As there were no posters advertising the gig outside of the pub, it was the usual Saturday night regulars that were in for the gig. (apart from myself and some friends and a few stray bikers from a nearby rally.) Singers and entertainers are a usual fixture of a Saturday nights at the dog and gun but after watching The Happy Cats in action somebody (the landlady, I think) said 'Saturday nights are never going to be the same again' and this was agreed by all around. I feel sorry for whoever follows this particular classy act.

Basically, three excellent musicians played a superb selection of songs and the whole pub sang, clapped and even danced. In slightly more detail, the lads opened with 'P'ricco' (that's maybe an abbreviation on the set list that I blagged off Marty, which I believe is now the traditional thing to do for these reviews) and the tone was succesfully set for the evening. A slightly faster version of 'Driftin' through' followed with Marty alternating between harmonica and accordian, using the latter for the 'fadeout' section. 'All fall down' followed as a fitting tribute to "one of the great songwriters- Alan Hull" (Marty), it was also a great showcase for three musicians working well together, although I'm sure Marty could find a more conventional way of warming his whistle!! 'Looking for the heart of Saturday night' (The Saw doctors I think) and 'You've got me on the Run' preceeded an excellent version of Shania Twain's 'Still the one' which saw Brian move to behind the keyboard and the first and very welcome appearance of Marty's sax. 'Je Suis Desole' which I hadn't heard before came next and then it was 'The Beatles go cajun' with 'Help'. A supremely cool version of the Four Tops' 'Don't walk away Renee' followed with Martys soulful vocals doing full justice and more to the effective slower tempo. At some point, and I think it was here, the lads broke from the set list and did the traditional song 'water of tyne' and if you ask me, it should stay in the set. Rounding off the first set was a rousing version of the Pogues (with Kirsty McColl) 'Fairytale of New York' and then it was off to the back for some milk and chicken in jelly whiskas.

'The keel row' opened the second half followed by 'Dirty old town' which had everyone singing. A song about a "female scallywag" 'Lily of the west' came next followed by an excellent 'Speed of Loneliness' (covered by Nanci Griffiths) and then 'Sixties Still' which may be another Saw Doctors song. 'Can't help falling in love' again had everyone singing and the volume went up further for 'Meet me on the Corner'. The Mavericks 'dance the night away' and Van Morrisons 'Brown Eyed girl' had most people dancing and in serious party mode. 'Bring me Down' was announced as the last song, although we were told that if we shouted for more we'd get a further two songs. We didn't need to be asked and the encore was inevitable and we were treated to "the truckers anthem" 'Willin' by Lowell George and the Rolling Stones 'The Last Time'.

However, a crowd hungry for more started to shout for 'Fog on the Tyne' and eventually, even though they hadn't rehearsed it the lads gave in and did it. Alledgedly stuck for the words Marty asked some drunken individual at the front to do one of the verses. Whether or not I can now ever go back into the Dog and Gun remains to be seen... As soon as they had finished, the management were in a rush to re-book them and the buzz continued in the bar for a while afterwards. The band are extremely approachable and genuinely seem to be three blokes that are just enjoying themselves, it shows in the performance and is very infectious.

If you haven't seen the Happy Cats yet, then make sure you do. If you have,then you'll be back...

Thanks lads, it was a great night.