Deano! Deano! Deano! Tonight saw a special guest appearance to end all special guest appearances. HMHB were coming to the end of their main set when Nigel looked around and asked "Where is he?". I thought he might have been looking for some stage assistance, although it seemed a bit late in the day for that. This guy walked on with a guitar and Nigel followed up with "I'm just off for a drink of water. This is Dean Friedman." Not, strictly speaking, what was expected. I seem to remember reading something a couple of years back about a meeting between the two parties at Edinburgh. Maybe a plot was hatched then. It would be nice to think that Dean's song is actually called "The Bastard Son Of Nigel Blackwell", but on hearing, I suppose it is more likely to be "Half A Man Half A Biscuit", dealing with how Nigel came to be. Perhaps HMHB will reciprocate on Dean's tour a la Morecambe And Wise/The Sweeney. I'm afraid someone else will have to go along, pen and notebook in hand, to find out.
It had already been a pretty good night out. I can't be bothered looking it up, but The Humdrum Express has supported HMHB previously, hasn't he? Here was a short set of folky songs and poems. I particularly liked the one about Sunday drinking. He also said he liked these reviews. In which case I can tell you that he is a quality entertainer who will liven up any evening. I'm assuming he's available for all the usual weddings/christenings/factory closures. Book now!
For HMHB, the mosh pit was particularly lively throughout, and gave good order when Dean came on. All the songs from the recent 6 Music session were played. I didn't hear "L'Enfer C'Est Les Autres" when that was on the radio, but I'm assuming, with all the Sartre references beforehand, that that was the one played tonight. Nigel was complaining about having a squeaky training shoe. Not sure what to do about that. Take it off, I suppose. During "A Country Practice", I nodded in appreciation at the reference to people who say "closure". There was also something about Ernie Wise which I didn't quite pick up. The crisps in "Garage People" were £1.03 (but only 82p in Home Bargains) and the guy behind the glass was Graeme (we were asked to note the spelling). The obligatory "blank" came when Nigel failed on the opening lines of "Turned Up Clocked On Laid Off", and they had to start again. The song was said to be about the badly-parked VW on the cover of "Abbey Road". And the new one, "RSVP" is all about revenge being a dish best served in a buffet. Thanks to Tony for the CD, and for the lift back to the Travelodge in Wolverhampton, where it seemed that most of the crowd were stopping.
Them's The Vagaries
Hedley Verityesque
RSVP
99% Of Gargoyles Look Like Bob Todd
Took Problem Chimp To The Ideal Home Show
Turned Up Clocked On Laid Off
Left Lyrics In Practice Room
Uffington Wassail
1966 And All That
Monmore Hare's Running
Petty Sessions
PRS Yearbook / Quick The Drawbridge
All I Want For Xmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit
San Antonio Foam Party
Look Dad No Tunes
L'Enfer C'Est Les Autres
Running Order Squabble Fest
A Country Practice
Trumpton Riots
Vatican Broadside
The Light At The End Of The Tunnel
National Shite Day
For What Is Chatteris?
Twenty-Four Hour Garage People
"Half A Man Half A Biscuit"
The Bastard Son Of Dean Friedman
And then there were three in the encore
Tommy Walsh's Eco House
We Built This Village On A Trad Arr Tune
Joy Division Oven Gloves
Rousing, I'd say. Sing along, everyone. "One Dean Friedman, there's only one Dean Friedman..." You had to be there.