With a free weekend in hand it was a case of what trouble can I get into?
Oh the choices....
24.4.9
First up, after hearing much hype my accomplice and I decided to check out singer Terrell Isaacs. Terrell's claim to fame is an appearance on 'Stars in your eyes' (a telly programme) as the Lighthouse Family. Now don't me wrong, we ain't keen on the insipid LF, but we also heard the performs back flips and other gymnastic feats - in the Lansdowne, that we had to see.
We walked in just as T was performing LF's 'Ocean drive'. – OMG!
OK, even the worst gigs, bands, performers have their redeeming features right? - Well we tried really hard to hear, see or feel what 'it' was that T had.
The show was karaoke for one, sung out of key in a lacklustre style with no sign of any banter with the audience. Not even a 'good night and thank you'!
We lingered to the death knell of the show, no sign of a hop, skip or jump let alone a back flip!
Sorry, but this one gets a zero out of ten.
25.4.9
Next up_Dawlish Choral Society's performance of Faure's Requiem as well as some snippets from Grieg, Tchaikovsky et al.
The United Reformed Church was warm, welcoming and very well attended.
Despite a slightly shaky start, the choirists got into the groove and delivered a fine first half performance.
The choice of material was somewhat weaker than previous shows, but the evening's audience showed their approval with gusto.
The second half was a slightly bitty affair. Short instrumental pieces, solos and only a few parts for the full choir, which was somewhat disappointing. If the first and second halves had been swapped over I think the performance would have been more cohesive.
Anyway, all things considered, the night was a great success and the plaudits were rightly handed out to all involved.
I am looking forward to the next show in December which is likely to be Handel's Coronation Anthem, including Zadok the Priest.
So after all that culture we headed to the Lansdowne once more for a spot of Reoffending.
The Reoffenders punk pastiche is something to behold.
They mix classic punk: Gary Gilmore’s eyes, New Rose and Teenage Kicks with Elton’s ‘Daniel’, ‘Swords of a thousand men’ and Nellie the freakin’ elephant! You know what? It works.
Front pairing Johnny Hoover and Heather Morphy Richards, bounce, boogie and play their kazoos with panache dealing with the couple of w*ankers that insist on showing off right in front of them with aplomb.
Heather had a face like thunder and looked like she was ready to commit murder, but the band carried on reigning a barrage of well thought out renditions of the songs you never even knew you could love.
There was no sign of the red balloons on this occasion, but I would strongly recommend an evening of Reoffending to give your spirit a lift.
We even managed an after show party
So, on to Sunday and after a very pleasant lunch with good friends I headed off, solo this time, to catch up with the Diamond DogZ at the First & Last, Exmouth for a matinee.
Having seen the DogZ, who are allegedly the highest earners and certainly thought of as the top band of their genre in the area a number of times, I have been known to be hyper critical of their lacklustre performances and ‘going through the motions attitude’ in the past.
However, this Kat has to give it where it is due; the DogZ were on fire. The singer, with codpiece bulging was on top form hitting every note and giving the audience exactly what they wanted. The band rocked out glamtastic versions of songs by: Bowie, Sweet, Mud, Osmonds, Mott the Hoople, Tommy Roe and would you believe Billy idol?
The pub was heaving and everyone sang, danced or jumped around. It was an amazing atmosphere and a 10/10 show. Brilliant.
So, it’s 8pm on a Sunday in Exmouth. Where to now? I hooked up with the Xmf posse and went in search of more rock n roll at the Phoenix. We walked in expecting the band to be in full flow, but it was a ghost town, no band, no punters WTF?
They cancelled the band for Sunday cos they had a Rory Gallagher tribute band on the previous night apropos of nothing!
We did our best to keep music live, but it takes two to pogo.
Anyway, that was it. As good a weekend as one can have when not performing.
This roving reporter is hanging up his pencil and pad for now and will be back on the boards this weekend thank the Lord 
NK