THE BLOCKHEADS + EMOTIONAL DEBRIS, COLYER - FERGUSSON HALL, CANTERBURY FRIDAY 26TH JANUARY 2024

Support comes in the form of Edinburgh foursome Emotional Debris. Sadly, they’re not really party starters; the set drawing from an album cheerfully titled ‘Suicide for Beginners’. I’m not sure if it’s the downbeat lyrics or the fact that the frontman appears to be reading them off an iPad but songs like ‘Blame it on the PTSD’ and ‘Sleep in Your Apartment’ pass without making much of an impact. Perhaps best described as decent pub rock, ‘Who Is It?’ is the pick of the bunch, bringing some atmosphere with it’s foreboding riff. 

Having chosen to continue following the loss of inimitable frontman Ian Dury back in 2000, The Blockheads again found themselves bereft of a vocalist following the similarly untimely death of Derek Hussey in 2022. Thank goodness then, for Mike Bennett, who now takes on the challenge of bringing life and energy to these wonderful songs that still command attention after some forty years. No, he doesn’t sound exactly like Dury (who could?!), but nobody’s complaining as he gives it his best Cockney bark. And, backed by originals John Turnbull, Chaz Jankel and Mick Gallagher, there’s no mistaking that distinctive Blockheads sound.

If you think of this band as a bit of a novelty, and have only ever heard ‘Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick’ or ‘Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll’, seeing The Blockheads live will make you think again. Of course, both songs are present and played to perfection but for me, ‘Sink My Boats’ is a bit of a revelation; the chorus surprisingly melodic with unexpectedly beautiful harmony singing. Always on the periphery of many genres, it’s impossible to put this band in any kind of musical box. Opener ‘Wake Up & Make Love With Me’ is more than a little funky, Nathan King’s pulsing bass a prominent feature. I’m relieved to find I don’t miss Norman Watt-Roy too much, as King has the throbbing grooves under control; ‘Inbetweenies’ might not be conventional disco but there’s certainly enough rhythm to get people dancing. By contrast, the abrasive ‘Plaistow Patricia’ bristles with punk energy and ‘Sweet Gene Vincent’ is a jubilant rock and roller. 

There are some wonderful, crowd pleasing moments; the spoken introduction to ‘Billericay Dickie’ is spontaneously recited by almost all in attendance before the song bounces into life. Dave Lewis impressively utilises two saxophones to recreate the iconic moment in ‘Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick’, and the unmistakeable beat of ‘Reasons to Be Cheerful, Pt. 3’ gets everyone moving. As Ian Dury so eloquently put it, ‘There Ain’t Half Been Some Clever Bastards’ - and on tonight’s evidence, The Blockheads can count themselves among their number. “Lucky bleeders, lucky bleeders” indeed. 

SETLIST

Wake Up & Make Love With Me/I’m Partial to Your Abracadabra/Sink My Boats/Inbetweenies/What a Waste/There Ain’t Half Been Some Clever Bastards/Plaistow Patricia/Itinerant Child/Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll/I Want To Be Straight/Billericay Dickie/Sweet Gene Vincent/Clevor Trever/Reasons to Be Cheerful, Pt. 3/Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick/Blockheads/Lullaby For Frances