This show was a memorial tribute for the Rock Photographer Jeff Moh who was born in Borneo and went on to take photos of hundreds of bands, was always friendly and cool to chat with at gigs, he was also a regular fixture at Zadoa Productions regular Mau Mau Mondays, so it was fitting that Tommy Kennedy persuaded the Love Bar that replaced the Mau Mau bar to host this Mau Mau Monday reunion and tribute show.
Sadly, we arrived after opening act Glitter Kick had finished there set, as I really want to see Greg from the Razor Babies current band and keep missing them.
The Freak Elite had just started by the time we arrived at an already rammed Love Bar that has done away with the stage and has a chi chi cocktail bar vibe, that the Freak Elite were mutating into more of a ramshackle semi psychedelic rock feel as they were Jonesing to find the spot.
The drummer seemed to be lacking something, as they sang about Heroin and just how many ways they Love You, As the echoes went through the bar the guitarist did his best to bring back the glory days, that was made plain when they finished by covering a song by Steve Dior one of the most regular of Mau Mau Mondays acts before he samba'd off to Brazil, it was a good version of Drivin' as always never arriving.
Next on were Electrics who upped the stakes with there guitars at the right volume to allow Loops to really grab us all. Alan Blizzard was then telling us all I'm Not Your Problem spitting bile as Robert Jones really let loose on his guitar.
Natural Born Killer was tight and had lots of the crowd singing along with them, You Don't Know Me No More revolved around Jenny Lanes bass line as Alan and Robert battled it out.
Remember was dedicated to Jeff Moh and the videos and photos he took of Electrics as well as all the fun they had hanging out with Jeff.
No Shit had no jagged edges, just lots of intensity. Night Falls Down and you'll find all the regulars back down the Mau Mau once more, sorry Bar Love having a great time, while this sounded so much fuller than the last time we heard it in Aklam Village hall.
One of the bands new songs You Leave Me Alone was difficult to do in a bar as packed as this was, it also had a hard driving edge to it, before they closed the set with My City that sounded like a rallying call to bring back old school fun and games, along with the freedoms we used to have.
Next up were an injury hit The Dirty Strangers who had to make do without Cliff Wright who was out injured, so John Proctor came off the subs bench to once again hold things down on bass, they opened with South Of The River that like the rest of the set, flew out the gate at us, before it went almost straight into Bad Girls that went down a storm in a room that had as many Bad Girls in it as this one did.
There was no time for Alan Claytons normal introductions to Real Botticelli as they didn't want to waste any time, as John Rollason let rip on guitar. Almost without a pause Lol Fox was driving the band into Baby as they had everyone with them.
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Got My Hands Up like we've been caught up to no good on the Portobello Road, as if, in this ram raid even Diamonds was played a little quicker than usual, but with all the feeling needed, as we wiped away those Diamonds as we all thought of Jeff once more.
Al was then wondering if he could claim to be within Shepherds Bush City Limits or not, well I'd guess we were outside by about a mile, but close enough for this rip roaring version with John Proctor really giving it the welly it needs, before they closed with Gold Cortina that unlike the version Alan sang with the Vive Le Rockers didn't have a horn section, just loads of muscle that left everyone wanting a lot more from The Dirty Strangers.
Then finally it was time for Taurus Trakker who I haven't seen for far too long, they were sporting a new bass player, as they opened with the classic King Of Chicken Wing to really get us going, with Allison Phillips drumming as super solid as ever. Truth or Dare had the normal blend of smart engaged lyrics and hot guitar from Martin Trakker. He introduced Transistor Radio as being for the older listeners, as under 30's won't have a clue, well he needn't of worried we all knew what this was about.
They are still not in love with the Dream Inspectors this was a good punchy version, before they took us all on a long trip, as they got on the Bus To Mexico that if my nan, who grew up not far from Bar Love was to be believed, would have left from Gardeners Corner in Aldgate rather than Ladbroke Grove.
It was then time for Taurus Trakker to put the Vibe On Me, that is a very Portobello kind of phrase, they certainly had everyone vibing with them.
Martin then insisted Alan Blizzard joined them on guitar for the first performance of the song they've written in tribute to Jeff Moh Click Click Click that details Jeff's obsession with taking cool pics.
Tommy Kennedy then insisted they play one more song before they closed the show with Switch It Off a succinct plea for us all to turn our devices off and actually interact with each other instead. This was a good end to a great night's music that was every bit as good as Mau Mau Mondays used to be, thankfully without any acts that might be found campaigning with members of the Trump family.
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