STARCAT + DIRTY AL – THE HOPE & RUIN, BRIGHTON 10.2.26
STARCAT is an all-star rock and roll triumph for a fun night out, with iconic rock drummer Slim Jim Phantom of the STRAY CATS, bassist Phil ‘Polecat’ Bloomberg of the neo-rockabilly mainstays the POLECATS, and guitarist Neal X (previously of ’80s phenom SIGUE SIGUE SPUTNIK).
STARCAT announced a select 6-date tour which has already seen them calling in at The 100 Club in London on Sunday 8th, and tonight they are plying their wares at The Hope & Ruin in Brighton, before heading off and conquering Club Velocity/Reading Facebar in Reading on Thursday 12th, the Black Prince in Northampton on Friday 13th, Thomas House in Dublin on Saturday 14th, and Portland Arms in Cambridge on Sunday 15th.
The STARCAT trio certainly have an enviable music pedigree…
As the legendary drummer for the STRAY CATS, Slim Jim Phantom, alongside band mates Brian Setzer and Lee Rocker, spearheaded the worldwide neo-rockabilly movement of the early 80s. Over 30 years and millions of record sales later, Phantom has secured his legacy as a true rock-n-roll icon. With a sound, style, and image that remain true to his origins, he continues to inspire and excite audiences worldwide.
Phil Polecat is the bass player for THE POLECATS. Their debut LP, ‘Polecats Are Go’, hit the Top 40 chart with their take on Bowie’s ‘John, I’m Only Dancing’. Their energetic live performances ensured their appearances at ‘Top of the Pops’ and made them a staple in the rockabilly scene ever since.
Neal X (once renowned for the biggest quiff in London) is the former guitarist with postmodern futuristic 80s phenomenon SIGUE SIGUE SPUTNIK, who, with their kitschy pop aesthetics and prescient visions of the ego-tripping arrogance of the future, gained massive worldwide attention and scored a No. 3 UK hit single with ‘Love Missile F1-11’ in 1986. He is also a long-term sideman of Marc Almond and Glen Matlock and founded the MONTECRISTOS in 2015.
Tonight at The Hope & Ruin, STARCAT not only comprises James McDonnell aka Slim Jim Phantom (drums, vocals), Neal Whitmore aka Neal X (guitars, vocals) and Phil ‘Polecat’ Bloomberg (double bass, vocals), but they are joined by Jamie Reibl (saxophones) as well as special appearances from Steve Norman of Spandau Ballet fame on saxophone, and 21 year old Cornishman Toby Lee from Cornwall on guitar and backing vocals, he has recently been on the road with Jools Holland.
We are in their company for 72 minutes from 9:19pm until 10:31pm and during that period they offload a mix of STRAY CATS hits, POLECATS’ tunes, SIGUE SIGUE SPUTNIK flaunts, and some beloved rock ‘n’ roll covers, including Elvis Presley, Eddie Cochran, Billy Fury and the like. The event has not surprisingly sold out and the punters are nicely packed in which certainly must have pleased the band as well as the promoter buZZ riFF.
The quartet take to the stage and are all in a line, with (from our left to right) these being Jamie, Phil, Neal, and Slim Jim, who is drumming in a standing position. They set about getting the joint rockin’ by kicking off with ‘Rumble In Brighton’ from the Stray Cats 1981 ‘Stray Cats’ album, with Slim Jim on lead vocals. The band are already buzzing and Neal announces that Slim Jim is “the coolest rocker on the planet!”. They then launch into ‘Born To Rock N Roll’ which is the album title track from Neal X’s previous outfit, The Montecristos, from back in 2015. The track was penned by Whitmore & Antonia and featured Neal on lead vocals, whilst the tune itself was akin to Eddie Cochran’s ‘Summertime Blues’. It was now Polecat’s turn for the lead vocals, as they launched into ‘Rockabilly Guy’ from The Polecats 1981 ‘Polecats Are Go!’ album. Neal is back on lead vocals for the slower track four, ‘The Way I Walk’, which originally was a 1959 Jack Scott with The Chantones Vocal Group single, but many will know The Cramps version from 1978. Jamie’s saxophone certainly shines through on this live version.
