On February 22, 2009, Lumpy had the honour of opening for The Yardbirds at Richard's On Richards.

Getting the spot was a surprise but it also was validation. The Yardbirds have long been an influence. In rehearsal, Lumpy has done as many as nine Yardbirds-associated songs and I've been in previous bands that have done three or four more. Unconsciously, when writing or arranging our own songs, the attitude is always, what can make this song more exciting and different, which I'm sure is "Yardbirdsian" as every single they released was unlike the single before it.

Furthermore, my Yardbirds lore extends to owning every Yardbirds recording, a few books, a DVD, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton albums, Renaissance, Illusion, Shoot. Armegeddon, Box Of Frogs, Yardbirds-Pretty Things Blues Band, solo records and more. After Bruno Gerussi's Medallion was urged to change its name, we became Little Games, the title of a Yardbirds single and album, and to illustrate our sole album we used Yardbirds derived lettering.

Consequently, when promoter Rob Warwick sent an email to the office announcing the date, I immediately volunteered to interview the band, and impulsively let him know that The Yardbirds were a big influence. He speculated we might make an appropriate opening act but he wondered how he could hear us. I directed him to my web site where he could hear our album, and thought no more would happen. However, he did listen to the record, liked it, and submitted our name to the Yardbirds manager as their opener.

Simple as that. I was relieved because, as far as I could tell, this wasn't a conflict of interest, which used to be a problem (more one of perception than reality) with Bruno Gerussi's Medallion. I don't want to go through that again, which is why I've kept a low profile in Lumpy.

It isn't a problem with the other Lumpians. They were excited, but, like me, surprised to get the gig. Syd, my 20 year old niece who sings a few songs with us, recently discovered The Yardbirds with her friends and was thrilled.

Syd's unusual. Not many 20 year old girls can speak of how brilliant Peter Green is on the Hard Road album he recorded with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. 

So, she knew a little Yardbirds lore herself: how Eric Clapton came and left, how he was replaced by Jeff Beck, who initiated the brief but adventurous period of the band, how Jimmy Page took over a commercially faltering band and refashioned it into what became Led Zeppelin. Etc.

The Yardbirds are now left in the hands of founders Chris Dreja and Jim McCarty. They might not have been the stars of the band (in the mid-60s the late Keith Relf had that role) but they've kept the name alive and have been honourable in the pursuit. The reconstituted Yardbirds don't reek of a callous cash-in. At sound check there was sincerity  rather than cynicism.

However, it's been more than 40 years since The Yardbirds had a hit, during which time the band's legendary status has grown and firmed. Therefore, the fans who sold out Richards really know the band's importance or have recently discovered it. This isn't an audience of casual music lovers. So Lumpy had to be good. 

Fortunately, from the input we've been getting, we were. This makes up for a disappointing set at the Yale. By our standards we were bad. The audience didn't know it, but we did. So, there was some apprehension  before the gig that we'd have a similar meltdown. The Yardbirds set took us to the other extreme.

As for The Yardbirds, they were great. They aren't creating like they used to do, but they aren't going through the motions either. There is a sense of pride there and in 22 year old Ben King they have a versatile, talented guitarist. Maybe he isn't breaking any new ground a la Beck but he's reproducing the licks of not one but three first tier guitar players. That is a demanding responsibility and comes with pressure. He delivers. What's remarkable about him and the others in the band - Dave, John, Chris and Jim - is their sense of dynamics. They are in tune with  one another so "Smokestack Lightning" or "Back Where I Started" or "Happenings 10 Years Time Ago" can build from a skeletal frame work to an urgent, kinetic groove that carries along the audience. It's a trick the original group mastered and evidently has not been forgotten.