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The Balham Alligators

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Years active
  
1983 – Present

The Balham Alligators httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaen22eThe

Past members
  
Pete Dennis Kieran O'Connor (d. 1991) Arthur Kitchener Ron Kavana Gary Rickard (d. 2010)

Origin
  
London, United Kingdom (1983)

Albums
  
Life in the Bus Lane, Bayou-degradable, The Balham Alligators

Members
  
Geraint Watkins, Paul Riley

Genres
  
Cajun music, Rock music, Blues

Record labels
  
Topic Records, The Last Music Company

Similar
  
Ron Kavana, Chilli Willi and the Red Hot, Diz & The Doormen, Cajun Dance Party, Martin Belmont

The Balham Alligators were a band from London that mixed rock 'n' roll, cajun, country and R&B. The band centred on singer and instrumentalist Geraint Watkins.

Contents

The balham alligators gotta have money


Career

The band came together by chance at a London pub in 1983. The original line-up consisted of Geraint Watkins, Robin McKidd, Kieran O'Connor, Arthur Kitchener, and Gary Rickard. The Alligators played a hybrid blend of musical styles, including Rock 'n' Roll', Blues, R&B, Celtic Folk, Swamp-Pop, Country, Swing, Cajun & Zydeco.

The Balham Alligators performed in venues around Europe. Early albums included The Balham Alligators and Life In A Bus Lane. The pressure of constant touring began to take its toll with the continued ill-health and eventual death of Kieran O'Connor (d. 1991), the departure of Kitchener and Ron Kavana, and despite the recruitment of Pete Dennis to replace Kitchener convinced the remaining members it was time to call it a day.

The following years were spent pursuing individual projects with Watkins and Rickard working with Charlie Hart as, Rickard, Watkins & Hart, with Watkins eventually leading his own outfit, The Wobblers, in 1992. Robin McKidd formed The Companions of The Rosy Hours a western-swing band. Despite the four years since the original band's demise, McKidd was still receiving offers of work for the Alligators, persuading Watkins and Rickard to try out a few gigs with The Wobblers as a backing band, it became apparent that the Alligators were still a viable concern. Bolstered with morale and momentum they recruited session musician, Bobby Irwin on drums and ex-Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers' bass guitarist Paul Riley and by the latter half of 1995 they recorded Gateway To The South (1996) and followed by Cajun Dance Party (1997).

Track listing

  1. Balham 2 Step
  2. Hey Hey, Ho Ho
  3. Malhereuse
  4. Sugar Bee
  5. Tennessee Blues
  6. Johnny B. Goode
  7. Oh Siobhan
  8. Let's Dance
  9. Louisiana
  10. Scotland / Allons a Lafayette
  11. Tacos
  12. Little Liza Jane
  13. Hobo Blues / Balham 2 Step (reprise)

Personnel

  • Geraint Watkins (vocals, keyboards, accordion)
  • Robin McKidd (fiddle, guitar, vocals)
  • Kieran O'Conner (drums, percussion)
  • Gary Rickard (guitar, vocals)
  • Pete Dennis (bass)
  • Guest musicians:

  • Ron Kavana (guitar, harmonica, mandolin, percussion)
  • The Panic Brothers (Reg Meuross, Richard Morton – vocals)
  • Production

  • Produced by Ron Kavana (Audio Verite Production)
  • Mixed by Ron Kavana, Dave Jordan
  • Engineered by David Kenny
  • Recorded at Ideal Sound Recorders
  • Track listing

    1. Cajun Walk
    2. Swamp
    3. Big Mamou
    4. I Don't Wanna Be In Love
    5. Love Has No Pride
    6. Alligators Grinning
    7. It's My Own Business
    8. Diggy Diggy
    9. What've You Got To Lose?
    10. Fine, Fine, Fine
    11. Feel Like A Fool

    Personnel

  • Geraint Watkins (vocals, keyboards, accordion, cajun accordion, piano, clavinet)
  • Peter Dennis (bass guitar)
  • Robin McKidd (fiddle, guitar, vocals)
  • Kieran O'Connor (drums, percussion)
  • Gary Richards (guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals)
  • Jimmy McKidd (backing vocals – Cajun Walk)
  • Production

