Keith Emerson at Chiddingly 27 th Aug

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   I went down to the 'Six Bells' pub in Chiddingly (a small village in Sussex England) during the 'Bank holiday' Aug26 - 28th to see the British ELP tribute band 'Noddy's Puncture'. I have known the keyboard player (Tom Szakaly) for some time and couldn't wait to see him perform the early ELP reportoire again. However, the evening had an extra suprise - I'll pick up the story from just before the gig (Neil is my brother). This review is repeated from the 'ELP Disc' newsgroup:
About eight in the evening we were eating outside watching the transformation to dusk when (brother) Neil went to 'get a round in' and came back feverishly excited. He'd been standing next to Tom and Aaron Emerson (who'd just come in)
at the bar. Tom had asked about Keith and was told that he was "about 45mins behind them"! Then we were all feverishly excited and discussed the possibility that this was just a 'wind-up'. Still not knowing what to expect I regained my perch and watched Tom launch into 'Hoedown'.

Half way through I was nearly knocked from the perch by brother Neil hammering my back - "He's here, he's here". I turned to look through the leaded window four feet behind, which was where the mixing desk was, and there was Emos face looking back at me! I missed the rest of Hoedown in securing a white wine for the old fella - as was mentioned he looked in great shape. I returned to position shaking with excitement, decided that telling Tom might throw him and wondering whether KE would intervene or just watch.

Keith 'sat it out' for a while, probably not wanting to phase Tom, but finally the choral pad of Tarkus was too much for him and he came and stood behind Tom as he started 'Stones' - if ever I want a definition of 'gobsmacked' it would
have been Tom on turning face to face with KE.

Keith contributed on most of the following tracks and replayed 'Hoedown' with Phil and Steve. He and Tom took it in turn to play the Hammond on America. He did a fantastic minimoog improvisation on 'from the Begining' and it was easy to see why he has the arm and finger problems because he played with such ferocity - breaking Tom's Alexsis clean off the stand. Rondo was fantastic with Tom on Hammond and Keith on JD800 fanfare patch, then swapping. Tom had integrated the start to 'Arse longa VB' into the piece (including that sliding down the reverb spring bit) and I was amused that Keith not wishing to be outdone decided to 'show him how it was done' - (full hand rather than fingers) an interesting comparison of techniques. 

After the gig I waited for my chance for a few more words with Emo (though hewas a popular draw!). Saturation over, I brought up the subject of Greg's tour, which he seemed to know little about. I asked him if he was going to get a
ticket - to which he just gave me - a LOOK. Keith's mom then came in and I got chatting to her simultaneously. She was extremely happy to be there and flushed with pride when I told her what an impact his music had made on my life.
After around 15 mins they left with Keith in the driving seat. The next day It was hard to believe that it wasn't a dream.