I will forever be grateful to the barmaid in the Dog and Gun at Etherley, a village close to Bishop Auckland in County Durham. At times when my sanity is under scrutiny by those who don't understand anyone travelling to the North -East from Sussex to see a band play in a pub, I sometimes wonder if they have a point. Although I'm happy to own up to frequent jaunts just to see the Happy Cats, hopefully twice in a weekend, I am used to the pitying glances from colleagues who just don't understand. There is no problem at the Dog and Gun. Everyone in the place understands the party atmosphere generated by this amazingly talented trio. Everyone gets happily drunk and everyone, yes everyone, is on their feet dancing. The first to succumb to the beat was the landlord of this hostelry who was reassuringly businesslike when we arrived twenty minutes before the gig began. By the interval he was singing along and dancing energetically, cheering every song and getting the crowd clapping along. A couple of numbers into the second half he had a disco organised and was looking decidedly dodgy on his pins.  This brings me back to the barmaid. Pauline asked her if the landlord was always like this. "Always when the Happy Cats are here!" she replied. You see, Brian, Marty and Les have this effect everywhere they play. It was the same in the Wooden Doll the previous evening and every other time we have seen them. The barmaid confirmed my belief that the effort to get to a gig is more than rewarded by the enjoyment you experience. The lads must have been thrilled (Over the Moon!!??) by the response to the new songs on both evenings. The crowds obviously knew the band so it was a gamble to replace some of their favourites with new material. However the album tracks were received just as enthusiastically as the covers and sales of the CD were brisk. All of my own favourites were still there and delivered with such joy and gusto that even the disaffected cowboys around the corner were soon joining in. The new songs sit well with the old - there are after all a wide range of styles evident, although, sadly for me, no sax. That wasn't the case during the show. The Shania Twain track Still The One ended with a rousing sax solo that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up just as they did during the solo in Winter Song at Hammersmith Odeon in 1987. There's a lot happened since then and if there is any justice in the world the Cats will be playing big venues again - they thoroughly deserve any success that comes their way. The new CD should introduce them to a much wider audience, which may lead to some gigs within driving distance. I much prefer these small intimate venues to the concert halls so maybe we'll have to book up a couple of visits for the dates already arranged. Then I won't mind if 2003 means gigs in theatres and bigger crowds and the half time scrum for refreshments. Etherley was another Happy Cats triumph - just ask the landlord of the Dog and Gun if you don't believe me.