Slim Jim then takes lead vocals for ‘Stray Cat Strut’ from Stray Cats 1981 self-titled album. On conclusion he asks if anyone had seen the Stray Cats in Brighton back in the day at the Top Rank Suite. I dutifully held my hand aloft, and as I was positioned at the very front, I was even able to quickly call up my ticket stub from that actual concert on my mobile phone and show it to him, which was greeted with a pleasing nod. This was my second nod within minutes, as Neal X had spotted my Jordan Mooney Memorial Charity Concert t-shirt, that he had kindly performed at back on 29th May 2022 – Read that review HERE.
We were in for a treat next as the guys played an unreleased tune written by Neal X, going by the title of ‘California Beachhouse’. It’s a swingin’ tune and unmistakably sounding where Sigue Sigue Sputnik meets rockabilly. Let’s hope that this sees the light of day pretty soon, as it warrants it. Neal then invites Spandau Ballet’s Steve Norman to the stage for a tune made famous in 1960 by Billy Fury, this being the slower paced summer vibed ‘Wonderous Place’, which sees Steve taking care of saxophone duties. This is my second recent encounter with him, as he was part of the lineup for Mark Laff’s XGENERATIONX band, whose debut live performance we reviewed on 9th November last year. Read that review HERE.
Steve vacates the stage and the musicians now invite Toby Lee to join them on guitar and backing vocals for their rendition of the B-side of The Rolling Stones 1964 ‘Little Red Rooster’ single, this being ‘Off The Hook’, which features Slim Jim on lead vocals. For a young lad Toby certainly has some flair and his guitar playing prowess, was noted throughout the audience, with one even asking Neal to tell us about him, Neal obliges.
The atmosphere in the room is ramped up with the re-appearance of Steve Norman on sax, as well as Toby staying put, as we are informed they are going to play an Elvis Presley number. This features Slim Jim on lead vocals and the tune in question is ‘That’s All Right Mama’ which as ‘That’s All Right’ was Elvis’s debut single which he recorded on 5th July 1954 and released on 19th July 1954, with ‘Blue Moon Of Kentucky’ as the B-side. Interestingly, it was ranked number 112 on the 2010 Rolling Stone magazine list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”. Tonight’s version suddenly morphs into ‘Jeepster’ from T.Rex’s 1971 ‘Electric Warrior’ album, with Neal taking care of those vocal duties. Any true Polecats fan will also be aware that the band released ‘Jeepster’ as a single in 1981. Not surprisingly tonight’s rendition is awarded the loudest cheers thus far on the night by the punters, and one in which I don’t actually recall being eclipsed.
Toby and Steve leave the stage and STARCAT set about performing their take on Sigue Sigue Sputnik’s ‘Hey Jayne Mansfield Superstar!’ from 1988’s ‘Dress For Excess’ album, which these days is simplified as just ‘Jayne Mansfield’. Naturally this sees Neal on vocals. Next up is a Polecats tune with ‘Polecat’ on lead vocals, this is their 1982 single ‘Make A Circuit With Me’, which naturally features some quality slap bass (double bass) action from ‘Polecat’. Neal then asks the fans if they recall Glam Rock, which obviously many present do, and they dive into Mud’s epic 1974 ‘Tiger Feet’ smash hit single, which is expanded with elements of ‘Rock Around The Clock’ which was made famous in 1954 by Bill Haley & His Comets, and for yours truly signalled the actual start of rock’n’roll. It’s a swingin’ tune that goes down well with all those present!
Slim Jim takes lead vocals for ‘Runaway Boys’ from Stray Cats 1981 self-titled album, and once again the double bass is at the forefront of their sound. On completing, Neal sets about strumming his guitar for a few notes and this is surely going to be ‘Brand New Cadillac’ a 1959 song by Vince Taylor, and later covered by The Clash. But no, it’s actually ‘Love Missile F1-11’ from Sigue Sigue Sputnik’s 1986 ‘Flaunt It’ album. This becomes an extended version with the inclusion of ‘Sympathy For The Devil’ from Rolling Stones 1968 ‘Beggars Banquet’ album, as well as snippets of ‘Bring It On Home’ & ‘Whole Lotta Love’ both from Led Zeppelin’s 1969 ‘Led Zeppelin II’ album. It’s fair to say that this went down a storm!
Tonight’s penultimate song is ‘Rock This Town’ from the 1981 ‘Stray Cats’ album, which sees Slim Jim on lead vocals, and some notable drum and double bass action. Neal then explains that as the venue is so busy that they would have to fight their way through the crowd and back again in order to play one more tune, and so they would be staying put for the iconic ‘C’mon Everybody’ which was released in 1958 by Eddie Cochran and also made famous by the Sex Pistols in 1979. And that was it! It’s been a fun night out and I know the musicians also had a blast! Hopefully they will be doing this again down our way in the future!
