NEPA Rocks the bridge
Thursday 29th May 2008
The free tickets had all been dished out weeks ago and with a capacity limited by fire regulations we had no idea how many would turn up for this, the first proper social event of NEPA's year.
With fingers crossed for a good turn out the organisers helped the band unload and set out the tables and chairs, paid for the nibbles and got in the first pints. Guests arrived in twos and threes and some loitered nervously in the bar before the rumbustuous rhythms of 1950s rock & roll drew them tentatively up the stairs to the function room.
By eight o'clock enough of an audience had gathered for warm up act, singer/guitarist George Sharpe to take the hot seat and entertain the troops with a selection of beautifully presented songs. He has a great voice and a charming manner so expect to hear more from him in the years to come.
With the NEPA team selling raffle tickets like they were going out of fashion we didn't have long to wait for the prize draw. Dave Grey of event sponsors Kimmerston Design took the mike and, with help from Chairman Ronnie and his glamorous assistants, drew the winning numbers from the specially prepared box.
Some fabulous prizes were up for grabs and it wasn't long before the lucky winners were gratefully accepting their winnings - well worth the price of a strip of tickets and all thanks to the generosity of our many benefactors. Steve from Statex won the first of the amazing hampers on offer and the girls from Golley Slater can look forward to a fine round of golf, but it was Mark Tobin from Potts who scooped the big one, winning, in addition to a book, a Body Shop gift pack and the Eldon Square vouchers, the night's star prize of a luxury hamper of Spam containing not just the famous speciality meat product in its various guises, but a plethora of marketing merchandise including flip flops and fridge magnets, pens and pennants, mug, T shirt, apron, rugby shirt, baseball cap, cookbook, mug, Spam, Spam Spam and Spam!
It only remained for former Phantom Dave Humphrey to walk off with Ed's mystery box of 'Tat' (actually worth a lot more than you'd think but the contents of which will remain a closely guarded in case I ever decide to repeat the exercise... Ed) and it was time for the main event.
Some of you may recall a NEPA Rock night at the Cluny when guitarist Anth's previous band 'Slam!' gave us a a grand night's entertainment. His new band 'The Alley Cats' is a whole new line up and features five really talented musicians who put on a high octane show full of 1950s classics - some of them not the obvious choices, but each perfect in their own way. From stompin' classics by Eddie Cochrane and Stray Cats to less familiar belters including a rockabilly rendition of Johnny Cash's Fulsom Prison Blues and (from Back to Future) the soft centred 'Earth Angel'. The only orignal tune in the entire set 'Chatanooga Railroad Track' more than held its own amongst the standards and had many of the audience on their feet. The 'Golley Dollies' certainly led the way showing us all how to have a good time! A cracking show from a brilliant band but credit has to go to lead singer Frankie for maintaining an energy level that would shame a Tasmanian Devil!
If you missed this free NEPA night, then more fool you. It's not often you get something for nothing but this was one of those nights. You missed a treat. See you again at Vibe so we can start planning the next one!
