Proud to be a honky woman

Regular readers may have formed the conclusion that in the seventies I was a fan of British rock bands fronted by women - and they'd be right. And so I have been to see Elkie Brooks. Now you may never have heard of her, or you may associate her with "Pearl's a Singer", but either way check this out to see why she stirred the adolescent male of forty odd years ago. Her Vinegar Joe bandmate the late Robert Palmer (who incidentally was a very keen scale modeller) went on to have more success, but she has been constantly performing for more than fifty years.

"Don't let the bastards grind you down"

It would seem that notwithstanding the subsequent middle-of-the-road hits her heart remains in the Blues/Rock of those days. She and her band benefited from an astute choice of playlist with fine covers of 'Nights in White Satin', 'Purple Rain' and songs from such as the Doors and Bob Seger. I was also surprised, but delighted by their version of "Burlesque" by the much under-rated Family.

"Rolling and Tumbling ain't done me no harm"

She did perform both her big solo hits, 'Lilac Wine' being the better of the two on the night. Like Ralph McTell she threw in the one they'd all come to hear half-way through as a singalong, but this time it didn't really work.