  • Produced by The Balham Alligators, David Kenny.
  • Recorded at Ideal Sound
  • Engineer David Kenny
  • Recorded at Pathway Studios
  • Engineer Mike Finesilver
  • Track listing

    1. What We've Got To Lose
    2. Six Days On The Road
    3. Lawdy Miss Clawdy
    4. Caldonia
    5. Sacre Bleu (testament de la Jean Jacques)
    6. White Lightening
    7. Diggy Diggy
    8. At The Hop
    9. Hobo Blues
    10. Balham Two Step
    11. Oh Marie

    Personnel

  • Geraint Watkins (vocals, keyboards, accordion)
  • Robin McKidd (fiddle, guitar, vocals)
  • Kieran O'Conner (drums, percussion)
  • Gary Rickard (guitar, vocals )
  • Ron Kavana (harmonica, mandolin, percussion)
  • Arthur Kitchener (bass, vocals)
  • Track listing

    1. Allons Rock 'n' Roll
    2. Bayou Teche
    3. Gotta Have Money
    4. Malhereuse
    5. Big Bad Dog
    6. Secret Love
    7. Cash On The Barrel-head
    8. Too Much
    9. The Last Waltz
    10. Hot Rod
    11. Honky Tonk
    12. Johnny B Goode

    Personnel

  • Geraint Watkins (accordion, piano, vocals)
  • Gary Rickard (guitar, vocals)
  • Robin McKidd (fiddle, vocals)
  • Bobby Irwin (drums)
  • Paul Riley (bass guitar)
  • Gator Aid

  • Bill Kirchen (guitar, trombone – track 12)
  • Steve Donnely (guitar – tracks 10, 12)
  • Pete Thomas (drums – track 12)
  • Nick Pentelow (baritone sax, clarinet – track 12)
  • Martin Belmont (acoustic guitar – track 9)
  • Production

  • Produced and recorded by Paul Riley
  • Additional mixing by Neil Brockbank
  • Location recording at The Weavers Arms by Neil Brockbank
  • Recorded at The Bonaparte Rooms – Twickenham, The House In The Woods – Bletchingley, The Weavers Arms – Stoke Newington
  • Track listing

    1. Cuvee Cajun
    2. Bayou Pom-Pom
    3. Guerre Civille
    4. Grand Texas
    5. Wet And Swampy
    6. Rosie Cheeks
    7. Cher Mama
    8. Colinda
    9. Jole Blon
    10. Lacassine
    11. Diggy Liggy Lo
    12. Last Waltz
    13. Balham Two Step
    14. Lache Pas Mes Patas
    15. Big Mamou
    16. Hobo Blues
    17. Goodnight Irene

    Personnel

  • Geraint Watkins (accordion, vocals, piano)
  • Robin McKidd (fiddle)
  • Gary Rickard (guitar)
  • Paul Riley (bass guitar, double-bass)
  • Bobby Irwin (drums)
  • Martin Belmont (acoustic guitar)
  • Production

  • Produced by Paul Riley
  • Recorded at House in the Woods; Bletchingley, Surrey
  • Track listing

    1. Cuvee Cajun
    2. Bayou Pom-Pom
    3. Guerre Civille
    4. Grand Texas
    5. Wet And Swampy
    6. Rosie Cheeks
    7. Cher Mama
    8. Colinda
    9. Jole Blon
    10. Lacassine
    11. Diggy Liggy Lo
    12. Last Waltz
    13. Balham Two Step
    14. Lache Pas Mes Patas
    15. Big Mamou
    16. Hobo Blues
    17. Goodnight Irene

    Personnel

  • Geraint Watkins (accordion, vocals, piano)
  • Robin McKidd (fiddle)
  • Gary Rickard (guitar)
  • Paul Riley (bass guitar, double-bass)
  • Bobby Irwin (drums)
  • Martin Belmont (acoustic guitar)
  • Production

  • Produced by Paul Riley
  • Recorded at House in the Woods; Bletchingley, Surrey
  • Songs

    Allons Rock 'n' Roll2014
    Gotta Have Money2014
    Balham Two-step2014

    References

    The Balham Alligators Wikipedia