Some Old Bloke, His Son and Another Fella at The Palladium Club, Friday 15 October

What a great gig and what a real shame there were only 25 or so people watching, including the band, their family and the bar staff (but excluding the two ladies Bowen encouraged to leave once their dancing became a lot more than just dancing – wrong club maybe?).

Some Old Bloke, His Son and Another Fella have been playing in the area for yonks. It’s a long time since they graced the Palladium’s stage and they were as pleased to be back as Bowen was to see them.

The weird thing was that, settled down at one of the tables near the front with a pint of Guinness, good friends and a spare chair to stretch out on, it was a bit like having them play in your lounge. OK, so not many lounges actually have a stage or a carpet to match the spectacular flock example laid in the Pally, but that’s the beauty of the place. It’s warm and welcoming and bands like this fit it like a glove.

They played like the place was full. Tight, feisty, revved up and clearly enjoying themselves, the band charged through a great set of so much that was good about the 60s, 70s and 80s. Cocaine, a really stylish version of Layla, a couple of Steve Miller gems, a fabulous version of The Wind Cries Mary and plenty more I can’t remember – too much Guinness – and rounded off as ever with Sultans of Swing.

It was fun. You don’t often see someone as comfortable with their guitar as Son Paul. It’s striking how much it looks like a part of him – hardly unique amongst great guitarists but striking none the less - and it all combined nicely with Old Bloke’s Les Paul bass whilst the Other Fella playing the drums did the business as long as he could get his breath! The vocal harmonies were great too – a few more wouldn’t hurt – and whilst it gets a bit old finishing a review by saying don’t miss them next time, well, just don’t!