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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27th
2009
FOR FURTHER
EXCLUSIVE PICTURES INCLUDING MAYBE YOU IN THEM:
SEE RUSS NAYLOR'S GALLERY
SEE RADIO LONDON'S GALLERY
It's difficult to put this one into words as there probably aren't words
yet in the dictionary to describe what we witnessed last Friday night.
Simply astonishing. This is being talked about amongst the greatest
Friars gigs ever and every bit as
amazing as the original 1982 Kid Creole Friars gigs. China Crisis
returning to Friars for the first time since 1983 more than played their
part too with a brilliant and very well received set. Everything smiled
on us.....BBC TV coverage in the afternoon, the party balloons, a big
audience, two bands so hot they almost spontaneously combusted and
smiles on lots of faces.
So
that is it.......the last ever Friars Christmas Party and the last gig
in this brief resurrection of Friars Aylesbury in its 40th anniversary
year. And in the words of Kid Creole himself.......OH
WHAT A NIGHT!!
We'll keep this page updated
as stuff comes in.
PRE-MATCH
INTERVIEWS.....KID CREOLE........CHINA
CRISIS
SPECIAL........including interviews and live footage from the gig
HERE
THE GALLERY
HERE SETLISTS HERE
REVIEW HERE YOUR VIEWS HERE
From the bands.....
Kid
Creole
-
All the planets were aligned .....
I had something to prove ..... and I proved it .... thanks to the gods
and to the delicious Coconuts and the musicians and to my chanteuse
(Elvira Jones) ....and thanks to my right-hand man Bongo Eddie [the only
original member still standing - besides me) - a true survivor. It was,
in fact, the apotheosis of teamwork ........
when the show was over .... I returned to my dressing room .... I took a
long look at myself in the mirror .... I sighed ....
I admired what I saw ... I admired what I felt .... Yep, my shit is
still together! ................Next .....
THE SETLISTS
Kid Creole: As
below
China Crisis:
TBC
Kris Needs 1980s Sound System:
The Oneness Of Ju-Ju
- African Rhythms/Ozo - Anambra/Eddie
Kendricks - Girl You Need A Change Of Mind/Aural
Exciters - Emile [Night Rate]/Taana Gardner
- Heartbeat/MFSB - Love Is The Message/Salsoul
Orchestra - Ooh I Love It/Dinosaur L
- Go Bang/Erotic Drum Band - Plug Me To
Death/Castle Beat - Deputy Of Love/I Shot
The Sheriff/Began Czekic - Burnin’ Hot/NYC
Peech Boys - Dance Sister [Bio-feedback]/James
White & The Blacks - Contort Yourself [August Darnell Remix]/Grandmaster
Flash - White Lines/Dominatrix - The
Dominatrix Sleeps Tonight/Johnny Dynell & New York
- Jam Hot/Suicide - Diamonds, Fur
Coats, Champagne/The Ronettes - Winter
Wonderland/New York Spice - Set It Off/Material
- Bustin’ Out/Blondie - Rapture/J.
Walter Negro & The Loose Jointz - Shoot The Pump/David
Bowie - Let’s Dance/Chic
- Good Times
Additionally, who else spotted Let There Be Drums by Sandy
Nelson.....just like the old days!
THE FANS
Some of the feedback we've had!
David Stopps, Friars promoter
Kid Creole's
performance was beyond belief. One of the best nights ever.
The webmaster:
I was lucky enough to see
both the Friars gigs by Kid Creole in 1982, two of the greatest gigs in
my life ever...what would they be like in 2009? I needn't have worried.
They and China Crisis were on inspired form and the magic was there. Two
amazing bands and we were so lucky...this KC big band does not do many
gigs but they were so up for proving that they could be as good as they
were before. They managed it effortlessly. Huge respect to China Crisis
- a great set and great blokes too.
There is a
thriving
Friars community on Facebook with hundreds of members!
Here's a selection of
comments:
"What a great night, we need more nights
like this on our doorstep, have only just been able to get a taste of
what you guys had back then."
"Sore feet from dancing too much -sore
throat from singing too much -sore head from drinking too much -what and
AM-AZ-ING NIGHT!"
"Well done Friars! Kid Creole & the
Coconuts were on top form. I was there 27 years ago, KC never changes,
the still the main man after all those years, total entertainment. First
time seeing China Crisis, Brilliant!'
