Oil City Confidential

KOKO Camden Town

02/02/10

I knew from when I booked these tickets that it would be a special night. The Dr Feelgood documentary film, Oil City Confidential followed by a Wilko Johnson gig straight afterwards.

As usual the night started early in the Pub, it must have been quite important as everyone was there near enough on time and all were in a happy mood. Anyway a few pints there and on the train for a bit of celeb spotting, as Alvin Martin of West Ham and now Talksport fame got on at Romford. Off at Liverpool St and into Hamilton Hall to pick up the last 2 of our gang of 7. At the moment I am reliving my childhood and have read a few Enid Blyton books and like to think of us as the Secret Seven, Colin, Nick, Mo, Baz, Paul, Ash and myself. The more Rhythm and Blues orientated would probably think of us, as Lew Lewis’s Lucky 7, or as we was at the cinema, the Magnificent Seven. Luckily I had done my homework and knew that you had to get out at Mornington Crescent and not Camden Town, which would include a mile walk. Another pub then into the gig. The Koko used to be the Camden Palace and is an old Music Hall. If you can be bothered to look at it’s history it’s had quite a lot of punk bands playing there and one macabre item in it’s past, it was the last place that Bonn Scott of AC/DC was seen drinking before he died of alcohol poisoning in 1980. I’m surprised he could afford it, at £4 for a can of Guinness. The venue is classical looking from the outside all pillars and what you would expect from building built in Victorian times. The inside is something like out of the Good Old Days, if you can remember that. It was on 4 levels and was seemingly covered in red velvet, a fine place for the upcoming entertainment.

Keith Allen was the master of ceremonies, he introduced Julian Temple the director who gave a speech about when he saw them in 73 & 74. Then the film, it was filmed with lots of old news footage and showed how the band met and in the end split up. The main person in the film was Wilko with supporting roles from Figure, Sparko and Chris Fenwick the manager. There was some really interesting facts about the band. There were also some interviews with Lee Brilleaux, his wife and mum. A lot of it centred around that shit hole of Essex, Canvey Island. I can remember going over there to clubs like the Goldmine. You never quite knew whether you were safe and it always had sinister undercurrents. Canvey is one of those places that if you move there, it’s nearly impossible to move away. The only time I go there now is for the Lee Brilleaux memorial night every May. The film is superb though and captures the time exactly. It was strange watching the film though because it’s not a cinema and you had to stand up through the show. This was good as it meant you could go to the bar. As the film ended I think that every one in the packed audience was of the same age and had the same memories and all enjoyed it.

15 minutes later the band hit the stage, I have seen them many times before and they delivered another high adrenalin show. Wilko played a few tracks and then brought on his special guest, Basildon’s finest, the Belle of Bas Vegas Alison Moyet, she rattled through a few songs, “ All through the city” “I don’t mind” “Boom Boom” & “”Dimples”. I must say she was very good and she looks well. Wilko then gave the usual show with all the staple favourites in it “Paradise” “Every ones carrying a gun” and all the others which make his shows so good. He still has that stage presence and was ably supported by Barry Magowan look alike, the fabulous Norman Watt Roy on Bass and Dylan Howe on drums. The night ended with encores of “Johnny b goode” & “route 66”. One regret for the night was that the Figure and Sparko never got on stage and played with the band. They always do at the Lee Memorial at Canvey.

Summing up it was a great night but it left one a little sad. I always thought that when Wilko left the Feelgoods they lost a little something, not taking anything away from Gypie Mayo as he was excellent. Also Wilko never seemed as good when he left, don’t get me wrong he was still miles better than most of the stuff around, even now, but they were magic when they were all together.

If anyone fancies it Wilko is playing the Standard at Walthamstow March 5^th.

Duncan Febuary 10

 

Keith Allen

Julian Temple

Alison Moyet

Wilko Johnson

Clive Pain

Wilko Johnson Band

Wilko

 

COMMENTS (new March 2010)

Name:
Comments:

 

VIEW HERE  http://chelmsfordrocks.com/fsguestbook.html

Lee Brilleaux Memorial 8th May 2009 The Oysterfleet Canvey Island