An essay to Kevin Rowland.
We go back a long way, you and I Kevin. I have seen you perform in many different incarnations over the years and you always come over as 100% authentic. Your influences were always clear: Geno Washington and the Ram Jam band, and witnessing Geno in the 60s and 70s in clubs in Birmingham. Jackie Wilson and sweet soul music straight from the heart. Chairman of the Board, their song “Give Me Just a Little More Time” and in particular their lead vocalist.
All of these came together and were the influences behind the first Dexys Midnight Runners and the young soul rebels. Memories of seeing you at Newcastle Mayfair when “Geno” had just been released. Memories of seeing Geno himself strutting his stuff at the Kirk (Kirklevington Country Club)… But that’s another story. You were a breath of fresh air, quite different (obviously) to punk but you also didn’t quite fit the Specials/Madness Two Tone or Ska mould. You stood out on your own even then. That night at the Mayfair was something special. You sang to me from the heart and your soul as you did once again last night.
Soon after seeing you at the Mayfair I was in a marquee on Newcastle Town Moor for some sort of festival. You headlined one night and The Boomtown Rats headlined the other. I attended both nights, on my own as I recall. This was before “Come on Eileen”. I hadn’t seen you since the Mayfair and “Geno” days, so didn’t quite know what to expect. A bunch of rag–a–taggle gypsies came on stage. You were dressed in a tam hat, denim dungarees and surrounded by a band dressed similarly, including a violinist.
What had happened to Dexys Midnight Runners? They had somehow morphed into this strange new gypsy soul band. And the music was so, so very different. The Too Rye Aye album had yet to be released so I was hearing all these new tunes for the first time. You got me again Kevin. I was totally knocked out. I couldn’t wait to get back home and tell my wife and friends about this strange wonderful experience and how Dexys were back, reborn, different yet still magic and soulful. Of course “Come on Eileen” was a massive hit and you went on to further success.
You seemed to disappear from public view and I think, to my shame, I missed a tour. I picked up on you again some years ago at Whitley Bay Playhouse where you performed a whole new concept album based around the breakup between you and your girlfriend. You sang from the heart once again and I thought it was one of the best concerts I have ever witnessed. And so our journey together takes me to last night, Newcastle City Hall, getting soaking wet in the pouring rain and experiencing your new music. The band is now called simply Dexys. Your new album ,“The Feminine Divine” is based around the concept of male/female stereotypes and explores how the character you play transforms from being a stereotypical man to someone who recognises his partner is his Goddess.
He finally becomes submissive to her every whim, allowing her to take control of the relationship. You perform the entire album as the first set of the evening, a brave move which works well. The crowd have clearly come prepared. Many sing along. Everyone loves the new vision, the new Kevin and accepts the new direction. You look well dressed in red with a white sailor–like hat sitting perched on top of your head. After a short interval and a pint of Guinness you return and play a selection of songs from Too Rye Aye including many which are familiar and some less so. They include “Soon”, “Plan B”, “I’ll Show You”, “All in All”, “Until I Believe in My Soul” and of course “Come on Eileen”. Lots of dancing and singing along. Great. You did it again Kevin. For the encore we get more classics and more singalongs in the form of “Geno” and “Jackie Wilson Said”. The closing song is a traditional Irish song “Carrickfergus” which rounds off the evening very appropriately. Another tour, another side of you revealed to us very openly. Still a soul boy at heart. I look forward to the next chapter and the next part of our journey together Kevin.
I purchased a signed set list. Thanks to Elaine for the photographs.
I’ve been reflecting on Dexy’s this week and renewed by acquaintance with the band on Monday when I saw them play in Whitley Bay. That also made me think to this gig, by the Bureau, which I attended in 1981. The Bureau were a Dexy’s spin off band, and consisted of most of the members, apart from Kevin Rowland. “We split from Dexy’s Midnight Runners because the musical ideas we always stood for just turned into posturing”. They also featured Archie Brown on vocals (from the Upset who had supported Dexy’s on an early tour) and Mick Talbot (who is now in Dexy’s; this is confusing) or organ. I recall little of this gig; in fact I can’t even recall where it was. I suspect it was at Newcastle Mayfair (although it could have been at the Poly or University?). I do remember them as a brass driven soul band. I’ve just checked and see that they have recently reformed and that Mick Talbot is with them again (as well as being a member of Dexy’s; this is just getting confusing for me).
