The Balham Alligators

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.

The Balham Alligators
OriginLondon, England
GenresCajun, rock, blues
Years active1983–present
LabelsProper, Special Delivery
MembersGeraint Watkins
Robin McKidd
Paul Riley
Past membersPete Dennis
Kieran O'Connor (d. 1991)
Arthur Kitchener
Ron Kavana
Gary Rickard (d. 2010)
Bobby Irwin (d. 2015)

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.[1] The Alligators played a hybrid blend of musical styles, including rock 'n' roll, blues, R&B, Celtic folk, swamp-pop, country, swing, Cajun and zydeco.[1][2]

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).[1]

Discography

Balham Alligators

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

Life In The Bus-Lane

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

Live Alligators

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)

Gateway to the South

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

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

Cajun Dance Party

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

A Po'boy 'n' Make It Snappy

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

Bayou-degradable

Track listing
  1. Balham Two-Step
  2. Hey-Hey, Ho-Ho
  3. Sugar Bee
  4. Tennessee Blues
  5. Oh Siobhan
  6. Let's Dance
  7. Louisiana
  8. Scotland/Allons a Lafayette
  9. Tacos
  10. Little Liza Jane
  11. Hobo Blues/Balham Two-Step
  12. Oh Marie
  13. Six Days On The Road
  14. Lawdy Miss Clawdy
  15. Caledonia
  16. White Lightning
  17. Diggy Liggy Lo
  18. Let's Go To The Hop
  19. Balham Two-Step
  20. Sacre Bleu
  21. Cajun Walk
  22. If The Swamp Don't get You
  23. Big Mamou
  24. I Don't Wanna Be In Love
  25. Love Has No Pride
  26. Alligators Grinning
  27. It's My Own Business
  28. Diggy Liggy Lo
  29. What Have You Got To Lose
  30. Fine Fine Fine
  31. Feel Like A Fool
  32. Allons Rock 'n' Roll
  33. Bayou Teche
  34. Gotta Have Money
  35. Malheureuse
  36. Big Bad Dog
  37. Secret Love
  38. Cash On The Barrelhead
  39. Too Much
  40. The Last Waltz
  41. Hot Rod
  42. Honky Tonk
  43. Johnny B Goode

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)
  • Kieran O'Connor (drums)
  • Pete Dennis (bass)
  • Ron Kavana (harmonica, mandolin, percussion)
  • Arthur Kitchener (bass, vocals)

Guest musicians

  • The Panic Brothers - Reg Meuros & Richard Morton (vocals)
  • Bill Kirchen (guitar)
  • Steve Donnelly (guitar)
  • Pete Thomas (drums)
  • Nick Pentelow (baritone sax, clarinet)
  • Martin Belmont (acoustic guitar)
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References
  1. Larkin, Colin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Country Music, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0236-4, p. 26
  2. Lawrence, Pete & Howard, Vicki (2004) Crossfade: a Big Chill Anthology, Serpent's Tail, ISBN 978-1-85242-875-4, p. 52

Works cited

  • Shane K. Bernard, The Cajuns: Americanization of a People – Page 136, Univ. Press of Mississippi, 2003, ISBN 1-57806-523-2
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