KRIS NEEDS REVIEW
Christmas started early on
November 27 when Kid Creole brought his immaculate hits, some Las Vegas
glitz and the unbridled funky energy of New York’s legendary early 80s
club scene to the Friars stage in one of the most remarkable shows the
town has witnessed in years.
Or not since the last time
Kid Creole and the Coconuts appeared at Friars in 1982, which David
Stopps announced from the stage as perhaps, ‘the best Friars gig ever.’
August Darnell, aka Kid
Creole, was fronting a rare appearance by his entire 14-piece band,
including the Coconuts, MC-percussionist Bongo Eddie, horn players,
uncannily Hendrix-like guitarist Marc Anthony Jones and stellar rhythm
section of bassist Oroh Angiarna and drummer Dave Imby. The Friars stage
has rarely witnessed such uncut funk in its purest form as the band set
up the sinuous, liquid groove which underpins much of Creole’s work,
building unbearable tension with seemingly minimum effort, stoking the
crowd for first the entrance of the girls in their jungle outfits then
The Kid, sporting pink zoot suit, panama hat and two-tone shoes.
The atmosphere was
euphoric as the enraptured crowd joined in with hits like ‘I’m A
Wonderful Thing, Baby’ and ‘Stool Pigeon’, interspersed with songs from
Kid Creole’s new ‘Anthology’ CD. He is a star from the old school,
mixing Cab Calloway flash while drilling the super-tight band with James
Brown precision. The between-song vignettes with the girls and
turquoise-suited foil Bongo Eddie added a touch of vaudeville straight
from New York’s Harlem Apollo many decades ago
‘Of the three 40th Anniversary Friars
Aylesbury gigs we presented in 2009, this was the most ambitious,’ said
a delighted David Stopps. ‘The Kid Creole big band are scattered all
across Europe and August had to pull them all together for this one date
in England. We both wanted to recreate the memories of those two amazing
1982 Friars performances 27 years later. It was a risk but we needn't
have worried. The combination of the Kid Creole big band and the Friars
Aylesbury audience ignited an atmosphere of well-being that if anything
exceeded 1982.’
Earlier in the evening, China Crisis,
who appeared at Friars in June, 1983, played a well-received set of
dramatic ballads while, as DJ, I played records which were setting fire
to New York’s clubs during Kid Creole’s initial rise. Balloons and
streamers added to the atmosphere.
This most spectacular show was the third and last of
the gigs held to celebrate Friars’ 40th birthday. There was a
tangible sadness when it was over, especially as this historic,
gig-perfect venue now only has demolition to look forward to [Rumours
were flying that it could become part of the new Sainsbury‘s site].
David summed it up,
‘Today there are only two types of people in the Aylesbury area.
Those that were there last Friday and those that weren't. I think the
former group will carry this gig with them for the rest of their lives.
‘A big thank you to
all those that helped put this together and a special mention to the
Aylesbury Vale District Council who have been so supportive of the brief
return of Friars Aylesbury 40 years after its inception'
THE GALLERY
All pictures: Mike and Sue
O'Connor and ©
2009 www.aylesburyfriars.co.uk except where noted
Special thanks to Neale Wareham,
Mary Payne
Hey, it's the Christmas party!
Getting ready for the great night out - the scene early afternoon.
Pictures above: Mike O'Connor
One
balloon net ready for Operation Christmas Party
Friars legend and DJ for the night Kris Needs with the webmaster.
David Stopps and the webmaster.....aka Mickey Mouse and Desperate Dan!
We
met a Friars fan who was there in 1982....it said so on his T shirt
Pictures above: Sue O'Connor
China Crisis played a blinder:
     
Pictures above: Neale Wareham
Pictures above: Sue O'Connor
Picture above: Neale Wareham
Picture above: Mary Payne/Radio London
Receiving their Friars Heroes Award at the end of a brilliant set.
Pictures above: Neale Wareham
Here's Mr Creole in full flight, back on the Aylesbury stage after 27
years away.
Don't take my Coconuts
A
happy Bongo Eddie
Pictures above: Sue O'Connor
Pictures above: Mary Payne/Radio London
Even the fans got involved!
   
Pictures above: Neale Wareham
Pictures above: Mary Payne/Radio London
And
rounding things off nicely with a well deserved Heroes Award and into
the Friars Hall of Fame.
Pictures above: Neale Wareham
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