The Camden Cats! Cool For Cats!

The Camden Cats

The Camden Cats

Daniel Jeanrenaud – Guitar and vocals
Nicky Forbes – Drums
Kurt Barnes – double bass and undressing!

The Dolphin Pub

A cold damp day, the snow had gone – but a warm invite from Nicky Forbes had been received. A drive out to the Dolphin Pub in Littlehampton was the scene and it was a welcoming place to go. Two hot mugs of coffee to warm us up from the very friendly bar staff and we were ready. However Daniel had been in France, had flown back to the UK that morning and got caught up, as many of us have recently, with Southern Fail – sorry! Southern Rail. His train was delayed and then had to get a connection replacement bus. So he was a little late. The pub has an old look and feel with quirky items dressing the room. Old phones, old box games and posters with flags everywhere. They even had 50p pieces stuck to the floor and saw a couple of folk trying to pick them up! Yep, an oldie but a goodie! Anyway, no sooner had Daniel arrived his guitar was plugged in and away we went!

The Camden Cats

Throughout his career, Daniel Jeanrenaud has shared a bill, and hung out with the likes of; Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Bo Diddley and more with his first band to break into the industry ‘The Kingsnakes’ – which he formed with several members of American cult punk band ‘The Flamin Groovies.’ Chuck Berry even named Daniel’s favourite Gibson guitar ‘Nadine’ after borrowing it on tour at Bill Grahams ‘Old Waldorf’ in down town San Francisco.

Daniel Jeanrenaud

Nicky Forbes on drums has an equal musical history, he played drums through the 70s, the punk era and beyond, working with several name bands such as The Revillos, The Rezillos and the Pork Dukes and with singers as diverse as Sinitta and Joe Strummer.

Nicky Forbes

Kurt Barnes plays the double bass, and plays it really well. He must have studied acrobatics in order to pull off some of his antics such as climbing all over his bass.

Kurt

The set

We were given a good hour or so of songs from The Camden Cats – with a short break, splitting the session into two segments. Camden Cats material was presented to us with a mix of old rock n roll classics with a Camden Cats twist. Some of the songs were:

Daniel Jeanrenaud

Get Up
This House
Camden Cats
Its Gonna Rain
Let Yourself Go
Shake Rattle and Roll
Welcome Back Johnny B Goode
….and many more!

I have not seen such a set list, so many songs all perfectly delivered with a true rock n roll – rockabilly sound. Watch “Introducing The Band”

The sound created by this talented bunch was just great. Authentic rock n roll. Daniel played the daylights out of his custome guitar, which was absolutely gorgeous. The sound and look of this instrument was incredible, and vocals delivered on point all with some moves thrown at us. Nicky on Drums, well Nicky was Nicky. Extraordinary to watch and listen. He displayed so many styles and patterns all the while watching the other members in the band – providing the support to the super bass playing. Kurt was awesome to watch as he played that double bass with style and precision. He made it purr or made it pound – filling the room with sound.

The Camden Cats and dancers!

Every so often we were treated to a great display of dancing. Great fun and added to the atmosphere of the afternoon.

Thanks to the Camden Cats for an unusual, fun, music filled afternoon. The crowd begged for an encore and we had an acoustic number from Daniel and Nicky, and that was it. Show over.

Whats Next?

Have a listen to Daniel & The Camden Cats soundcloud.

The cats are soon off for a visit to France and the Ukraine. You can always see them a little closer to home. Daniel Jeanrenaud & the Camden Cats now have a monthly residency at the Blues Kitchen, Camden, London.

Please note all images/videos are copyright, please do not copy. If any of the featured artists/venues would like copies of the images – or more if available – please get in touch.
All pictures – copyright to IANB/MEDIA WORKS/ Scene Sussex/ Ian “The Lens” Bourn 2017.