Michel Bastide (cornet, vocal); Bernard Antherieu (clarinet, alto, banjo, vocal); Michel Bescont (tenor, clarinet, vocal); Martin Seck (piano, washboard, vocal); Jean-Pierre Dubois (banjo, clarinet, vocal); Christian Lefevre ( tuba, trombone, vocal) + Franz Sjostrom (bass sax).The Gateshead British Legion Club was more like the French Foreign Legion Club as the Hot Antics wooed the regulars with their Gallic charm. The Antics are more than just a hot dance band - much more.
In Bescont they have a superb early Hawk/Chu tenor who raised the bar with his solo on My Blue Heaven. A lovely version of Looking Good But Feeling Bad got the dancers up and a nice solo from Bastide kept everyone happy.
The Antics play lots of tunes that I've never heard of but, now that I have, they won't be forgotten. Such a gem was Watching My Dreams Go By. Not only 2 clarinets but 2 banjos! Derek Cogger and I nodded but there wasn't a hitman in the house - where are these guys when you need them?! We jest, of course - don't we Derek?
Three Little Words inspired Dave Kerr to interpret as "Cheque's in post" but it was Bliffy (?) Blues that really got things in the groove. This was a piece from Red Allen's 1930's band and the Frenchmen captured the minor mood of so many of Allen's recordings from that period.
This band is infectious. It begins in a pleasant almost mundane way but gradually builds up to completely captivate the listener.
An appointment with a bus meant I only caught the opening number of the second set but, when I say that bass-saxophonist Franz Sjostrom joined the frontline you will know that the second set was going to be something else again!
Look forward to a review of second set from Derek C.
The Antics can be heard in Darlington and South Shields tomorrow.
Lance.
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