Vivid Media

Cycling

My Newton

Crikey

NotGoodEnough

Gumbo Ya Ya!

Clogwog

Memepool

	Wednesday, 7 December 2005

Club Schmaltz at the Ramsgate On Sunday I went to the Ramsgate Hotel at Henley Square to see my old chum Ian Lehmann play in the band Club Schmaltz.  I had phoned one of my old school friends I have recently re-met, one with whom I have been having pretty regular, and I must say, delightful, email contact, to let her know that he would be there, as she had known him reasonably well and hadn't seen him for more than thirty years. I didn't expect her to go, and told her more out of courtesy than anything else to give her a convenient way to see him if she wanted to. As it happened, she did turn up so we watched the band together. It's a very good band; very much a party band, with a repertoire of hits aimed at anyone who's listened to Top 40 style radio any time in the last 50 years. Ian was playing better than I've ever heard him. The show was slick, with relaxed and often surprising presentation from a hard working front man. I'd met all the players before (worked with the drummer for quite a while) except for the keyboard player who was new. I was surprised by this, having met the old keyboard player a few times. He had seemed very enthusiastic about the band, but has apparently left to pursue other projects. We stayed for nearly three sets, which is longer than I would have stayed had I been on my own, and a lot longer than if I'd been with Felicity. I would have left for the Bacchus around the corner. But I couldn't leave my friend alone in the pub, so I stayed too. When I told this to Felicity, she said, "Why didn't you just ask her to go with you to the Bacchus". Now, why didn't I think of that? In fact, I think I did, but reasoned that by that time, the band in the Bacchus would probably be as unpleasantly loud as Club Schmaltz was getting, and, while we had seats at the Ramsgate, we would be very unlikely to get seats at the Bacchus. Although we may have got seats outside which would have solved both problems. Didn't think of that. Oh well. There'll be other times. 11:37:02 PM

comments? []

© Copyright 2006 Peter Nixon. Last update: 1/1/06; 1:04:50 AM.