It was a refreshing change of scenery, for me at least – the norm recently has been sticky floored faceless clubs in Essex churning out the 'hits' of the moment. Instead, I'd be heading to Notting Hill for a night of pop and rock crowd pleasers being covered by an odd selection of celebs, and all for charity (Hepatitis C Trust).
With a recovering Boy George (now free from those rather fetching orange overalls), Sadie Frost and Elisa Doolittle amongst the names I was a little dubious. There would at least be a chemical brother (Ed) there to save the night if things went awry.
Sitting in an abode that desperately needs the services of Kim and Aggie, scoffing down a takeaway and watching old 'Scrubs' it was just like those carefree student days for me and my old uni flatmates, sipping Strongbow and discussing the night to come.
Inevitably the conversation quickly turned to exchanging jibes at the former Culture Club frontman: “He's starting to look like Brando during the later years” or “He looks like that fat thing from Blade!”.
Soon it was off to Notting Hill's Paradise to get things rolling. It was my first visit to the elegant gastropub which was built in 1892 and despite a refurbishment has kept it's Victorian feel. The event itself was held upstairs and open only to those clad in wristbands.
It wasn't yet 8pm and the place was dead, but it didn't matter – the live stuff wouldn't start for another hour and the music was already delivering its promise of refreshing takes on the great and good. Some reasonably priced wine was bought and a seat was seized, time to sit back and soak up.
A fun play with Daft Punk's 'Digital Love' was followed by a minimal, electronica version of Journey's 'Don't Stop Believein' which was certainly different and no doubt better than the X-Factor version that has been threatened. Some Blondie, Fleetwood Mac, and Michael Jackson followed (including a s l o w and soulful version of 'Thriller') as the main room filled with young professionals and ex-Eastenders bit players.
Sadly a quick announcement from the charity about the cause itself was completely lost on this lot who continued to bleat on despite some angry sshh's. Dot Allison opened proceedings with a fitting choice of 'Love Hurts' before picking things up with The Source's 'You've Got the Love'.
Suddenly, just as we were all wondering if Mr George was still sweeping the road outside, a big pink hat was spotted in crowd. It was unmistakeable, and much to my mate's disappointment the man is not hilariously overweight, indeed he looked relaxed and happily chilled.
But even his good vibrations must have been numbed after Sadie Frost took to the stage for thankfully just one performance. A pretty vapid cover of Flying Picket's 'Only You' just didn't work. One heckler shouted 'bring on Jedward' and I began to fear for the event.
But then up stepped the main man who himself offered just two numbers including a rather tongue in cheek rendition of 'Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen' - peppered with the occasional 'shut it in the back row'. It was a fun but all too brief little ditty from the cultured one, and secretly I think everyone wanted a little bit of 'Chameleon' or 'Crying Game' slipped in.
After that the crowds fled with alarming pace and we moved into the 'acoustic room' which offered nothing of the sort - merely relaying the sounds from the main room which had returned to the pre-recorded, superior fare. Still with the big fireplace and rather elegant furnishings the music itself mattered less and less.
Once the razzmatazz had settled and the likeliness of getting snapped in Heat magazine quickly faded, the tequila's came a knocking and with them a few more delights for the ear. A folky 'Jenny From The Block' a steel drum take on Gary Numan's 'Cars' and a soothing cover of Mama's and the Papa's 'California Dreamin' being some unlikely highlights.
About half an hour from the end we called it a night, the live acts had been a mixed bunch but everything else delivered, especially the venue itself which I would happily recommend to anyone whatever the occasion.
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