The Happy Cats

The Wooden Doll Pub, North Shields

Wednesday, 20th June 2001

by Liz Ogden

Summer's here at last! After a sunny drive up the A19, we finally arrived at the Wooden Doll, after only a slight detour via the previously named Old Wooden Dolly on the Quayside!! Another first. The pub was almost half full already, but luckily the table at the front was empty. Only three of us tonight, as Norman was at home suffering a severe case of alcohol poisoning!! Brian greeted us as we went in, apparently Marty and Les had gone for their Whiskas. Anyway, by 9 o'clock they had returned and the pub was pretty full, ready for a good night.

The set opened with Pizzericco, with Marty playing maracas.It's a good one to warm up to and sets the tone for the rest of the evening. This was followed by Marty's own composition, Driftin' Through. I noticed he put his whistle in the back pocket of his jeans, presumably to keep it warm and spare us the performance at the previous gig in the Bell and Bucket!! Then, the Happy Cats' tribute to Mr. Hull - All Fall Down. The next two numbers were in reverse order to the set list - You've Got Me On The Run, followed by Looking For The Heart Of Saturday Night.

Je Suis Desolé came next, which is one of my favourite numbers in the set and then Shania Twain's Still The One. I really love that one too. I was actually at the bar for most of it. It's no secret that I've really missed hearing the saxophone, sounded great on this one. Marty had a "senior moment" during the next number, which was Help, the old Beatles song, losing the plot slightly on the lyrics but fortunately there were a few folks ready to help him out. Who says nostalgia's not what it was?! Now the Four Tops were never my favourite Motown group, (it may have had something to do with the dancing dolls routines!), but I do enjoy the Happy Cats' version of Walk Away Renée. The first set then concluded with Fairytale Of New York....very seasonal!!

So then it was off for 3 saucers of milk and a trip to the litter tray.... for the Cats that is. The rest of us had to make do with beer, shame (or, in my case soda water.. driving!)

The second half of the evening kicked off with a mainly instrumental version of Keel Row, with Marty singing one chorus, followed by Dirty Old Town, Mark Knopfler's Lilly Of The West and Nancy Griffiths' Speed Of Loneliness. Sixties Still always seems to strike a chord with the audience. I can't think why. Love that sax!! Everybody joined in with next number, Falling In Love With You, as they did with Meet Me On The Corner. "Vintage Lindisfarne" as Marty describes it. MMOTC, that is, not FILWY, which we all know was sung by Andy Williams!! (Elvis who?)

. Two more Mavericks' numbers, Dance The Night Away and Bring Me Down, with Van Morrison's Brown Eyed Girl in between, closed the set. Except for the encore of course, which comprised Willin' and the classic Rolling Stones' The Last Time. And that was the end of another great night.

Having got a few gigs under their belts now, The Happy Cats seem very relaxed and having fun. If you haven't seen them yet, then you've missed a treat. See you in Berwick in July.