Winter Sessions
December 13th at The Green Man
review by Kris Spencer
Born this day: Carlos Montoya (flamenco guitarist), Christopher Plummer (actor), Dick Van Dyke, Henry IV and Prince Karim Aga Khan IV.
Well, I’ve written and sent all the cards that need to travel any distance, parcels are all sent too. Lots of goodies hidden away from my marauding hoards, and I actually, for the most part, know what I’m going to buy as presents for the tribe! Working part-time has enormous benefits……..
Neil started us off by welcoming the waifs and strays who consider the RMC their Thursday evening spent in the potting shed – particularly as it is warmer. He finally joined us after a detour to the Rising Sun which was, strangely enough, empty, and played No Longer Lovers, Not Quite Friends. Daddy Is The Best Of Men started the second half. Our host hopes to retire on the royalties of this Xmas song. See you next week then Neil?
Ken entertained us with Bottle of Wine and this week he got it near perfect – well done and thanks Ken. There’s no ‘that’ll do’ with this guy, his face belies his feelings! Ken recommended poligrip to help to secure the plectrum…… and then went on to play Streets of London in the second half .
Drew slowed the pace with his relaxed guitar pick and gentle vocal to Train to Birmingham After the break he gave us another relaxed performance of Hold on to Me Baby
Kris followed suit and played a lazy Running on Faith and finished off the evening with more than a little help from Neil and Dez as they wandered through the rooms of the Hotel California.
Graham continued the laid back theme, reminding us of summer evenings on the coast with The Tide’s Not Turning Anymore. His plectrum unfortunately became a piece of flotsam and disappeared, never to be seen again on the Wilton carpet!!!!! On harmonica, Graham led a hurried carol concert in the second half, because he had run out of plectrums!
Dez played a number that swung ever so slightly quicker than what preceded it, called Russian Roulette and thus maintained the building of the late night jazz club mood. However, his plectrum avoided being bashed around the head by hiding, forcing our plectrum basher to beg, steal or borrow someone else’s. After the break he gave us an insight into his hidden id, and gave us You and Me.
Harry performed a song written by his dad - in his own soulful style of course – called Hear My Song. His dad was real chuffed, until he realised that his son had only played this song because he had lost his dad’s plectrum somewhere on the Wilton carpet. In the second half he gave us a version of One inspired by Johnny Cash.
Chris thought he might send the Dolphins to find the missing plectrums, but he couldn’t find them unfortunately – the dolphins that is. He gave us Until It’s Time For You To Go in the second half.
John played Messing About On The River on harmonica, and he invited us all to join in, but sadly we didn’t all have the appropriate hat to carry it off!! Still he didn’t loose his plectrum and we did use the hat for the whip-round. In The Bleak Mid-Winter and God Rest You Merry Gentlemen were the delights given to us in the second half.
Andy completely debunked the myths of youth and appearance of Pretty Boy Floyd . Very sensibly he picked his way through the song on his guitar, hence he didn’t add to the increasing number of disappearing plectrums. In the second half he slipped effortlessly into a melody called Here in Spoon River. Lovely bass runs.
Terry told us a small, happy joke, then did what he does best and sang, Bell, Book and Candle. In the second half he had to tell us another joke. Wish he hadn’t. Then he sang Silver Bells, a Christmas thing, which was actually really nice. But then, who really wants to be………..nice……….?
Keyna then sang Barb’ra Allen. There was no way that she could lose a plectrum because with a voice like hers, there’s no need for an accompaniment. Sublime. Another emotional song, 17 ,sung with much pathos followed in the second half.
Hugh, also without accompaniment, gave us a melodious tune in Gaelic called Soraidh Dh’d Mhuille (Farewell to Mull). I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen was his choice for the second half.
Corinna found one of the missing plectrums and quickly put it to use as she sang Bicycle, Tricycle. A whimsical, musical (Neil’s words), quiet, gentle performance, returning us to the relaxed atmosphere of the night. After the break she gave us October.
Stuart reluctantly took to the front, drew his hand across his nose and then proceded to advertise Gorilla Snot, which apparently helps you to hold on to your plectrum. Only for the constitutionally bold amongst us I think!! I wonder how you harvest the stuff?? He gave us a polished performance of Burn Me Alive.
Peter, playing recorder, gave us two tunes both called Bonaparte’s Retreat, each having different provenances. He rose into the upper register very sweetly and bent the middle register notes expertly. Just as a matter of interest, did the huitara players (a fore-runner of the guitar) in Napoleon’s day use a plectrum – will we dig some up as archaeological evidence one day?
Eric gently picked his way through a traditional Irish melody called Sally Gardens. I was humming this melody all the way home – haunting.