Starcat:
James McDonnell aka Slim Jim Phantom – drums, vocals
Neal Whitmore aka Neal X – guitars, vocals
Phil ‘Polecat’ Bloomberg – double bass, vocals
Jamie Reibl – saxophones
Steve Norman – saxophone
Toby Lee – guitar, backing vocals
Starcat setlist:
‘Rumble In Brighton’ (from Stray Cats 1981 ‘Stray Cats’ album)
‘Born To Rock N Roll’ (from Neal X’s The Montecristos 2015 ‘Born To Rock ‘N’ Roll’ album)
‘Rockabilly Guy’ (from The Polecats 1981 ‘Polecats Are Go!’ album)
‘The Way I Walk’ (a 1959 Jack Scott with The Chantones Vocal Group single, also covered in 1978 by The Cramps)
‘Stray Cat Strut’ (from Stray Cats 1981 ‘Stray Cats’ album)
‘California Beachhouse’ (unreleased tune written by Neal X)
‘Wonderous Place’ (written by Jeff Lewis and Bill Giant and first released by Jimmy Jones on his debut album ‘Good Timin’’ in May 1960, Billy Fury released a version as a single in September 1960)
‘Off The Hook’ (the B-side of The Rolling Stones 1964 ‘Little Red Rooster’ single)
‘That’s All Right Mama’ (a Arthur Crudup 1946 tune, made famous in 1954 as debut single by Elvis Presley which tuned up in 1956 on ‘Rock ’n’ Roll’ album) / ‘Jeepster’ (from T.Rex 1971 ‘Electric Warrior’ album, and 1981 The Polecats single)
‘Jayne Mansfield’ (from Sigue Sigue Sputnik 1988 ‘Dress For Excess’ album)
‘Make A Circuit With Me’ (a 1982 The Polecats single)
‘Tiger Feet’ (a Mud 1974 single) / ‘Rock Around The Clock’ (written in 1952 by Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers, made famous in 1954 by Bill Haley & His Comets)
‘Runaway Boys’ (from Stray Cats 1981 ‘Stray Cats’ album)
‘Love Missile F1-11’ (from Sigue Sigue Sputnik 1986 ‘Flaunt It’ album) / ‘Sympathy For The Devil’ (from Rolling Stones 1968 ‘Beggars Banquet’ album / ‘Bring It On Home’ & ‘Whole Lotta Love’ (both from Led Zeppelin 1969 ‘Led Zeppelin II’ album)
‘Rock This Town’ (from Stray Cats 1981 ‘Stray Cats’ album)
‘C’mon Everybody’ (written in 1958 by Eddie Cochran and Jerry Capehart, released by Eddie Cochran, also made famous by Sex Pistols in 1979)
Support this evening came from Alan Clayton aka Dirty Al who is the leader of the Dirty Strangers, who, as a band, carry the torch for rootsy Rock’N’Roll as spearheaded by Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent & Chuck Berry. Tonight it’s just a solo set from diamond geezer Al, who is on vocals and acoustic guitar for 31 minutes from 8:00pm to 8:31pm. During that time he sings songs from his back catalogue(including recent Classic Rock Readers Poll favourite ‘Hunter’s Moon’.
Thankfully for Al the venue is nearing full capacity even before he plays a single note, but I have to say there’s a load of talking throughout, which is a tad annoying. In essence it’s just a case of one guy, one acoustic guitar, one hat, one set of sunglasses, one pint, and a whole host of songs. Standouts being ‘Love 4 Life’ which he wrote for his two sons; the Dirty Strangers’ ‘Pirates’ which states “Pirates don’t get pensions”; ‘Botticelli’ which Al co-wrote with his mate ‘Keef’ Richards (yes that one!); and finally the rockabilly styled ‘Gold Cortina’, which was the best received number.
Dirty Al:
Alan Clayton aka Dirty Al – vocals, acoustic guitar
Dirty Al setlist:
‘Anything You Say’
‘Stay For A Little While’
‘Last Look At Love’
‘Love 4 Life’
‘Ain’t Got You’
‘Special Girl’
‘Pirates’
‘Botticelli’
‘La La La’
‘Diamonds’ / ‘Weekend Treat’
‘Gold Cortina’
‘If You Won’t Leave Me’
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