This was probably the most unusual gig we’ve seen up to now, and it was one that I had got for the lads, so I was hoping it would go well.  When we arrived the pub was absolutely heaving – a good sign – with teenagers (or they looked that way to us ‘oldies’!) – not a good sign!  I wondered how they would react to the Happy Cats’ music, rather than the pop and dance music they were used to.  When I saw Marty’s face I realised he was just as worried, as were Les and Brian.  However, they had played in a heavy metal pub a couple of nights previously, and seemed to see this as a similar challenge, and, professionals that they are, went up on stage with nervous-looking smiles.   The set was similar to usual, so I won’t bother running through what they included.  As the first set progressed quite a few of the very young audience left, but kept being replaced by others, most of whom were well into the music.  Later on I went into the main bar, and discovered the room where the stage was had more people in – it was obviously the kind of pub where people went to on their way to somewhere else (or as someone said, they had to go early ‘cos they had to be up for school in the morning!! )  By the end of the evening there was a hard core of about 60 people left, several of whom were dancing and were really into the music, although as usual in a pub there were people who talked all the way through.  All in all I think they went down well in difficult circumstances – whether or not they’d return by choice is another matter!  They certainly had to work very hard, and Marty did a grand job with a bad throat.  They are, however, still speaking to me, so it can’t have been that bad! It was nice to meet Nige and friends from Staithes – fingers crossed that they’ll be able to arrange a gig in Staithes – the nearer to home, the better!