Raine brought her mandolin and played us an Irish medley, which was quite at home on this instrument, to bring a close to the first part of the evening.
December 6th at The Rising Sun
By Kris Spencer
Born this Day: Ira Gershwin, Dave Brubeck, Charles Hall (chemist: discovered method to extract aluminium), Akira Miyazawa (Japanese tenor saxophonist)
This week, I'm going to publish a photo-diary of our session by way of an
experiment.
Neil Dalton sang Girl and the very amusing self-penned number, Benidorm. I apologise for our MC looking like he is listing to port and it is down to my own technical inadequacies, not his consumption of alcohol on the night!
Here we have John Orchard playing harmonica. He gave us The Ash Grove and Edelweiss tonight.
Dave Matthews gave us Breathe On and Brother George
Harry Parker sang his own song, Wonder Where You've Been and Don't Look Back In Anger.
Chris Payne gave us A Winter's Day and No Regrets.
Graham sang Ticket to Ride and Will You Still Love Me.
Andy Parker gave us The Last Thing On My MInd and Good King Wenceslas.
Ken Eyre and Julian Clarke teamed up to give us the Sloop John B and later in the evening Ken sang Bottle of Wine and Julian sang Stealin.
Gosher sang Annabelle and Night Train.
Mick Moore sang From Clare To Here and Hurricane.
Other contributions, not photographed:
Dez Preston and Kris Spencer gave us their interpretation of Runaway with Kris taking the vocal lead and rhythm guitar, and Dez providing stunning guitar work and harmonies.
Dez gave us the self-penned, Real Music after the break and Kris played the intricate Tears in Heaven just to prove that, in her own way, she too can play the guitar!
Chris and Dave teamed up to give us The Drinking Song which was easily identified with by the well lubricated audience.
Raine gave us a poem and the self-penned Summer's Come.
Autumn Sessions
November 29th at the Green Man
Review by Kris Spencer
Born this Day: Louisa May Alcott, C.S. Lewis, Berry Gordy (Tamla Motown founder), and John Mayall.
The night was cold – the room was HOT. Heating must have been on all day – and the windows were welded closed. Lovely!! By 8o’clock we had our usual seven or eight souls ready and waiting to play.
Our host tonight was the enigmatic Chris Payne (he with the basso profundo voice). He started us off with I’m a Believer and it was like he’d been an MC all his life. Neil may have lost his job. To begin the second session Chris told us a joke and quickly returned to his real forte and played There But For Fortune and re-tuned for No Regrets
Drew took to the front next and with a soft picking style and quiet voice gave us Can’t Remember If We Said Goodbye. After the break he gave us Confederate Man and then with Graham on harmonica we enjoyed Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
Gosher and John, guitar and harmonica, played Hey Joe. John was a little nervous at first, perhaps because Gosher really hammered his guitar to this number, but together they sounded really good. In the second half he gave us Knocking On Heaven’s Door and a mean blues number No Woman Blues
Dez gave us one of his own songs, the sorrowful Crying Cos We’re Not in Love. Lovely, modulated melody accompanied by masterful guitar playing and a soulful voice. Obviously heartfelt at one time in his life. Musicality reigned in the second half in the personification of our resident master musician – Stairway to Heaven – one man, one guitar, one voice, absolute silence and true respect.
Graham, in his practised, relaxed style gave us Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello. After the break he gave us Love Hurts and Wait Until Spring, a song he penned himself
John gave us Sloop John B and since he was playing the harmonica, we all had to provide the words!! I don’t know, the things we do for the sake of real music. Dez and John teamed up after the break to give us The Leaving of Liverpool and then Graham replaced Dez and they gave us Danny Boy
Gene gave us an accomplished version of Down Where The Drunkards Roll – certainly better than the original. In the second half, Show Me and Half In Love were the melodies we enjoyed.
Mick has broken his rose coloured spectacles!! Life will never be the same again – at least for Mick….He gave us a Dylan song, My Back Pages. If I Were A Carpenter and Kathy’s Song were the numbers played after the break
Peter, with flute, gave us three short traditional tunes, SallyGardens, The Road to Dundee and Jolly BeggarMan. Barbara Allen and Polly were the tunes for the second half.
Hugh brought along his violin and played Afton Water and Hills of Lorn. He gave us two more wonderful tunes in the second half.
Kris sang a Billy Joel song, Always a Woman, altering the words to make it right for a female singer.The second half brought us a soulful version of Vincent - The audience were rapt once again by Kris’ performance, followed by a sing along The Island of Dreams to send us all home happy
Raine played mandolin for us tonight and gave us her piece of music Daylight. After the break, and before she went catch the bus she sang Gonna Plant a Meadow.
November 22nd at The Rising Sun
Review by Kris Spencer
Born on this day:Charles de Gaul, Billie Jean King, Boris Becker, Terry Gilliam, Benjamin Britten and Robert Vaughn.
