The Dickies concert at Eric's in Liverpool, UK
Sat, 19 May 1979

Eric's was a legendary venue set in a basement on Mathew Street in Liverpool, close to the former Cavern Club of Beatles fame. Eric's was one of the few venues outside London to attract big-name bands of the time, because it offered them two gigs on the same day. On Saturdays, they did a under-18 Matinee gig in the late afternoon and then another over-18 gig in the evening, thus offering the band two gig pay-cheques.
The gig was absolutely packed-out (these were the days before Health & Safety and Fire Regulations). I am struggling to recall the support act, but I have a feeling it was either Elvis Costello (playing a solo guitar/vocs gig without his band) or John Cooper Clarke. Both artists were fairly local to Liverpool & were often called upon when the actual support artists couldn't make it to the Matinee gig.
The Dickies were promoting their debut album - the Incredible Shrinking Dickies and as I recall they played the album in it's entirety. The walls were literally dripping with sweat!
I particularly remember when they played 'Waterslide', Leonard, wearing goggles and an animal shaped (possibly a giraffe) rubber ring, took-off the rubber ring and offered it to the audience. Once grabbed by the audiences' hands, the rubber-ring animals life-span had reduced to approximately three seconds. A swift, but majestic end to it's false and over-inflated lifestyle.
The band were at their peak, playing at 100mph! A WONDERFUL gig! They sure drank some STRONG COFFEE. ;-)