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Jam 21 April
Thursday 21 April 2005 doesn’t sound much like an important date but it was highly significant in that it marked the end of Rockitt. Dave, Wally Nick and Mal gave their last performance, appropriately, at Merseycats.
The night began with The Usual Suspects jamming their way through the likes of Long Tall Sally, Bopping the Blues and various Chuck Berry stuff with varying degrees of success but serving the vitally useful function of getting the night going.
It’s a bit disappointing that although these lads continually ask for others to get up and take over from them, no one does. There seems to be a general reluctance to get on stage before 9 o’clock, which means that there is sometimes a long pause between the The Usual Suspects finishing, often after 30 or 40 minutes of playing, and the next band.
Eventually Dave Blackstone, Colin Woodruff (drums) and Billy (bass) from the Squares took the stage and launched into Hoochie-coochie Man, Sorrow, I can tell and Dave’s superb trademark, Sweet Home Alabama. He must have been pleased at the end of the night to be re-united with his much-coveted Parker Fly guitar.
Next up, the awaited Rockitt, Dave (guitar), Wally (bass), Nick (drums) and Mal (lead vocals and guitar). And, no surprise, they were just superb. Relaxed, confidant, organised (although they give the impression of just winging it) and above all enjoying their own company and enjoying their music. This has an infectious effect on an audience who join in their mood and find themselves warming to the band as individuals as well as enjoying what they do.
Simply to list their songs would not really be helpful and to pick out highlights is difficult as the whole spot was excellent. However, George Harrison’s Something has to be mentioned as a perfect example of their work. Vocal lead from Mal was spot-on, as was his guitar work, but for me the subtle use of the guitar synth by Dave, creating a convincing string section sound, was the icing on the cake as far as this song went. Terrific harmony support from Dave and Wally (who provided a superb driving bass sound) in You can’t do that was noteworthy, and the final, climactic Hey Jude, with Mal transferring to keyboard, brought the audience to its feet after a truly McCartney-esque bout of audience participation on the “Na-na-na-na-na-na-na” bit of the song.
Overall, 50 minutes of powerful, varied and entertaining material from across the full range of the Rock’n’Roll diaspora (look it up!) left the audience breathless, full of admiration and saddened that they might not see or hear this excellent act again. We can only hope that the circumstances that brought Rockitt to its close - and it’s been a friendly close with none of the acrimony and back-stabbing that often accompanies such events; these lads seem to be, above all, good mates - will pass and maybe allow them to reform in the future. Whatever happens we can only be grateful for what they’ve done for us and assure them that all at Merseycats wish them well in whatever comes next.
There was a definite sense of “how do you follow that?” when Deborho took the stage next. And to their eternal credit they did exactly that. With no fuss or commotion they got on with their work with skill and quality. Some very tight, neat vocal harmony work from Rhoma, Bob and Dennis on the Beatles’ Ask me why and This boy, and the Everley’s Bird-dog, and thoughtful, disciplined instrumental backing set the tone for their spot. Faron, irrepressible as ever, joined them for a version of his definitive MerseySound See if she cares, which will always be for me one of the very best records of the MerseySound of the 60’s.
Bobby Scott’s Clayton Squares gave us good value, with the bluesy
I need your love from George, supported by lovely guitar work from Bernie, standing out for me, before Lee Curtis took the night home with yet another example of his showmanship and his ability to work an audience, shown at its best in his rendition of Conway Twitty’s It’s only Make-believe. Faron took the bass to support him in Route 66 which brought the night to a fitting and rousing conclusion.
Over £250 was raised on the night, a tribute yet again to the generosity of Merseycats’ audiences. But where else could you see a night’s entertainment such as we had for ONE pound? Tell your friends!!
Thanks go, as ever, to all who support Merseycats, but tonight belonged to the incomparable Rockitt. Thanks again for the show, lads!