All set for another lovely night. I’ll only be staying for the first half tonight so the second half songs will be covered BRIEFLY by Dez. You’ll see what I mean soon enough. Now I usually arrive a little after seven to set things up (non-electrical things that is) in the room, and this evening Bill was stood at the top of the darkened stairwell waiting for someone to unlock the door – fair scared me to death he did!!! Neil very kindly videoed some of the evenings musical offerings and has put them up on Youtube?, just type in Real Music Club and you should get there.
Neil started the night with Nobody Loves Me Now, a gospel blues type number written during a particularly bad spell of paranoia by our MC. He really suffers for his art poor chap (mind you, so does his audience!) Love you really Neil. XX. He started the second half with Rikki You Look So Handsome
Then the chap who likes to stand in the dark, Bill, took his place under the bright stage lights (a single 40 watt wall spotlight?) and on his piano he played a unique version of Louis-Louis. After the break, Bill gave us a keyboard solo.
hris Payne gave us his interpretation of the Robbie Williams number Angels and demonstrated that his musical tastes transcend not only the generations but also the genres (along with guitar, these three things are the musicians understanding of 3G – not these multitasking telephones). In the second half he played a Van Morrison number, Warm Love.
Dez and Kris teamed up tonight and after much faffing around by Dez, eventually gave us San FranciscoBay Blues. 'They're getting better,' someone half whispered.
Dave - uncharacteristically nervous - gave us Mr Businessman. A complex piece of music which he carried off with style and apparent ease. He had the audience giggling to Picnic Tea after the break
Drew, on guitar blue, talked us through an Emmy-Lou – sorry, got carried away there. The piece drew gave us was called Jerusalem Tomorrow and he did it justice – well done. In the second half he played a Lindisfarne song.
Then Graham gave us Fool On The Hill and, knowing that he lives on a flat road, we wondered who he was referring to until we remembered just whose house had such a steep drive we have to go into first gear to get up it (we love you really !) After the break he gave us Your Song
Gosher, our left handed guitarist played his own song Going Home. A lovely mix of minimal voice and maximum blues guitar.
Dez then livened up the evening, as is his wont, by performing his own song Gotta Get The Job Done Properly
Ken gave us a lovely version of Billy Connelly’s version of DIVORCE and had us all laughing our socks off. What a star! He gave us Love Is All Around after the break.
John played autoharp and harmonica together to give us Grandfather’s Clock, but there was some twerp in the audience who wanted vocals too – John went this funny shade of purple trying to please this purist, and had to be resuscitated! He gave us our first carol in the second half, Hark The Herald Angels
Keyna captured the hearts of the audience with Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? and spent the rest of the night fending off offers!! She sang Send In The Clowns after the break
Harry took to the stage next and gave us a gravelly voiced version of Wonderwall and followed this after the break with Goodbye My Lover
Andy did a wickedly relaxed performance of Diddy Wa Diddy. You can always rely on Andy to bring some great songs along with him. In the second half he gave us a superb Anarchy (Dez’s comment – actually his only printable comment)
Terry came all the way from Spondon to play Cousin Jack for us, but the words eluded him in the first half, so we ended up with Dublin Blues. Never ever say that we amateur musicians are not able to ad-lib! He did play Cousin Jack after the break.
Peter brought along his recorder tonight to play Come By The Hills and Eamon Chnoic (?). Always something different here at the RMC.
Bob told us the story behind the song he would sing. Fascinating tale – almost as long as it took to sing Average Guy, a lovely song from a guy who is far from average. He played Live Life and Love For Today after the break.
Kris got up to play a song she had borrowed from Graham, Speak Softly Love, and I made a mess of the outro!!
Raine completed the first half by playing a piece of music she has written herself and calls Fantasy Score on the keyboard.
November 15th at the Green Man
Review by Kris Spencer
What is it about November that reminds us about what has been? It really is an unremarkable month, neither close enough to Xmas to generate any enthusiasm nor far enough along in the year to feel like the new ne is close. Good job that so many interesting people were born in this month: today alone we have William Herschel, Irwin Rommel, Petula Clark and Mantovani!!
Neil sat patiently waiting for us to notice he was ready to start, but it wasn’t until some kind soul turned off the lights that we noticed he was there. He sang The Simple Life – very country yet exactly what we all needed to banish the chill from outside. After the break he gave us Red Haired Girl.
