Some 52 years after Lenny Kayes legendary Nuggets Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968 was released on Electra Lenny has brought his tribute show to the equally legendary 100 Club for 2 sold out shows with an all-star cast, with an audience that could easily provide its own subs bench of musical legends, as well as the equally legendary DJ Scratchy on the wheels of steel warming us up.
Only one musician was onstage all night, on this the first night, bass maestro Dave Treganna from Sham 69/Lords Of The New Church/The Crunch etc, by the time he came on stage with the opening line-up Rat Scabies, Jim Jones, Greg Rice and of course our host for the night the amazing Mr Lenny Kaye who strolled on in a groovy shirt to say how happy he was to be here and kick the show off as the album kicked off with The Electric Prunes immortal classic I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night) that made totally clear we were on for a great night, they sounded excellent, as they got to the first chorus they were joined onstage by the two Go-Go dancers, Moanna Satana and Helene De Joie who shaked shimmied and entertained us.
Lenny then altered the lyrics of The Standells Dirty Water claiming that the Thames has Dirty Water, well yeah! This was a great bass driven version. Then on wandered Clive Jackson from Dr & The Medics for the first selection not on the original Nuggets album, along with the first drummer switch of the night, as Martin Parrot took over, as he bellowed throatily through My Little Red Book, from Garage rock god Burt Bacharach, after he thanked Lenny for the chance to be a part of this show, as well as amazement at still being allowed to sing, he led the 100 club in singing Strychnine I'm not sure if there was anyone in the place not singing along.
Then Jim Jones took the vocal lead for the first time tonight to blast through Little Bit Of Soul while sounding like he was born to be singing this material. Before they took us from this basement all the way up to the 99th Floor.
New York's Amanda Cross was chosen to represent for the under 40's on stage tonight, for a blasting yet ramshackle run through Road Runner she did everything she could to keep up with the band just about holding on.
Then in strolled John King from Gang of Four, While the Search began for Kosher Pickled Herring, or in this case Rat Scabies to take back over on the drums, Then John told us all about his desire towards Farmer John's daughter, as song that really needs a young singer to not sound creepy. Wooly Bully was of course sung by everyone in the 100 club all John had to do was lead it all.
Then Lenny introduced the amazing Japanese guitarist and singer Go Ohgami from Okami Tsuyoshi who ripped through Baby Please Don't Go he was close to being the best guitarist on the night, quite some feat.
Then on came Alan Clayton and Guy Griffin to lead a 7 piece for a scorching take on Watcha Gonna Do About It, followed by the second version of Night Time I've heard live in a week! Only this version had all the balls it needed. Lenny then gave a short reading from his latest book Lightning Striking Ten Transformative Moments In Rock & Roll.
Then they managed to magic up Mr Link Cromwell to be the only person singing one of their own songs for a great version of Crazy Like A Fox, if only he could have also sung No Jestering it would have been perfect. The long rambling version of The Letter that was fused to Run Run Run making a gloriously messy fusion.
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Billy Shinbone then came on to allow Lenny to go into Interstellar Overdrive on the evenings only instrumental. Then Anita Chellamah came out to really let loose on I'm Not Your Stepping Stone they were not monkeying around, as she took us all down to Tobacco Road. Action Woman was another star turn from Jim Jones before a monster take on Psychotic Reaction.
Then Lenny introduced one of only two acts to have banned me from ever reviewing them, before Lenny sensibly went to the bar for a drink while said singer mauled How Does It Feel To Feel and I Can Only Give You Everything, both of which sounded better than anything I've heard him do live in eons.
Lenny then came back on with his old friend from New York Roxanne Fontana who was braving the heat in a fur jacket as she sang Venus in Furs from behind her mask, as Marty Love figured out what he was meant to be doing on the drums. Nobody But Me suited Roxanne a little better and was full of feeling.
Clive Jackson then returned as the only artiste on the bill to have a wardrobe change as he insisted Good Guys Don't Wear White after some more thanks and anecdotes he also sang Your Gonna Miss me and yet I'm not sure everyone in the 100 club would miss him, still he was way better than expected.
When Lenny told us it was time for Louie Louie we knew the home stretch was in sight, everyone had to sing the chorus as loud as we could, as Rat Scabies battered the hell out of his kit. Pushing Too Hard was another Link Cromwell special that he used to sing in the Patti Smith group this version had plenty of bite.
Jim Jones took lead again for The Witch and totally nailed it as he had all night, then on strolled Cheetah Chrome and Brian James to join Dave Treganna et al, As Lenny took off his shirt for a monster rave up through I Wanna Be Your Dog, Lenny did his best to dance like Iggy while singing it, he also decided to stage dive, so I got to help hold him up while Cheetah and Brian jammed the hell out of it.
Jim Jones then brought out his maracas for a scorching Looking At You that was fried at the edges. It was then of course time to give thanks to MR John Sinclair and to Kick Out The Jams, oh hell yeah.
Then to close things Lenny invited almost everyone back on for a monster sing along to Gloria sung to the Them arrangement rather than Patti's version it was wonderfully messy end to a great night's music.
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