!) which she dedicated to Will Mountain who’d asked her to do it. She absolutely brought the house down! While Beryl went for a well-earned smoke the band, John, Bernie, Colin, Frank and returning power-house bass-man Gordon Loughlin stayed on to back Alan Taylor through old favourites such as Boys.

Paddy came back next with a friend and they did some nice Everly-style harmony before Bobby Scott’s Clayton Squares arrived with their inimitable mix of Blues and Rock. Standout, for me at least, was George’s vocal and Tommy’s guitar work in their version of the lovely Blues’ classic Need your love so bad, but it’s hard to pick out one song for praise from such a polished and well-practiced set.

The night was finished off by Allan Schroeder on drums, Dennis and Dave on guitars, Frank on keyboard and John (me) on bass. I can’t remember what we did but I do remember that it was loud and rocky and that I had a real ball playing with these guys!

Much credit must be given, as always, to Jamo, who has the thankless and difficult task of getting the bands on and off stage in some sort of order. He manages it without losing his temper more than twelve times a night!

The night raised £250, a magnificent total, which will go towards fulfilling Merseycats’ aim of helping disadvantaged and sick children across the whole of Merseyside, and, as usual, many thanks are due to all who were there and to all those who so generously support Merseycats at all times.

If you haven’t already got tickets for Merseycats’ Christmas Show on Thursday 16 December, then you’re probably out of luck as Treasurer Kay Shepard reported that all tickets have now been sold. You might contact her to see if there have been any returns.

See you next week? Keep on a-rockin’!

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