John has had a lovely couple of days of pleasing himself (please don’t think about it) since his wife is on baby sitting duties in Brum. On harmonica and autoharp he played Mull of Kintyre. This guy is determined to bring the essence of church to our sessions but when you are as good as John, we really don’t mind. With the same combination he performed Day Dream Believer after the break
Keyna decided she was going to give us a really miserable dirge, namely, My Youngest Son Came Home Today. Although the subject matter was as promised, the delivery was outstanding. Bookings for wakes being taken now. After the break she gave us an emotional Until It’s Time For You To Go.
Drew took to the front using a borrowed guitar and gave us Why Must I be a Teenager in Love? Lovely guitar rhythm, never missing a beat through-out even when the audience choir pulled a three part harmony. In the second half he gave us Ferry ‘Cross The Mersey
Graham, sporting a fetching red pullover, played his own song, The Tide’s Not Turning Anymore, in his inimitably relaxed manner – well suited to his Val Doonican appearance. My Love by Mc Cartney was our treat after the break.
Andy and Harry played that classic Beatles song, Girl, two guitars, two part vocals and much empathy. The audience joined in. After the break, Harry dispensed with his parental guidance and gave us Times are Changing and by way of reciprocation, Andy ditched his parental responsibilities and gave us Shake That Thing
Peter braved the audience tonight, bringing a touch of class along with his flute. He gave us two melodies, The Quiet Joys of Brotherhood and Carrick Fergus. We are so fortunate to have such a breadth of talent coming along on Thursday evenings. With recorder in hand Peter gave us a lament and Cuckoo’s Nest after the break.
After one of his memorable jokes, Terry’s busy fingers accompanied his vocals as he gave us Blue Wind or Poor Man’s Dream. After the break he gave us Gloria.
In Harmony, or two of them tonight anyway (Catherine and Rachel) sang in two part harmony a song called The Emigrant’s Daughter. With fiddle accompaniment we had a vocal/instrumental version of Johnny Boy
Mick, having being troubled by that Saga company again, bestowed upon us an upbeat guitar rhythm accompanying his song, Lover, Come Back to Me After the break, with rose coloured spectacles he gave us a Tolkien poem set to Mick’s music. Eclectic mix of diverse styles!
Hugh, on piano accordion, gave us three gigs two of which were Hot Punch and Drops of Brandy. My goodness didn’t his fingers fly!! After the break he gave us a medley of Ashgrove, Come oer the stream Charlie, Planxty Irwin. A seamless performance.
Captain Julian was such a good sport as he had the micky taken out of him outrageously by his ‘friends’ as he tuned his guitar before he gave us If It Makes You Happy. He can and will wait to get his revenge – very patient is Julian. After the break he gave us The Wizard
Stuart and Corinna played Frowns for us. They debuted this song a couple of weeks ago and I remarked on the music then. This week I had a chance to listen to the words and they are equally as well crafted as the music. After the break they gave us Fragments . Only one word Magnificent.
Raine told a poem called One, two, chee, chee, chee! Since she had a bus to catch, Raine took second slot in the second half and gave us Saturday Street – song that she has never sung in public before.
Kris carried on her mood from last week, and performed The Theme From Love Story, and once again the audience was rapt. Fantastic voice, and great performance.
November 8th at The Rising Sun
Review by Kris Spencer
Thursday night again and we are all set up for another good night of music and/or entertainment. As I watch the room being readied by the ever-present Dez, I can’t help but reflect on some of the wonderful Thursday evenings that we have enjoyed over the last few months. At the very beginning of the evening there is a sense of anticipation as the various rag taggle artistes walk up the stairs with their assorted musical instruments, take off their coats, remove their chosen musical weapon from its case and then depart for the bar!!
New faces again this week, welcomed return of old familiar faces and the hard-core Willington folkies.
Neil brought order to the pre-start chaos and started us off with a traditional tune, Black Water Side. He started the second half with his poem called The Champ Of The Midlands, which told the tale of bare knuckle fighting.
Dez played a stonking laid back version of I Found Love with an excellent lead guitar break at the mid point. His husky voice, due to a long-running cold, was well suited to the song. After the break he invited us all to jam along to Status Quo’s Break the Rules – so with keyboard, violin, harmonica and massed guitars we smashed the peace and quiet of the night.
Dave penned a song Little Miss Sunshine, in tribute to a lady of the night he was besotted with in the early years of this young man’s life when reason and caution just didn’t live in the same dictionary.
Tony has almost finished the song he gave us tonight called The Healer – all he says he needs now is another three or four band members. With Tony’s stage presence and slide guitar playing, I think the song was complete as it stood. His piece after the break was another self-penned number The Weekend.
Drew, on stage for the first time after sussing us out for several weeks as a member of the audience, gave us a Buddy Holly song accompanied by guitar which went down very well with us all. Now we know what he can do, he won’t be able to hide in the corner anymore!
Chris played a song that I personally think is the best suited for his wonderfully sonorous vocal talent, Suspicious Minds. After the break he gave us Who Am I? a self-reflective, thought provoking song.
