Three Bonzos and a Piano began life as The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band back in 1962. Formed out of art school, they played off-beat jazzy songs across London’s many pubs, building a large following and eventually rising to become a favourite of the UK’s music scene. They hit their peak in 1969 with the hit Urban Spaceman and also had a long stint as the house band on the hit show Do Not Adjust Your Sets.

They split in 1970 and have attempted various reunions over the years, with this gig being the latest. These days, the line up is saxophonist Rodney Slater, singer Roger Spear, drummer and cutlery maestro Sam Spoons and pianist David Glasson, though for this gig they’re joined by local folk hero “Legs” Larry Smith and regular guest star Vernon Dudley Bohay-Nowell for an evening of songs and lots of silliness.

The whole gig feels a bit like an extended episode of I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue, with Spear giving the crowd and his bandmates lots of silly things to do. The stage is covered with bizarre-looking props with the musicians themselves looking like they’ve raided a series of dressing up boxes.

The sight of these men, all of whom are well into their sixties, running around in silly outfits makes for a very strange sight, like a twisted circus or a scene from one of Terry Gilliam’s more recent films. One minute they’re singing a lullaby about shirts, the next they’re doing an extended solo on the musical saw. They do play a few songs, maybe ten across the whole set, including Hunting Tigers Out in Indiah and Waiting for the Wardrobe, each accompanied by an suitable outfit.

After one gets over the initial bizarreness of it all, watching the Bonzos live is really entertaining. Shonky and eccentric, but a fun gig nonetheless.