Night at The Flamingo, (review by Jilly Penegar - photo is of same show but different venue).

Last night's gig, excellent, and a sell-out. My friend Lorna and I got to Worthing Assembly hall early and eventually took our places in the front row (right in front of Alan!!) The gig was representing the Flamingo night club during the 60s - Alan had played there many times, as had most of the other musicians there - Zoot Money, Bobby Tench, Chris Farlowe and Maggie Bell. Very well presented, lots of humorous stories and excellent music. Howie and Kim were there too and they sounded as great as ever. We weren't allowed to take photos though ....
Highlights - Alan started off with an Animals hit 'I'm Crying', the horns providing a fuller, more complete sound. Bobby Tench did a cracking version of 'Black Magic Woman', Zoot Money - a James Brown set, whilst Chris did 'Out of time' and a great version of 'Private (mobile) Number' with Maggie. Maggie's versions of 'Wishing Well' and - my favourite - 'Try a Little Tenderness' were warmly received, and credit to Kim and Howie for superbly reproducing the 'Stax' sound on the latter. During the interval, Lorna and I got our coffees, and were chatting until we heard someone say that Maggie and Chris were signing cds etc in the foyer, so we whooshed out, just in time to catch Maggie before she went backstage for the second half. I asked if she's sign the pic I took of her and Alan last year, she looked at the photo, and asked when it was taken, I told her 'here, last year', and in true Maggie style, she said 'oh no, trust me to wear the same top here again ....!' (She wore a different one in the second half!) Magnificent voice, and great stage presence, the guys really hamming it up with her!
The second half started with 'the Jarrow song', followed by a brilliant rendition of 'Don't Stop the Carnival'. Zoot included 'Stop the Wedding' in his set, and, another highlight was Alan and Maggie's duet on 'I'm in Love with you'. In all, they were on stage for almost 2 and a half hours, a wonderful evening of music and memories. Afterwards, we hung around to get more photos signed, but no sign of Alan, Zoot, Maggie or Chris. I mentioned to Lorna that I'd spoken before to Kim and Howie at Darlington when they came back to pack up their instruments, so we kept one eye on the stage area whilst we were in the foyer. Suddenly, I saw Kim on stage, so we dashed back, and amazingly he recognised me as I was walking (??) towards the stage!! I showed him the Darlington photos and Howie came over to join in the chat. I was very surprised when Kim asked if the photos were for signing or for them, I replied that if they wanted them they could have them as I could always get some more printed. Kim took a couple of them - including the one of me with him and Howie. All too soon they had to go as they were driving back to Stockport last night, but it was so good to see them again - they're not sure where they will be after this tour though ...
Oh, there was something else, Kim and Howie asked what I was doing in Worthing, I said that I lived 20 minutes drive away, so they were pleasantly surprised that I'd travelled up to Darlington to see them with Norman and co! So, after all that excitement, it was back to Lorna's, coffee, then home.
Note: Photo attached is from when the show played at Newcastle City Hall.