Scott, not just off the wall but round the corner and off next door’s wall according to Neil (he should know cos he met him on that same wall!!), played a self-penned piece called Warm and Milky Sunset.
A group of ladies (Dawn, Rachel, Cath, Catherine, Liz and Jan) calling themselves In Harmony gave us Lady Waly Waly on piano, violin and six part vocals. In the second half, they gave us The Leaving of Liverpool.
An autoharp had been standing idle in John’s house for years and after blowing off the dust, actually and metaphorically, he decided to bring it along tonight. Thus, with harmonica accompaniment, he played In The Bleak Mid Winter, reminding us all that the weather outside has turned distinctly chilly!! It begs the question – what other treasures has John got lying around his place?
Keyna gave us a classy acappella version of The Wind That Shakes the Barley. A soulful lament carried off with tremendous style by our resident nightingale.
Bob, new to the club, playing guitar and harmonica, sang his own song Wasted Years. A wry comment on today’s separation culture. In the second half, in an easy style he gave us So Glad You’re Here.
Graham on harmonica accompanied by Dave on keyboard gave us a lazy By The Time I Get To Phoenix. All scalar runs and so dolce. Graham returned, with guitar, as a solo artist in the second half and played Close To You
Ken gave us an instrumental rendition of Danny Boy, accompanied by John on harmonica and the audience on vocals. Ken has the lovely ability to get us all joining in with him.
Mick gave us North and South of the River. There is a certain flair to the music of this young (ish) man that is best described by his given club name Moody Mick. To finish the night he played us out with Blowing in the Wind
Kris, a bad case of laryngitis ensuring a blessed silence, played L’Amour Est Bleu on classical guitar.
Hugh, our Gaelic expert, sang Cailinn Mo Runsa, which translates as The Maid I Adore
Matt gave us a driving guitar rhythm accompanying the vocals to his self-penned song, Sunshine and Rain ending on a dischord that really suited the words of the song!
Gemma played a recently written song called On The Run. Her sweet voice carried on the night air and hit the high notes with a well controlled vibrato
Raine, on keyboard this week, played us to the break with a number that she had written herself.
Julian and Ken joined forces after the break to give us The Sloop John B. Mixed harmonies were provided by a well lubricated audience. The look on Ken’s face and his parting comment ‘ee I really enjoyed that!’ was one of those golden moments and a salient reminder of one of the reasons that we all come along to the folk club.
Ben and Scott on guitar, ukulele, suspicious accents and sardonic delivery took to the stage after the break to give us Rear View Mirror – a possible alternative folk song if the outcome of WWII had been different. These two herrs are so off the wall they’re carpet!!
Stuart wasn’t even phased when he was faced with following Ben and Scott, he merely assumed his usual cheerful songs would stand the test – which of course, when he plays H, is absolutely true.
Despite Neil destroying the microphone stand again this week, we enjoyed yet another fantastic night of entertainment and went home knowing WE WOULD BE BACK.
November 1st at The Green Man
Review by Kris Spencer
White rabbit day for the penultimate time this year - hasn’t the year whizzed past alarmingly quickly?
Graham took on the role of MC this week and do you know what? For our ‘Mr Smooth’, he was remarkably swift at moving the acts through. He started us with his own song, Where are you going to?
- as if he didn’t know since he was meant to be our leader tonight!! And Graham was so eager to get started after the break that he only wanted us to have 5 minutes supping time!! Sacriligious!!!! When we eventually allowed him to start the second half he gave us It’s All In The Mind. Two very deep songs under the circumstances!
Judy used the full range of her keyboard and gave us The Lover’s Waltz. She pulled it off with grace and elegance, keeping the strict waltz time through-out. Later she gave us two folk songs, The 8th of January and The Tennessee Blues.
Neil had a song he had co-written played on Canadian radio by Stan Carew, so he played a lazy slide style guitar and gave us An Undefended Border written by the above DJ, who appeared at the Kiln last month. What a small world we live in eh?? After the break he played a song commemorating, appropriately enough, given the proximity of Remembrance Day, the first world war, No Man’s Land
Chris Payne played John Denver’s Goodbye Again. This song really suited Chris’s unusual voice which seemed to bring out the pathos of the words. Positively 4th Street by Dylan was the song he played after the break.
Dez sang a lovely, mellow self-penned number Cried Inside. Dez is in the process of adapting some of his melodies for one guitar and one voice - this is one of these. A lovely adaptation, a great delivery. Later this talented singer songwriter tuned his B string properly (!) and played another of his melodies, an angry statement called Little World and as is his bent, this second piece dragged us out of our reverie and reminded us that music has the insidious ability to colour our moods and thoughts.
