After a fine warm up set from newcomers Barbara (think the love children of The Divine Comedy and The Lemon Twigs with a little Gilbert O'Sullivan and Mika thrown in for good measure) Kid Creole & the Coconuts played one of the tightest, most joyful and energetic sets you're ever likely to see. Put this lot on at Glasto and they'd steal the show. At almost 75 Kid Creole (aka Augustus Darnell) should probably have his feet up with a nice cup of cocoa, instead he's putting on the kind of gig that acts half his age would struggle to manage. Playing the hits, deeper cuts and a fine jazzy cover version of Big Joe Turner's Flip, Flop and Fly the whole band gave at least 111% from start to finish. How the Coconuts didn't spontaneously combust half way through is a mystery to me. If this is to be their last tour they're going out on a high but the world needs bands like this more than ever. If you do get a chance to see 'em you'd be (coco)nuts to miss it.
PS: I had the very great pleasure of meeting Augustus after the show and he's every inch the gentlemen you'd hope he'd be.
No comments:
Post a Comment