Hull can be a sleepy, back-of-the-water place (which is one reason why I like it). However, as starved of entertainment as we are, Saturday 9th March proved an exception to this rule. Not only were my good friends (Wreckless) Eric & Amy Rigby playing in Hull – I MC’d the evening at The Adelphi Club (& invited, took to the stage ‘helping out’ on keyboards for Whole Wide World, Take The Kash, Dancing With Joey Ramone, & lastly, Hit & Miss Judy) – but also on the same evening & playing in the city were The Pretty Things & John Otway!! Consequently, for some people, this caused a dilemma – which gig to go to?
The following appeared on the local football team’s ‘Football Plus’ pages (of all places!)…..

Hull City Forum chat site (‘City Independent – The Hull City Fanzine’ 9th March 20013).

theotherphantom: It seems Wreckless Eric is at the Adelphi that night. The place is being overrun with pop stars!
Ren: Saw Wreckless at Springhead a few years back. Bloody good gig.
That was before he hooked up with Amy Rigby though. I gather the two of them together are quite something, though I’ve not yet had the pleasure.
theotherphantom: I went to their Adelphi gig last year along with a mate who’s seen him several times. He was disappointed this time round. The best bits were when a friend of theirs played keyboard for a couple of tracks. The timing improved no end.
Ren: That would have been Graham Beck presumably (local chap)? AKA Big Spider Beck and various other musical guises.
He also played at the aforementioned Springhead gig; I think him and Eric go way back. He’s credited with keyboards on the “Bungalow Hi” album which I have on CD, not sure if he worked on any of the earlier stuff though.
theotherphantom: That would have been Graham Beck presumably (local chap)? AKA Big Spider Beck and various other musical guises.
He also played at the aforementioned Springhead gig; I think him and Eric go way back. He’s credited with keyboards on the “Bungalow Hi” album which I have on CD, not sure if he worked on any of the earlier stuff though. Rings a bell. Tall chap.
Ren: Yup, that’ll be him.

& the day after………..
theotherphantom: Did anyone get to either gig?
Ren: Not me.

Well, Eric’s gig saw a good 80+, The Pretty Things about 50, & John Otway (with Wild Willy Barrett)…..well, who knows?! You’d think this big city would generate greater attendance numbers, but there is a lethagy here (‘Gig, pub or stay in?’)…..Or maybe the choice was just too great for some!

PS Eric & Amy’s night was the best, of course. They played for two hours, & everybody went home happy. You can’t say that very often.

PPS It could be worse, but I will always be known as ‘the tall chap’!!

Eric & Amy ‘do their stuff’ at The Adelphi Club, Hull, with the tall chap on piano (please note: I am sitting down!).