Rockers Reunion 2010

The 27th Annual Rockers Reunion at Reading was a cracker. I missed the Lonesome Valley Boys but was lucky enough to witness Porky's Hot Rockin'. Porky is a tidy singer with good stage presence but you do get the feeling that having the legendary guitarist Mark Harman in your band is a bit like cheating. It's like doing a two man relay against your mates and having Usain Bolt as your partner. They do a few Johnny Burnette covers and the wonderful version of the King's Angel. Highlights of the set for me were Eddie Cochran's My Way, Dale Hawkins' Little Pig (ideal for a guy called Porky!) and Restless' neo-classic, Ice Cold. I've waited about thirty years to see Mark Harman so to watch him burn up the guitar on Ice Cold was a magic moment.

Johnny Fox and the Hunters were next up and they did a really fine set with a couple of Cavan covers and a well worked out version of Deano's Little Ole Wine Drinker Me. I've seen the Jets loads of times and I love them to bits but I was slightly disappointed this time with their set list. I like things like Razor Alley but because I was with doo-wop lover Steve Walker I was hoping they would do a load of the doo-wop strollers they're so good at.

The headliner was Gene Summers and he's been a regular over here for over thirty years. He still looks good for his age and has a friendly, confident stage presence which helped him win the crowd over straight away. With a set list that included Alabama Shake (twice), School Of Rock 'n' Roll and the opener , Twixteen, he couldn't go wrong. I was surprised not to hear Nervous but he made amends with fine covers of Wine Wine Wine and The Rebel Johnny Yuma. Rockin' Daddy was a meaty slab of rockabilly and his reappearance for the encore decked in a Confederate flag was iconic.

The show closed with Crazy Cavan and the Rhythm Rockers. They are simply amazing. How some fans give them the cold shoulder I can't understand. They rock like crazy and have all the menace and boy bad antics that rockabilly was supposed to be about. Drinking whiskey from the bottle to bopping with dozens of fans on-stage, these boys are what I imagine olds school 1970's Ted shows were all about. A brilliant performance to round of a great night. It was great to see the Shakin' All Over crowd there, including regulars Kevin Carey, John Howard and Tony Wilkinson, newcomers Steve Walker and Colin Kilgour, plus non-shakers Bunter and my mate Tony Fry. I look forward to next year - only 363 days to go.

PORKYS HOT ROCKIN' - WE'VE GOT THE CURE FOR THOSE SUMMERTIME BLUES

PORKYS HOT ROCKIN' - WE'VE GOT THE CURE FOR THOSE SUMMERTIME BLUES
Foot Tapping Records FT088

Track listing: SUMMERTIME BLUES / DON'T ASK ME WHY / JUKEBOX JESSIE / I AIN'T WAITING / SWEETHEARTS OR STRANGERS / TRAIN KEPT A ROLLIN' / MY WAY / YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL / ALL THE TIME / LONESOME LOVE STORY / PROUD MARY / CAROLINE

The new Porky’s Hot Rockin’ line-up sees Porky backed by legendary Restless brothers Mark and Paul Harman and his own brother John. Porky Coates has been one of my favourite acts of the last two years and Mark Harman has been a hero of mine for twenty odd years, so this much be a sure-fire hit record. Well, no actually, it isn’t the no-brainer you’d expect. In fact I’d have to say I found it a bit disappointing. I think the problem is that the rockers are too familiar and quite often his voice sounds a bit flat.

For me, the stand-out track is the pepped-up version of Elvis’ Don’t Ask Me Why. As with his brilliant cover of the King’s Angel, he’s taken an okay ballad, notched it up as gear and in the process made the song his own. He’s tried the same on the Jailhouse Rock ballad, Young And Beautiful, but it seems more forced and doesn’t worth half as well.

I’m not sure we need another version of Eddie’s Summertime Blues, but it’s a bit different in that Harman plays some jumpsuit era James Burton. They give Status Quo’s Caroline a good kick in the ass with Mark Harman playing some wicked guitar.

On the originals front we get Harman’s rocker Jukebox Jessie where Porky’s sounds like he eats Wurlitzers for breakfast. Porky’s own Lonesome Love Song is okay but I liked the western styled I Ain’t Waiting despite the lapses into Bananaramaville.

