Ray Harley (tpt); Herbie Hudson (tmb/hca/vcl); Jim McBriarty (clt/vcl): Malcolm Armstrong (pno); Alan Rudd (bs); Mike Humble (dms); Olive Rudd (vcl).
As the band blasted through Panama it occurred to me that this was the finest north-east Dixieland band since the halcyon days of the original Panama Jazzmen back in the 1950s.
The opening Indiana reinforced that view and when Jim McBriarty sang The Varsity Drag I closed my eyes and I was transported through time to some mid-west college campus. When I opened them I expected to see a chorus line of co-eds going 'up on the heels, down on the toes' but, instead, it was back to reality.
And it was grim reality!
On my last visit they were bereft of real ales and today they had but Jennings Cockerhoop. No complaints 'bout that 'cept they ran out before my quota had been reached.
Musically things were much better with Olive doing How D'ya Like To Love Me? with just clarinet and rhythm - it worked well - and the full band gooseing her along on You Can Depend On Me.
Blue Skies was another one that kicked for her whilst the boys blew a Climax Rag that was indeed musically climactic.
There is a whisper going around that the Maine Street Mob are due to start a monthly residency in Ashington - watch this space.
Lance.
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