Maine Street Jazzmen @ The Porthole.

George Richardson (pno); Olive Rudd (vcl); Herbie Hudson (tmb/hca/vcl); Ray Harley (tpt); Jim McBriarty (clt/alt/vcl); Alan Rudd (bs); ?? (dms).

Now that Rosie Malone's and the MSJ have gone to Reno I thought I'd pay a flying (or rather a floating) visit to their Monday lunchtime slot at The Porthole, North Shields.

A bracing trip on the cross Tyne ferry, making note of where the lifebelts were just in case, allowed me to arrive as the band struck up with Swannee. 

I opted for a pint of Fog on the Tyne. Not a wise choice - bottom of the barrel. I exchanged it for a pint of Silver Dollar which the manager explained was a cloudy beer. Mmmm...It tasted okay but cloudy beers are off-putting no matter what the taste. I also ordered a cheese and onion toastie.

Back to the music. Olive sang Someday Sweetheart and I Can't Give You Anything But Love Baby - replacing Woolworth's with Fenwick's whilst Jim McBriarty gave us Avalon and the band played Riverboat Shuffle and When It's Sleepy Time Down South and then my toastie arrived.

I don't know about you but when I order a sandwich, toasted or otherwise, I expect two slices of bread with the chosen filling in between the slices. What I don't want is the plate filled with rabbit food!

Good to hear the band with Ray Harley but I missed Old George from Rosie's shouting for Hello Dolly and Back in Your Own Backyard!

Although I couldn't stay long - Cherry Tree tonight, London tomorrow - it was, nevertheless, an enjoyable hour.

Lance.