FIRST BORN
14^th November 1987 - The Tunnel Club, Greenwich

Got a 'phone call on the Friday from Jane: did I want to go to Greenwich tomorrow night? My initial reaction was "what has Greenwich done to deserve this?" (Actually, my initial reaction was "hurry up I'm missing 'Neighbours'" but that somehow lacks the same ring.) Well, apparently The Mitre was playing host to the debut gig by Alastair's band so could I rustle up some support? "Ask everyone you know," she urged me. I did - Jamie came.

Another 'phone call the next day was from Chaz trying to scrounge a lift (what had I done to deserve that??) for himself and Madge. I told him to meet us at Leytonstone station; four of us turning up together would look better than just two. In the event they managed to con another "Old West Hatchian" into joining them: five and counting.

Outside Bromley-By-Bow tube station we espied what appeared to be a cool-looking trio of rock'n'roll chicks looking for some action. On closer inspection it turned out to be Jane, her sister and a friend of her sister (well, eight of us all turning up at once would certainly look good. Curiously though, Jamie and I were the only ones who anticipated the likelihood of having to pay an admission fee.)

The Mitre is another shitehole pub with gob up the walls pertaining to be a 'venue'. The first things to be noted upon arrival were Andy Steward crapping himself, Alastair's convincing impression of not giving a toss and a curious looking guy with long blonde hair who seemed to have come as a Spanish waiter.

The 'Acolytes Of The Sun' lumbered onstage at about 9pm and frankly, the soaring intro to "Suzanne" (okay, so it's now called "Get Down To Lovin'") brought tears to my eyes as it roared out into the black void this side of the stage. The audience - mainly family and friends - remained seated, but the set was fairly well received (big surprise). The numbers included a few covers: a powerful "Crazy Horses", "Gimme Some Lovin'" ("Awful" - Kev) and "Jumpin' Jack Flash" - the latter possibly the evening's highlight ("Awful" - Kev).

Singer Paul "Toby" Cunningham doesn't possess sufficient vocal range to do full justice to most of the set (but it'll do for a first outing) or to allow many comparisons, but he does have strong instincts on delivery, which put him firmly in the mould of an Ian Astbury or a Kirk Brandon (i.e. a wanker).

The Astbury likeness sums up the band quite well - Cult references almost too numerous to mention (doesn't stop Flare mentioning them though, eh readers?). Fortunately, the tongue-poking antics of Alastair lend a bit of humour to the proceedings (see photo) and they do actually seem to be enjoying themselves at some points - well Alastair and Paul, anyway.bb

And so to the after gig lig - a chance to dazzle the assembled with some of my sparkling wit and repartee, perhaps? Unfortunately, the conversation tends to "what are you up to at the moment?" and of course, being Flare I'm up to nothing. Similarly I have no sparkling wit or repartee, so I guess I blew it here.

All in all it was a decent performance and I left a happy man - he was sitting in the far corner, I think.

Set: Get Down To Lovin', L.A. Bust, Crazy Horses, Interstate, ? (Slow And Poofy), Jumpin' Jack Flash, Gimme Some Lovin'