God Save(d) The Parrot

Despite not being the most devout of monarchists,we had an absolute blast last night, doing an open air gig in a marquee on Wolvey Playing Fields. Half of the current Black Parrot Seaside to be technically accurate,as two of our number were elsewhere, otherwise engaged.

It was our first outdoor gig since Newbold RFC a couple of summers ago. And being June in England,it was cold! Whilst the sun was still flooding across the fields,not too bad. But as it went down, and a big orange moon came up,it got progressively chillier.It turned out to be a momentous evening for yours truly, being the first time I'd sung with a full band behind me, since about 1976! Oh how the poignant memories flowed!!

Fortified by a few Becks and San Miguels,we did a half hour slot, following on from Colin Squire, whom we've met up with at The Bell (Monks Kirby) on Sunday nights sometimes.Colin performed an accomplished set, bravely trying to persuade a semi-frozen crowd to sing along with a succession of chorus songs. This included "Yarmouth Town," one of my favourites from his repertoire. I appeared to be the only person belting it out with him!

It seemed to take ages for us to set up. We'd not been able to access the performance area beforehand, and Off The Cuff, (who were later going to join us), also needed to re-check their tunings. Arn and I started with "Over The Hills and Far Away",which we've been reworking recently. Without being able to use the fiddle intro, and shorn of Eddie's bridges between chorus and verse, Arn now chops in a tasteful electric intro, using the Telecaster. Bramcote Barracks was bathed in a golden glow as the sun set behind us. It added a certain irony and relavence to this old song about soldiers doing their best for King and Country, a long way from home. It got a good reception. (Applause gets the circulation going!)

We followed up with "Some Day The Sun Won't Shine." This song was popularised on an early Jethro Tull album. The cold by now was playing havoc with strings, as Arn found to his horror during this number. Keeping the Old Boy on his toes, he then had to switch to 12 string for "Courting is a Pleasure." We hit a really good tempo on this, with a few people actually dancing! The bar had been open all day, and I guess folk were just trying to keep warm. Arn then got the dobro going,to finish our solo bit with "Vigilante Man." I would add that he lap-played it for this number, but it might sound a bit rude.

Off The Cuff then joined us for three more songs. Derek, Pete,Adrian and Jon all now inducted into the honorary Parrot Hall of Fame. With Arn hanging on to the Dobro, (but standing up this time!),we pumped out a spirited rendition of Robert Johnson's "If I Had Possession" -based loosely around Clapton's version. Anker Delta White Boy Blues. This is really how it's meant to be done! All amped up, Drums and base, bottleneck guitars, and a blues harp warbling away between verses. Brilliant. The audience liked it-(dancing again!) and I was ecstatic!

Sam Cook's "Bring It On Home To Me" then followed, a version more closely allied to the Animal's cover. Again featuring all six of us. And we finished our solo bit with "Need Your Love So Bad."

I just adore this song. It's a personal favourite of mine, but I have never previously had the privilege of performing it publicly. Peter Green famously transcribed it from the Blind Wille John original. It's a song with a very special meaning for me. It was our first dance as a married couple at our wedding reception in London, oh so many years ago. Thereafter it became "Our" song. We danced alone to it again at various family parties. To be able to sing it, whilst fronting up an ace band,and looking into the eyes of the Love of My Life right in front of me as I did so, was a truly magical and memorable experience. Dunno if the audience enjoyed it quite as much as I did, but they seemed happy enough!

Off The Cuff then got everyone dancing. They played one excellent set, stopped for the beacon to be lit, and then returned for another. I cannot praise these guys highly enough. Immense gratitude to them for working patiently with us at rehearsals,and backing us "live." I have played support to The Darts and East Of Eden. I've met John Lee Hooker. I've recorded in the studio where Dire Straits put down "Sultans of Swing." Our songs have been played on Radio One. But this goes right in there along with the great Parrot music moments. Singing The Blues in a six piece is really where it all took off with BPS in the 1970's.I'd almost forgotten how cool it can be. Unless I get a call from a band looking for a vocalist over the next few months-this may never happen again!