BLP triumphs at Law Rocks event
Berwin Leighton Paisner’s BLP rock supergroup Real State romped home as the standout winner of Law Rocks 2010 at a packed 100 Club last night.
Property partner David Battiscombe’s eight-piece band beat off stiff competition from Blake Lapthorn, Nabarro, Davies Arnold Cooper, Pinsent Masons and Lovells to take the crown.
A judging panel of Everything But The Girl drummer June Miles-Kingston, Chris Taylor from charity Busking for Cancer and The Lawyer editor Catrin Griffiths assessed each band. As soon as Real State cranked up the chords to Robbie Williams’ Let Me Entertain You it was clear the ante had been upped.
“You’re now the guys to beat,” said Griffiths, channelling Amanda Holden.
Rumours had circulated the 100 Club on the night that the evening would be rigged to give the legendary fret-burner Bob Kidby, the leader of Lovells’ The New Teen Titans and retiring partner, a happy ending. Sadly for Kidby, it was not to be.
Real State’s relentless musical assault, led by Eddie Van Halen-like lawyer Chris Marsden, saw a packed dance floor and an ecstatic - and only mildly partisan - crowd whooping for more.
They got it when, after being crowned champs, compere Mr Justice Coulson invited Real State to hit the stage once more.
The band obliged with not one but two encores, Primal Scream’s Rocks and Stevie Wonder’s Superstition.
Last night’s legal market battle of the bands, which was organised by Keating Chambers senior clerk Nick Child, is the first of two charity fundraising events this summer. The second of this year’s Law Rocks events will take place on 24 June.
“The quality of the bands was, as ever, first class and on many occasions indistinguishable from professionals,” said Child. “It was again very tight, but BLP are deserved winners. I just cannot believe the enthusiasm of everyone that participates, be it attending or supporting – and I cannot wait for June 24th now.
“Law really does rock.”
Readers' comments (13)
Rum DAC | 30-Apr-2010 3:19 pm
Great night, but well done to Run DAC who had the best vocalist, IMO
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 30-Apr-2010 3:40 pm
Once again, Lovells rocked hardest and (as the lead singer predicted before they even started!) once again, Lovells were robbed! ;-)
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Robbie Williams | 30-Apr-2010 3:49 pm
Lovells were efficient but BLP had already won it by then. Agree about the Run DAC singer on Nutbush
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 30-Apr-2010 3:59 pm
Re Lovells rocking the hardest - covers from "Glee" should never be mentioned in the same breath as Rock! Angus Young would be ashamed.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Gin Palace | 30-Apr-2010 4:18 pm
@Anonymous 3:59: Doh! It's not a cover from Glee, it's a song by Journey. Are you sure you should have been at a rock gig? Try some musical theatre instead.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 30-Apr-2010 4:21 pm
An excellent and very enjoyable evening which was perfectly organised. The ac/dc solo was fantastic. Look forward to more of the same next year.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Cleric Apton | 30-Apr-2010 4:21 pm
The sets were all amazing, and there were some VERY inventive medleys. The drummers all shone for me last night - geniuses one and all, and such energy and enthusiasm. A top night that will take some beating!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 30-Apr-2010 5:54 pm
They may not have won, but Lovells had the best song of the night with a blistering version of Fleetwood Mac's "Oh Well". BLP could probably make a good living as a wedding band - if they didn't have to split the cash 8 ways!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 2-May-2010 9:06 am
We were asked to enter and were about to until we heard the strict criteria:
Compulsory purchase of £800 worth of tickets
Entry fee of £200
And all for 20 mins on stage (which goes faster than a blink)
I appreciate it's for charity however, bands should be given more choice to spend.
Congrats to the winners...
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 3-May-2010 11:18 am
The New Teen Titans were indeed robbed as they showed true range by playing an awesome variety of true rock classics in contrast with BLP's populist choices! Don't stop believing Titans...............!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 4-May-2010 3:26 pm
Pinsent Masons should have won it. As the judges said, they truly embodied the "spirit of the 100 Club".
All the other bands were just like wedding bands. No real rock'n'roll. Just Sax-a-plenty, competently played middle of the road, Pinsent Masons' Rebels were the only band that had real attitude and that got the crowd moshing.
Their version of the Britney Spears songs complete with Guns'n'Roses, The Police and Pink FLoyd was truly original.
Would love to see them live again.
Spirit of the 100 Club
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 4-May-2010 4:40 pm
Re: Anonymous | 2-May-2010 9:06 am - sour grapes perhaps??
Or were you struggling to find 40 mates / clients to have support you? The bands that played didn't..........
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 5-May-2010 2:33 pm
"Rebels were the only band that had real attitude" - which gig were you at?
It was a rock contest - 20 minutes (clearly some had no idea what that meant, perhaps it should have been 3 units) and rock music - not soul, R&B or big band.
Add in qualities like non stop set, singing and playing in tune and a rock chick vocalist that could and did dance and there was only one band in it - the well and truly robbed Eclectic Zoo from Blake Lapthorn.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment