The BlockheadsIpswich RegentThursday December 6Phill Jupitus, taking a break from being a comedian to front up one of the seminal bands of the seventies and eighties, knows his place in the scheme of things.

Dominic Castle

The Blockheads

Ipswich Regent

Thursday December 6

Phill Jupitus, taking a break from being a comedian to front up one of the seminal bands of the seventies and eighties, knows his place in the scheme of things.

“I'm the boy who got the golden ticket,” he announced as he began the show as the man on 'Dury duty' for The Blockheads as their 30th anniversary tour hit town.

In many ways he is an inspired choice for the role, neither being a great singer nor a copy of the late and uniquely talented Ian Dury; he's just Big Phill doing a job.

As for the Blockheads, well, they're something else. Probably totting up around 250 years of experience between them there isn't much about putting on a great show that they don't know.

The names are familiar; Chaz Jankel, Norman Watt-Roy, Charlie Charles, John Turnbull and Mick Gallagher were all there at the start with Dury in 1977 when New Boots and Panties kicked up a storm in the charts.

Bolstered by (relatively) newer talents Dylan Howe on drums, Gilad Atzmon - no, it's not an anagram - on sax and the Dury-esqe, vocally, at least, Derek the Draw as supporting front man, they're a rollicking bunch, all blaring sax, jangling piano and rattling drums.

We got the works; the New Boots album plus the other hits like What a Waste, Reasons to be Cheerful, Inbetweenies and of course Hit Me with your Rhythm Stick. It was enough to get a small mosh pit going down at the front.

Jupitus was in good form, despite adopting a curious costume style that makes him look like Fred the Homepride flour shaker, injecting a dash of his own humour but being aware of his position and not hogging the spotlight from the real musical talent.

If, as Jupitus observed, Ian Dury was watching from above he would have approved.

Dom Castle