Only got to know about Chuck Prophet through promoter Mike Trotman of Empty Rooms Promotions who operates out of Buckingham and has CP a couple of times, not that I had seen him. So I bought 'Let Freedom Ring' on the back of it and learned a bit about his musical background and liked what I read, Could not get a Green on Red cd though. At the beginning of the year Empty Rooms announced that they are promoting CP at The Bully in Oxford less than a mile away from home on a friday night, which was ok only to find that it was to be an early finish and the chance that I could not make it as I would be leaving London late. So quickly found that CP was playing Dingwalls the night before was good news indeed, and it has been some three decades since I was last in here, Chris Rea I seem to recall, and in that time I have got married, moved to Oxford, children now at Uni, and now living back in London for the week.
Anyway to here I am back at Digwalls, by myself and following a cracking warm up from Danny and the Champions of The World (what is this, a gig consisting of bands with long names?) on comes CP, not the obvious looking rock and roll musician, with the band and for the next 100+ minutes proceed to show how it is done. A great set with great repore between CP and audience, including a bloke who wanted to interrupt a number by saying that some woman's brother was outside to give her a lift, Anne Marie I think she was called, rather unbelievable. Second gig in a row where artist did a Springsteen cover, 'Darkness on the Edge of Town' only weeks before down the road at KOKO with The Felice Brothers and tonight it was Chuck Prophet's turn with 'For You'. A few years back it was common for bands to play a Dylan number, now it appears the Springsteen is the flavour of the year.
Three numbers in the encore the finale being a cover of Bowie's 'Rebel Rebel' where CP called a guy out of the back of the audience to sing along, I thought his name was David, but would not swear to it. Who was he? Now this guy looked liked a rock and roller and with one verse in, pulled up a woman from the audience who was dancing down at the front. They both dueted together but best of all, he had his left leg firmly planted between her legs and was giving it the whole rub up. I looked at James DePrato the guitarist who I was standing right next to, we both looked at the bump and grinding couple, then looked at each other and just grinned. The woman's partner was in the audience too but did not seem to mind and she was loving it. He got a big kiss at the end as did CP with hugs to, although I saw she acknowledged CP's wife Stephie. Mention of Stephie, a useful foil at times for CP, sung her own song and the dueted on Little Girl, Little Boy.
An excellent evening all round, and worth seeing again.
Set list
Like a stone across the sea
Let Freedom Ring
Look Both Ways
Castro Halloween
The Left Hand And The Right Hand
Willie Mays Is Up At Bat
Doubter Out of Jesus (All Over You)
Tina Goodbye
White Night, Big City
A Man Of Few Words
Temple Beautiful
Would You Love Me?
I Felt Like Jesus
Little Girl, Little Boy
Summertime Thing
For You
You Did (Bomp Shooby Dooby Bomp)
Encore:
Don't Call Me, I'll Call You
Shake Some Action
Pipeline
Rebel Rebel (with Dave Kusworth)
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