Doug, on the Northumbrian pipes played a Scottish melody called A Fond Kiss followed by Suo-gan (a lullaby). After the break, on concertina, Doug gave us two English melodies, Mad Moll of the Cheshire Hunt and The Shepherd’s Hornpipe
John brought along his harmonica and played A Kind of Hush and where they could, members of the audience joined in – could have done with putting John on after we’d had more time to sink a few more pints, then we’d have done him justice. Great song John. Graham and Neil joined John to give us Wooden Heart after the break.
Kris sang Learning The Blues: How can you play classically, a classic blues song, as though we were in one of those old smoky jazz bars (remember?). Well Kris can – what a performance; you could hear a pin drop through this one. In the second half she gave us I’ll Have To Say I Love You In A Song; wonderfully emotive for all of us romantics – oh what could have been!!!
Ken took to the front in his characteristically unassuming manner and played his newly learned song, Bottle of Wine. We all joined in the chorus.
Scott nicked a bass line from his (ex) mate Ben and built his own song around it and called it Initiate The Star. Ben seemed remarkably un-moved by this plagiarism. Scott has the ability to bring many different styles to his audiences and this laid back, word-driven song contrasted with last week’s performance. They made up their differences during the break because together, Scott and Ben gave us A Level, a song that had its birth amidst many cans of beer and illegal access to a tape recorder!!! A great set of lyrics.
Kenya, returning from her global expeditions sang the short, but incredibly sweet, Skip Rope Song. We have missed that superb voice these last few weeks.
Mick was in mourning this week because he got rung up by Saga, offering him a cheap car insurance deal for the more mature driver so he sang Look for Wood. Nothing wrong with a good, mature vintage Mick warming and satisfying. It’s these Beaujolais bottles that aren’t worth the effort – all pop and fizz with no flavour!! Hallelujah was his parting comment for the second half.
James played us a medieval melody Bonny Black Hare, a cleverly worded, double-entendre song, typical of the era. This guy can certainly play the guitar to great effect supporting his vocals wonderfully.
Corinna and Stuart have got together this week to co-write a song, Frowns. Either one by themselves are absolutely brilliant, but together these two push the art of music and lyric writing into another dimension altogether.
Stuart played Bitter Angry in a diabolical tuning after the break, demonstrating his ability to echo the vocals in his delicate finger work.
Corinna finished the night for us with Where Angels Feed, and a better way to finish the night does not exist. Sweet voice, excellent phrasing and quiet arpeggio guitar work. Exquisite!!
Hugh had only just stepped into the room when he was prevailed upon to sing us a song. He didn’t disappoint, giving us a Gaelic song, Mairi Mhimm Meall h’u Llean which translates to Mary With Bewitching Eyes. In the second half he sang I Will Take You Home Kathleen. Can’t beat the old classics!!
Raine brought along her mandolin this week and entertained us just before the break with a medley comprising Rolling in the Rye Grass, Green Fields and The Cameronian.
October 25th at the Rising Sun
Review by Kris Spencer
People are starting to turn up in coats, so I guess it must be getting cold. Certainly the mornings recently have been either frosty or misty, and the days, although bright and clear, are decidedly chilly in the shade.
As always, time caught up on us all too quickly, and whilst I try to get everyone on at least twice, we are getting so many quality entertainers I have had to make a small policy decision to put people on in the order in which they arrive. That is the fairest way that I can think of to allow all you talented people a decent slot in the running order. So, the earlier you arrive, the more you will get to do (in theory).
Neil doing the MC honours, welcomed us to the RMC, and started us off tonight with a traditional - sounding, recently written song called In Your Arms Asleep, and his carefully executed finger picking relaxed us into the evening. After the break, he sang his own song, The Unknown Soldier, inspired by a visit to Iona.
Dave tickled the ivories as only he can, and adding to the gentle feel of the evening, gave us Searching For Love, yet another number written by this talented artist. After the break, Dave played Cousin Jane which has been described by some as a Gothic melody. Dave says he can’t wait to use that description to impress someone one day!
Graham relaxed us further with his easy guitar style and one of his own songs, It’s All InThe Mind. In the second half Graham gave us That classic fifties song, Misty in his inimitably laid-back semi-swing style. Another one for us all to join in with.
Dez didn’t try to jolt us out of our comfort zone this week. He gave us a very mellow I Will Wait Forever. Husky voice over rolling arpeggios. Spoke too soon ‘cos after the break he did his best to disturb the piece with a driving Del Amitrie piece. Whatever happened to husky?
Kris bravely followed Dez with Diamonds and Rust – A Joan Baez song. I really love this piece of music which holds many good memories for me. After the break, David Gates’ Diary, with its intricate finger work was aired by way of a contrast to Dez’s driving plectrum work.
