Sunday 05 January 2025.

Friday 03 January 2025....i went to two events tonight... 6.30pm to 8.30pm...launch party... BREADSTALL - 92 Berwick Street , Soho, London W1. BREADSTALL open their second pizza site in London. It is in the space next door to what was the original site for Sister Ray Records back in the day. What sets Breadstall apart from other pizzerias is the dough – made from scratch, the bigga-style sourdough, fermented for 72 hours at the minimum, results in a lighter, crunchier dough. The pizzas are available with various toppings, from classics like pepperoni to all-out versions like beef ragu, mushrooms, aged mozzarella, and red onions. Their huge 20" pizzas are served as quarter, half or full size. We had various complimentary pizza slices along with Negronis, Whiskey Old Fashioned cocktails and pints of beer. then THE ANIMALS + GENO WASHINGTON & THE RAM JAM BAND live at 229 Great Portland Street, London W1. Two legends from the 1960s play the first gig of the January Blues Festival at this venue. With original founding member John Steel (now aged 83), Having served as the Animals drummer at its inception in 1963, he is the only original band member playing in the current incarnation of the Animals. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. The Animals perform the band’s greatest hits , including House of the Rising Sun, Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood, We’ve Gotta Get Out of This Place, Baby Let Me Take You Home, Bring It On Home To Me, It’s My Life and many more which helped make The Animals one of the biggest groups in the world during the 1960’s. Geno Washington (now aged 81) is an American R&B singer who released five albums with the Ram Jam Band between 1966 and 1969, and eight solo albums beginning in 1976. His status as one of the "Kings of Soul" was cemented forever by Kevin Rowland and Dexy's Midnight Runners in the 1980's with the World-wide No. 1 smash hit single "Geno", which paid homage to the great man himself. I have seen both acts before. ----------- The 620 capacity venue looks pretty full. I catch the last 15 mins of the GENO WASHINGTON and band set . He is still singing great for the age of 81. THE ANIMALS arrived on stage at 9.30pm for their 70 mins set. They played a nice mix of their big hits and cover versions. Pretty amazing how John Steel can still play the drums at the grand age of 83. The band sound good , with nice keyboards . Before the encore song , John Steel gave us a nice five mins story on the making of the encore hit song, that was recorded just up the road in Holborn in 1964 , and became a No 1 hit in the UK and USA. A very enjoyable show. Full set list played by The Animals tonight... Baby, Let Me Take You Home It's My Life Bright Lights, Big City (Jimmy Reed cover) I Believe to My Soul ( Ray Charles cover) I'm Crying Bring It On Home to Me ( Sam Cooke cover) Don't Bring Me Down Big Boss Man / High Heeled Sneakers Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (Nina Simone cover) Night Time Is the Right Time ( Roosevelt Sykes cover) We Gotta Get Out of This Place (Barry Mann cover) Encore: The House of the Rising Sun ( [traditional] cover)

Posted 3rd January 2025