Out of the blue Riffs got an email from Daz (ex Matrix and Back in Black) with just four days to spare, asking if I would like to pop along and see his new band. He sent no pics of them to me and I had absolutely no details of who was in the band. Intrigued - yes, but usually this lack of information would put the invite on to the back burner. However, Daz is renowned to work hard at what he does and has 'risen in the ranks' since his early days of Matrix. Plus, it is one thing to just decide to go and review a band but it is entirely another to have a member of a band email you with a personal invitation. Of course, including some random words such as 'a', 'I'd like to' 'JD and Coke' and 'buy you' in the same sentence certainly made me sit up and take notice.

Even more surprisingly was when Val chirped up some valuable information about Whey Aye C/DC which put Riffs intelligence machine to shame. But how Val gets her information has never ever failed to amaze me. 'Nuff said!

Oh, did I mention that Val was driving and I could have a drink? We were on our way.

And we got lost. Mettle of a good friendship? Get lost. Don't fall out. We did - we didn't. What a gal!

Got there late and still the band had not hit the stage. Brilliant. I headed straight for the bar and of course Val was waylaid before she got four steps into the pub. No change there then. Mind you, I still think it's a clever ploy for her to get me to buy the drinks!

I had never been to the Pemberton before but Val had been there on several occasions - so she felt quite at home. Even pointing out the best vantage point for pics; or was it to get me out of the way so she was left free to schmooze?! (Is that what they call it nowadays?).

Anyway, we were in, we were settled and Val was schmoozing with Daz. I can tell that cheeky grin a mile off and managed to glean some information from their conversation: little Graham is Angus, and he used to be in Scottish AC/DC band Volts, who used to be Bon's Balls who I first caught at a pub in Hartlepool many moons ago. Graham is actually from Bishop Auckland, so travelling to Seaham and surrounding area is a damn site more palatable than going to Scotland. Neil I knew from way back as he was in that stunning rockin' band Scream Dream, then Blast, then Natural Born Killers and then Toxic Junkies. Rhythm man Dean was, sorry, IS, in Tygers of Pan Tang but as he gigs only about three times a year can easily manage to handle his stint in Whey Aye C/DC. Chris on bass has just spent a fortune on a Cliff Williams imported MusicMan bass from America and, apparently, he is always the first to learn a song note for note perfect. I daren't even mention that he's a firemen or Val will be getting him to put on his uniform - 'purely for the review you understand'. Yeah, right.
With this being Daz's first band since the demise of Back in Black (don't ask - sometimes things just run their course and you have to admit it's over) Daz is a tad anxious about the inevitable comparisons with Back in Black. He told me on Friday: 'Back in Black is over. Finished. This is Whey Aye C/DC and we are starting a new band with a new line up. Okay, so it's the same songs but we are very much more laid back. No pressure, we are out to have fun - and entertain. And have fun.'

And I must admit the band were a lot more laid back than I expected them to be. I remember when BiB first hit the road, all I could sense was tension. I could not relax with that band. Don't get me wrong they were bloody good - but that is not quite enough.

Whey Aye C/DC had Daz at the helm and he was the lynchpin for the band all night long (see what I did there?). He knew he was the frontman and everyone would be focussing on him and carried it off amazingly. What he had learned in BiB certainly helped as now he didn't have to try and do the BJ mannerisms (that's Brian Johnson Val, not what you think!).

The set list was not only what you would expect but also fluctuated throughout the night depending on what the audience wanted and how the time was progressing.
As Daz explained: 'We've sorted around 40 songs for the set list, but as you only get 90 mins / 2 hours at a gig it's just a case of picking and choosing what people want to hear. With Back in Black it was a great band but getting the 5 of us to rehearse and learn new stuff was a nightmare as we were all so busy in our personal lives. With Whey Aye C/DC it's alot easier as we sort out a practise, agree what songs to learn and when we all get together it's just a case of tidying up the loose ends.'

Visually, the band were just as you would expect: Daz was a great frontman, Angus was using all the available space to good measure - even the obligatory falling to the floor and swivelling around. A few sound problems never spoilt the peformance one iota and the crowd loved it. Presumably many had to get the last bus - or a pre-booked taxi, as the audience dropped to half all within about ten minutes about half eleven. But those that remained, enjoyed the performance immensely. Considering this was a debut performance then this band certainly deliver the goods and will get even better with more gigs. Even Daz was surprised at the great turnout and the vociferous crowd.

Surprisingly, I felt that the Bon Scott songs stood out the most - but that may just have been my preference. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap and Problem Child were done really well. Saying that, so was You Shook Me.

All in all a very creditable debut performance. Couldn't really fault it. I even got to sing chorus on Dirty Deeds too!!

Got drunk; got the piss taken out of me by Val and can hardly remember getting home....................a good night!

Oh, and nice to talk to Davy and Kimberly too. And Davy was even more pissed than me!!

Roll on the next time.................