Scott then got up, complained of a smooth little finger, cautioned us about the possibility that this might make him slip over a few notes, and sang a song he wrote called Sister Lucy – without a slip! Scott is another guitarist that certainly fills his melodies with much intricate guitar work. After the break, Scott managed to fit in so many words to the Spanish-sounding guitar accompaniment of a melody called Cats on Crack
Chris Payne told us a fine joke and, thankfully, immediately returned to his true forte and sang a Tim Buckley song, Once I Was, accompanied by Neil on harmonica.
John played a ‘guess this tune’ medley-type spot and I didn’t have time to type all the names, but there were 7 or 8 tunes in all. There was at least one member of the audience who got all the right answers (get a life) and one got 9 out of 6!!! After the break he played The Carnival Is Over.
Mick raised the bar, and with a rhythmic guitar accompaniment, he gave us a haunting version of North and South of the River. To finish the evening Mick played Johnny Has Gone For a Soldier.
Matt gave us a self-penned number called A Guy That Fights Back. A driving rhythm and interestingly placed modulations between the major and minor were the characteristics of this piece.
Gemma, accompanying herself on the guitar, played her newly written (Tues) song called Baby Billy. Great vocals and interesting theme.
Stuart and Corinna played a lovely duet of Stuart’s song Fragments. Two guitars and two voices perfectly matched. They claimed that they had been playing together for four hours…. but I don’t believe them…… it was far too good for only four hours…… and they didn’t look at all tired!!!!!
Gosher took to the stage and gave us a lovely version of Cocaine Blues. Immaculately controlled guitar work and inspirationally phrased lyrics are the trade mark of this talented guy. In the second half he strummed The Tears in Your Eyes very stylishly.
Raine played the keyboard tonight, she plays so many instruments you never know what she’ll play next, and her song was entitled Elements
Gene took us up to the break with Local Girls, again written by the artist. This guy can really sing! The gentle picking style he chose set this song off to perfection. In the second half he treated us to Hush-a-Byes.
Lucy sang us her recently-penned song, so recent in fact that it is yet to be named. What a song it was, lyrically mature and musically accomplished. Add to this Lucy’s unique voice and ever increasing confidence on the guitar and we were very lucky to be here tonight.
I asked Julian if he would play a song that we could all join in with because he does this so well, and like a true gentleman, he gave us Maggie May.
Ben told us he didn’t really play the guitar, yet plucked (actually, strummed)up the courage, and borrowing Scott’s guitar, he sang a self-penned melody that is untitled.
October 18th at The Green Man
Review by Kris Spencer
Tonight sees a welcome return to our mate Andy Parker after a long absence. It also seems to that we are going to be entertained by several impromptu collaborations of artistes tonight. What a treat!!!
Neil, John and Kris collaborated on a very ad hoc basis (ie- unrehearsed) to give us Peaceful Easy Feeling by The Eagles
Ron (from Grantham) and Terry (more impressively, all the way from Oz) gave us a melody from an innocent era, Teenager In Love. In the second half they played Paul Anka’s Diana. What a pity they live so far away. Safe journeys home lads and our door is always open to such talent.
Terry then went on to give us Cat’s in the Cradle. Love Potion No 9 was the brilliant follow on after the break.
Grahamdid his Girl from Ipanema/Daydreamer/Mellow yellow/Will You Still Love Me/Nowhere Man/World Without Love medley for us. Seamless perfection! And he knows we only do one each in the first half!! Graham took his usual sedentary stance after the break to give us a self-penned gentle number, Wait Until Spring.
Dez gave us Can’t Believe I Trusted You- a bluesy melody and a wonderfully syncopated delivery. The Ballad of Goodman John, the lyrics of which were written by his daughter Sam, followed later in the night. Excellent and intricate finger work!!
Gosher (he told me he was called Anthony last week!) played a driving blues song called Cocaine Blues with some really super chord variations. After the break he gave us an accomplished and sensitive performance of More Than I Can Tell
John brought his piano accordion tonight and played The Old Rugged Cross – he made us sing all the verses. (Isn’t it peculiar that we all remember the first few lines of a song,but after that……). What Dez wanted to know was,what key was it in…and Graham kindly volunteered his capo. Give Me Oil In My Lamp after the break maintained the gospel theme John brought with him this evening.
Ken nervously gave us The Marvellous Toy. We have missed Ken these last few weeks! His guitar work and delivery improve week-on-week. He had us all singing Sloop John B after the break
Andy took to the front like he’d never been away and praised the surgeons who had done some work on him and gave us Setting the Woods on Fire- an interesting choice of song there Andy?? After doing a fair impression of Thomas the Tank Engine (puff-puff) during the break he gave us Whisky in the Jar.
