Slim Jim Phantom, Union Avenue @ Satan’s Hollow, Manchester

10:53am Friday 28th April 2006

Slim Jim is the impossibly skinny drummer from rockabilly legends The Stray Cats, who sold out a storming show at The Apollo not two years since.

But this is one lanky, leering wildcat that isn't lolling about on his laurels, and he strolled into the rather more modestly sized Satan's Hollow to lay down some hardcore rockin' with his band, fronted by UK rockabilly genius, Darrel Higham.

First up though, Glaswegians Union Avenue, who insisted on turning every cover in their repertoire into a 1950's Johnny Cash style jamboree, whether I Shot The Sheriff, Billy Idol's White Wedding or Ace Of Spades.

Eat your hearts out Hayseed Dixie, these guys cottoned onto the fertile field of peculiar rock covers years ago.

Maybe it was the weather but Slim Jim began with a certain restraint, before laying down some raucous red carpet rock'n'roll featuring some of their own songs alongside classics like Elvis's Burning Love and Eddie Cochran's 20 Flight Rock.

And of course there were a few tracks by a little band from New York City called The Stray Cats, namely the tailshaking triumvirate of Runaway Boys, Rock This Town and a rapturous encore of Stray Cat Strut.

A rare opportunity to see Slim Jim up close - but one missed by many.