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Features
From
issue 176 - February 2012
New
Year Knock-Out
Hot
50's Rock 'n' Roll Club, Guildford - New Year's Eve
Review
& Photos: Maggie
Sampford
Well
it was certainly hot and it was most definitely Rockin' on this balmy
New Year's Eve in deepest Surrey and surprisingly close to Tadley
in Hampshire where I spent the festive season. I was told there are
FOUR more clubs in this area who all run on different weeks of the
month, so always somewhere to go - Cool! And now I know how close
they are . . . .
The
club was quite easy to find, a large community centre hall in the
middle of a housing estate with plenty of parking space. It
was lovely to finally meet Lyn, one of the organisers, who I'd only
previously e-mailed and spoken to on the phone and also to bump into
Andy Mundy (him of the Wildest Cats In Town fame) who, to my surprise,
is also on the organising committee. And
who else should I bump into as I walked in the door? None other than
half a mad hound dog, John who proceeded to lift me off my feet in
a huge bear hug declaring "Nice to see ya - to see ya - nice!!"
Good
to see me mate, Janie from Crondall again and to get to meet Dawn
from Memphis Belles club which she assures me is 20 minutes closer
to Tadley (in terms of driving) than Guildford. Nice to meet John
from Crondall who Janie told me had recently celebrated his 80th birthday
at Crondall - he must be the fittest 80 year old I've ever danced
with! I must say John - you certainly don't look your age!
The
room soon filled as the madcap DJ duo, the 2 Hound Dogs enticed the
dancers on to the floor with some choice tracks whilst entertaining
people nearby with their own legendary antics. At 9.30pm precisely,
the Kingcats took to the stage opening with great rockin' versions
of 'Promised Land', 'I Got Stung' and 'Knock Knock Rattle', all good
jivey stuff to keep the dancers happy - and I've no doubt - everyone
else too!
As
the temperature started to climb, more windows crept open and the
drinks and the music flowed. The room rocked, the dancers danced and
the drinkers drank as the Kingcats gave us more great sounds in the
form of a lovely 'Let's Talk About Us', a steady 'When I Found You'
and a lively 'Wash Machine Boogie'. The raffle took quite a while
but was fun although we didn't win anything. A good DJ set from the
crazy curs although the dance-floor seemed to get emptier as people
got drunker - or maybe that was just me!!
The
band returned at 11pm with 'Baby I Don't Care', 'Your True Love',
'Sea Cruise' and 'Mess Of Blues' as the New Year countdown began although
it's a wonder anyone knew what time it was according to the clocks
in the hall - they all gave different times! Even confused the 'orrible
'ounds when, at 11.40pm they announced "three minutes to go!!" Well,
they ain't nothin' but 'Hound Dogs' after all! They got it right in
the end but quite a different welcome to the new year here as the
DJs played a well rocked up 'Auld Lang Syne' and people jived or formed
several individual small circles around the dance-floor. Very strange
(to me) but just different. I was then surprised to see the band returning
for a further set as by this time we'd already decided to leave but
giving us an excellent 'Please Mama Please' and as we left, the melodic
sounds of 'Matchbox'. Happy New Year everyone!