Neil was then put upon to give us a solo number, and he didn’t disappoint us when he gave us The Blues Rule the Game. Neil started the second half with his own song, No Man’s Land
Chris Payne meandered through The Green Fields of France and lulled them into peacefulness with his wonderful voice. I’m a Believer was his follow up after the break
Terry W, our substitute MC at the Kiln, sang a self-penned number, De Ja Vue, using his trade mark driving guitar rhythm. He sang my own personal favourite from his own opus, In the Under Tow in the second half.
Hugh, gave us an explanation of the song he would sing to us in his native tongue, Gaelic, and then sang Achdarach Ardin in his haunting manner. D’on Cuthag was the next cultural offering from Hugh. It is so good to have such variation at a folk club.
Stuart gave a self assured performance of Paragon, a song that we at the RMC appreciate for its melodic complexity and off-beat string tuning. Burn Me Alive had us all listening intently in the second half.
Corinna sang her own song, Arbour Low,playing the guitar so delicately and singing oh so tenderly. Neil accompanied from the wings and added to the beauty of the song.Will You Come to the Highlands With Me? was the final song of the evening, delivered with style by Corinna.
Raine recited and sang I Need a Life which was the promised second part of the poem/song she had performed two weeks ago. After the break, she unzipped her mandolin and played Full Moon.
Kris finished off the first half with Now And Forever giving her usual unequalled classical guitar led performance leaving us all dreaming of…well, you know!
Tony was caught off-balance, but his performance of Danny Boy was both moving and heart-stopping.
October 11th at the Rising Sun
Review by Kris Spencer
The season of mellow mists and fruitfulness. I love the autumn time – it’s the time of year you begin to sit in front of the fire and retire all warm and fluffy from the world.
BUT…..NEVER ON A THURSDAY!!! I know where you live…….
Neil, fresh from his star turn in Leicester on Saturday, started the night with gastroenter-feedback! (ta Dez). Dez dictated that we all do one song to begin with, which makes typing this up ever-so much easier. Doing a cover of the Eagles’ Peaceful Easy Feeling, Neil couldn’t go wrong as far as I was concerned, he was great. After liquid refreshments he started us off with Girl.
Dez, relinquishing the PA controls gave us the driving rhythm, anger and brilliant vocals of Little World – his most recently composed song. Later he gave us another of his own songs, Your Smiling Face
Dave (Music-man) Matthews graced the stage at our little venue in his usual understated style and this week played the Theme from Hill Street Blues. In the second half he gave us Mr Universe and brought the house down. Dave finished the night for us with Let The Sun Go Down
Kris played I Won’t Last a Day Without You and after the break, Without You
On harmonica, giving it a real haunting flavour by adding a well controlled vibrato, Graham gave us What a Wonderful World. He had us all singing along to You’ll Never Walk Alone in the second half
Anthony, a left handed guitarist of merit gave us a bluesy mix of chord and picking, executing Sweet Home Chicago with apparent ease, with Neil on harmonica. After the break, he played Rain with the ubiquitous Neil..etc. Come back soon Anthony.
Chris Payne then took to the stage to give us another Eagles number, Lyin’ Eyes and that voice just caressed this popular melody. Galaxy milk chocolate at 37 degrees!! (one for the ladies). In the second half he gave us an Eric Bogle song, The Leaving of Nancy.
Julian was the only one who could follow Chris, and he didn’t disappoint as he gave us U2’s I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For. Later he gave us If It Makes You Happy
Terry gave us a new, gentler version of a song he wrote many moons ago entitled Back to Those Days. Then, after the break, he played a Jackson Brown song, Lives in the Balance.
Stuart was persuaded to play A Perfect Fool for us. He seems to be reluctant to get up there these days, yet he never disappoints. Later he gave us a number with some weird Stuart-esque tuning called, Fragments.
Corrina then, selecting her guitar from the expensive array on stage, shyly played for us her own beautifully phrased, thought-provoking song, When Dreams Are Lost. Later she gave us Taken. How can someone so young be so lyrically acute?
Raine, on mandolin, played a self-penned number called Good Things To Think and took us on a tour of her view of the world.
Liz, a new face to the club, did justice to The Rose of Alan Dale, which she bravely sang acapella. It is so much harder to stand and sing than it is to hide behind a guitar or keyboard. In the second half, she played the saxophone, accompanied on the squeeze box by John, a couple of reels which were not named.
Tony sang acapella with his usual showman flair, and after the break he gave us The Rose.
Mick, donning his stylish shades on the top of his head (!), sang Learn The Sea. Anyone who knows and has heard Mick will be aware that he has a certain je ne sais quoi when he sings and plays his guitar – always gentle, always hypnotic, always unique. In the second half we were treated to Motherland