I went to see Dexy’s on Monday, and this has encouraged me to reflect on my previous experiences of the band. This gig was the second time I saw Kevin Rowland and the band, and the last time until I saw them again this week, and it was just amazing. I’d seen Dexy’s once before at the time of Geno, in Newcastle Mayfair. They were good that night, but nothing could have prepared me for this gig. The concert was one of (I think) two which were held in a large marquee on Exhibition Park as part of a Radio One in Concert weekend. The other gig was The Boomtown Rats, and I decided to go along to one of the gigs. I’m so glad I chose this show, because it was a revelation. Part of the reason that it was so good was the surprise element. Neither Come on Eileen or the album Too-Rye-Ay had been released at this point, and the image of Dexy’s that I had in my head was of the soul rebels in their donkey jackets and wooly hats. This was the first performance of the new gyspy folk Dexy’s, and the entire crowd was just stunned when the band came on stage, Kevin dressed in a pair of dungarees and with his new curly hair cut. You could see that everyone was just speechless and totally shocked by the complete transformation that the band had undergone. They were straight into a set which drew heavily from the forthcoming Too-Rye-Ay lp with its hybrid of soul and Celtic folk. They also included Geno, and Jackie Wilson said. The rest of the band were dressed in dungarees, scarves, leather waistcoats, and what was described at the time as “a generally scruffy right-off-the-farm look”. Kevin Rowland said at the time of the new image: “These are my best clothes. Again it just feels right for the music. Everybody else is dressing up sort of straight-laced and we come in wearing these and it’s like, y’know here we are, a bit of hoedowning is even possible”. And hoedown they did.
With the name streamlined from Dexys Midnight Runners to Dexys, last night’s gig was prior to the release of their fourth album, ‘One Day I’m Going To Soar’; the first Dexy’s album in 26 years. For this project Kevin Rowland’s Dexy’s features previous members Mick Talbot on keyboards, Pete Williams on vocals and Jim Paterson on trombone. It also features Neil Hubbard and Tim Cansfield on guitars, Madeleine Hyland on vocals, and Lucy Morgan on violin. This tour sees their first gigs for almost 10 years, taking in small theatres across the UK. Its 30 years since I last saw this band, and I have been really looking forward to it. I knew that this gig was sure to be something special, one way or the other. There was no support and no interval, with Dexy’s coming on stage at 8.30pm. Whitley Bay PLayhouse was packed and you could feel the anticipation. The band came on to a darkened stage, slick and smartly dressed in suits which looked like they had come from New York in the 20s. The show was very theatrical and is based on the story of a relationship between our hero Kevin and Madeleine Hyland, who first appeared on screen and later on stage in person. Kevin was as intense and passionate as ever, and at times I thought this was one of the best things I have ever seen. At other times, I felt the show crossed the line and became just a little too bizarre and absurd. The crowd clearly really enjoyed it, giving each and every song a tremendous reception. Laura, David and I were sitting in the second row and had a great view of the action. 
It was tremendous to be so close to such a great showman. The set consisted of the new album played through in its entirity, followed by an old Dexy’s song, which I must admit I didn’t know, with a rousing and joyful Come On Eileen as the closer. The crowd wouldn’t let the band leave without one more song, and they returned to play This Is What She’s Like. An astounding show, which at time hit great heights and depth. A night that none of the audience will forget for a long long time. Setlist: Now; Lost; Me; She Got A Wiggle; You; Thinking Of You; I’m Always Going To Love You; Incapable Of Love; Nowhere Is Home; Free; It’s OK John Joe, ?, Come On Eileen. Encore: This Is What She’s Like
We are going to see Dexy’s latest incarnation at Whitley Bay Playhouse tonight, and I am really looking forward to it. Kevin Rowland may be an enigma, but he is also a hero of mine. He is undoubtedly extremely talented, and puts his entire heart and soul into everything he does. I first saw Dexy’s Midnight Runners in 1980 at Newcastle Mayfair on the Intense Emotion Review. The title of the tour said it all. Kevin was determined to create a band which was a vehicle for his passion and his vision; a band with a strong image, and built on the concept of soul and emotion. Geno was a hit at the time and the band came on stage dressed in donkey jackets and woolly hats, and delivered a set of great soul and r&b. Rowland said at the time: “we didn’t want to become part of anyone else’s movement. We’d rather be our own movement” and “We wanted to be a group that looked like something…a formed group, a project, not just random”. Master of Ceremonies and resident comedian for the evening was Keith Allen (see picture; doesn’t he look young!). Support came from The Upset featuring local guy Archie Brown, and The Black Arabs. Kevin Rowland lists his listening as Astral Weeks by Van Morrison in the programme (good choice). 
This was around the time of their first lp Searching for the Young Soul Rebels. I remember them playing Geno, and a great version of Breaking Down The Walls Of Heartache, which is one of my favourite songs. The Mayfair was packed to the walls, and the place went mad when they played Geno; lots of singing along. At the time the band seemed to fit somewhere between The Specials, and new mod in the form of Secret Affair etc. In fact they were much more that. As Kevin said at the time: “I’m going to do what I really want to do: form a great group. We’ll wear great clothes and make soulful music.” And they did just that for a short period. The next time I saw Dexy’s was at a Radio One In Concert programme which was recorded in a marquee on Exhibition Park in Newcastle. By that time Kevin’s vision had changed into the gypsy folk which was Too-Rye-Ay, and that gig was just astonishing; one of the best gigs I have ever been to; I’ll post about that night in a couple of days. Can’t wait for tonight’s show. Will post on it tomorrow morning.
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