Dr Feelgood, The Fabulous Rockin' Blues Pimps.

Lev 2 Esquires Bedford. 13th December 2008.

With the nation seemingly gripped by ITV's X Factor grand final, Bedford Esquires thankfully kept music well and truly live. Keeping the feelgood factor in these difficult times are the legendary rhythm and blues quartet DR FEELGOOD. Unlike so many of the other older bands that have visited Esquires this year, Dr Feelgood do not posess any of their original seventies line-up. It was, however, the dying wish of founder member Lee Brilleaux to continue the band after his death in 1994 through his final bandmates Steve Walwyn (lead guitar), Kevin Morris (drums) and Phil Mitchell (bass). The trio were eventually joined by vocalist Robert Kane to keep Dr Feelgood playing into the 21st century.

The venue, needless to say, is packed. Male and female, young and old are here to party. As per usual when folks of an older age bracket are present on level 2, the alcohol runs freely! Cheers and shouts ring out at 9.30pm as the band arrive on stage. Starting with the Leiber-Stoller penned ‘Riot in Cell Block No. 9’, it's quickly followed by the classic Feelgood anthem ‘She Does it Right’. Although the band present each song in the typical Feelgood manner, my mind does wander back a few months when Wilko was in town. He had an aura that these gents just don't quite have. It's a personal quibble that I'm sure is not endorsed by the vast majority of Feelgood fans who cheer and dance to virtually every song.

The band say little, but Robert Kane, sensing the high spirited nature of those present shouts out to everybody "Alright, ready to rock?". No prizes for guessing the answer to that one! The mood is taken down a notch as the bluesy sounds of ‘You Don't Love Me’ flow throughout the room. With ‘Baby Jane’ and the spine tingling ‘Who Do You Love?’ enjoyably received, its with the band's biggest single ‘Milk and Alcohol’ that the fans have their first chance of a singalong. This 'Gypie' Mayo and Nick Lowe composition from 1979 is performed with the verve and vigour it genuinely deserves. In a different vein, and even more resectful, is the Dr Feelgood tribute to Canvey Island which is ‘Down by the Jetty Blues’. It sees the band intermittently leave the stage allowing Steve Walwyn the chance to demonstrate his guitar expertise. Robert's harmonica skills are brought to the fore. Charged up, the crowd respond to the band's wishes for a sing back on ‘Back in the Night’ and especially ‘See You Later Alligator’, while the directly driven R 'n' B of ‘Roxette’ shows how integral Wilko Johnson was at the start of this band's career. Dr Feelgood close with the appropriate ‘Down at the Doctors’. Mickey Jupp's words sum up this everlasting band "Everybody needs a shot of R 'n' B, so come on down to my surgery"! With an encore inevitable, Dr Feelgood return for a couple of songs which climaxed with the seasonal offering of ‘Run Run Rudolph’. ‘Bony Moronie’, with more than a hint of ‘Tequila’ riffs echoing through, ends the night's entertainment.

Supporting are perennial Sunday afternoon stalwarts The Fabulous ROCKIN' BLUES PIMPS. This 5 piece exercise a forty minute set of blues covers. Notable mention for the vocalist wearing a trilby topped off by a feather boa! "Twats in hats!" as our esteemed promoter Rob 'Silver' Vernon calls it! And he is wearing headwear as well! The Freddie King standard ‘Same old blues’ is a chance for Nick Slater's guitar skills to flourish. With an Allman Brothers tribute topped off by an encore of Sam And Dave's ‘Hold On I'm Coming’, the gents moved off stage rather pleased with their all round efforts.