We visit a couple of Memphis’ best in Carl Perkins (Sweethearts or Strangers) and Johnny Burnette (Train Kept A Rollin’) as well as another nod to Eddie Cochran with My Way which again sees Harman in fine form. Sleepy’s All The Time is pretty poor and CCR’s Proud Mary is worse. On a positive note, I thought the album title was funny.

Rockin' Song of the Week No.86 - Porky's Good Luck Charms - In Your Dreams

Porky Coates is one hell of a unique singer, one of the finest in the UK. It's his ballads and country edged stuff that gets to me, more so than his rockers. And it's from the country side of town that we get In Your Dreams. Written by Porky, the song is on the Foot Tapping five track EP of a couple of years ago. The Good Luck Charms were Jeff Bayly, Scotty Roberts and "T" Tsuyoshi Okuma. The twangy guitar and Porky's vocals make this is a classic western bopper. The guitar is so grumbling I had to take an aspirin. Check out Hey Mr Wildman while you're there, it's one of those hard rockin' harmonica blues rockers that sound soooo great loud.

The 27th Annual Rockers Reunion Winter Party line-up announced

Great news. The line-up has just been announced for the 27th Annual Rockers Reunion Winter Party at the Rivermead Leisure Complex in Reading, England on Saturday 23rd January 2010. I was worried that there might not be one this year as the line-up has been so long in being confirmed. Fear not, it's on and what a line-up.

Promotors Willie Jeffrey and Ian Wallis have pulled out all the stops and give us what should be a fantastic night. The promotion, in their words reads as follows:

"Rockers Reunion is privileged to host an appearance by Texan rock 'n' roller GENE SUMMERS. He will rock your socks off with a show that is crammed full of club favourites like 'School of Rock 'n' Roll', 'Straight Skirt', 'Twixteen' and 'Fancy Dan'. Not to be missed.


Along with the late and missed CSA, the most popular act at Rockers Reunion has been those Welsh Wildmen CRAZY CAVAN AND THE RHYTHM ROCKERS. They are back to close our show in their own inimitable style.

THE JETS took rock 'n' roll into the charts during the period 1981-84 and have stayed true to our scene for a further 25 years. We are proud to welcome the Cotton brothers for their Rockers Reunion debut.

Another Rockers Reunion favourite is the irrepressible JOHNNIE FOX. Tonight is the debut gig for his brand new band. Don't expect a tender and reflective set from the great man. He will be giving it some.


Almost anything can happen when PORKY'S HOT ROCKIN' hit the stage. Expect a zany, in your face, no holds barred performance. Do not miss their show nor our opening act THE LONESOME VALLEY BOYS who have come rollin' out of the Deep South on a mission to rock 'n' roll. They have an exciting future."

Tockets for the show are now on sale at £23 in advance or £26 on the day. Cheques or postal orders should be made out to Dixie Fried Music and sent with a stamped self-addressed envelope to:- Ian Wallis, 111 Worlds End Lane, Orpington, Kent BR6 6AW.
Callers are welcome between 9 am and 5 pm Mondays - Fridays or telephone 01689 860980. Tickets can also be purchased from the RIVERMEAD BOX OFFICE 0118 901 500. Or at any rock 'n' roll venue from WILD CAT PETE 01494 672605. Credit card purchases (subject to a £2 booking fee) can be made from VIV BRITTAN on 01522 752453. Stall enquirires should directed to WILD WILLIE JEFFERY on 01883 714289.

Rockin' Song of the Week - Number 52

Hot Rockin' - One More Star (Foot Tapping Records)

Hot Rockin' front man Porky is a legend. Larger than life, he has a wonderful voice that although at times can sound a bit flat, it has a delightful soulfulness. As readers of my page will know, I loved his version of the early 60's Elvis song, Angel, which was so much better than the original. A song I've been playing to death lately comes from an earlier album, One More Star, a tribute to Britain's finest, Billy Fury. The lyrics incorporate some of his song titles to a backing that at times sounds like Fury's Cross My Heart. Guitarist Chris Finn should take some credit for some apt picking that echoes the early 60's era. A heartfelt tribute that is one of the best of this type, up there with Carl Perkins' EP Express and the Stray Cats' Gene And Eddie.

Recommended downloads: No Heart To Spare, Suzie's Got A New Hairdo, the western flavoured Lowdown in El Paso and a pepped up version of Jack Scott's My True Love.