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.

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 & 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

Gateway to the South
Studio album by The Balham Alligators
Released	1996
Genre	Cajun, Blues, Rock
Label	Proper Records
Producer	Paul Riley

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

Cajun Dance Party

Cajun Dance Party
Studio album by The Balham Alligators
Released	1997
Genre	Cajun, blues, rock
Label	Emporio
Producer	Paul Riley

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

A Po'-Boy 'n' Make It Snappy
Studio album by The Balham Alligators
Released	1999
Genre	Cajun, blues, rock
Label	Proper Records
Producer	Paul Riley

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

References

Works cited

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