What a hassle! Keith got stuck in traffic, Lee was held up at work, Charlie’s guitar students were late, and Steve had hardware issues with his drum kit. So we didn’t have the stage gear set up til something like 7pm which was followed by a quick sound check at 7.05 which actually sounded like shit. Keith and Campbell said they’d sort it while the rest of us headed to Puckle and the culinary delights of Moonee Ponds pizza.

By the time we arrived back at 8.15, Robbie Campbell was into his warm-up set and indeed the sound was very good. Todd was doing his meet-and-greet thing on the door while extracting 10 bucks off everyone in the nicest possible way. But we noticed numbers were looking a bit thin. Oh well, Essendon were playing Carlton, bloody freezing outside and we’re all a bit stuffed on a Friday night these days aren’t we? Robbie finished his sparkling set at about 9. Lots of well deserved applause, proving that music legends can also be financial planners living in Eltham.

We went on. What the?! Where did everyone come from? Instant crowd. Lovely, Beavers-kind-of-folk who rocked with us from the very first song (Come Together), even danced thru the Beatles medley which wasn’t designed for that sort of thing…dontcha love being a baby boomer? Ross’ Mum was there to adore her boy, Steve’s cousin Rhonda and husband Nick were there to support the Gill clan while, as usual, Lee had to contend with various anonymous females who seem to cluster near his bass amp thingy. Beaver buddies Joe and Grace were there too. What a great couple. Grace jumped up and did her ‘Nutbush’ vocal making Tina’s original version seem kinda white. Grace then proceeded to peel wallpaper with her gutsy vocal on Long Way To The Top. Joe, your girl rocks! Again, underwater hockey was well represented by Bruce and Ruth from Williamstown and Jerry and Gillian from East Keilor thus proving no matter how weird your taste in sport, loving rock ‘n roll means you’re normal like the rest of us.

We then road tested two new tunes, courtesy of the Stones…Satisfaction and Jumpin Jack Flash. Like yeah! More Stones please. Great fun to play, great fun to see everyone having a ball. And at our age, that’s a priority.

Love youse. See you in October at the Rowing Club.

The Beavers