Trying Buzzard's Luck at The Tump

Lots  has happened music-wise since the previous (but one)  blog entry. Some solo spots at various venues by yours truly. Some collaborations-one with Malc Gurnham at The Black Bank. And the eventual re-invigoration of an old Black Parrot Seaside by-product. A project which already existed hypothetically, but never formally took wing- "Buzzard's Luck". More about the name later. Is it just a lovely ethnic, aesthetic image, hewn from the Folkie Lexicon? Er...no!

I think it's true to say that Eddie Jones and Mick Harris have truly left the Parrot, probably forever. That has shorn us immediately  of some really excellent  instrumentation. Including  accordion, piano, fiddle, mandola, banjo and mandolin to name just a few. And the four part harmonies are down the toilet, too. There is no visible queue of new musicians offering to  replace Mick and/or Eddie. So it's either dump the 100 or so songs we already know,stop writing or get down to reviewing and implementing alternatives.

Anyway. The Buzzard eventually tired of just mauling roadkill (little clue there?) and took off for The Tump Folk Club at the  Humber Hotel in Coventry last night. By invitation, I might add. To join in one of their always interesting and very diverse Singer's Nights. With an audience outnumbered by something like 22-1, there was no shortage of acts there.   Buzzard's Luck  is actually just ex-BPS guitarist Arnold and myself.  (There, now I've told any of you who hadn't already guessed!).  Unsurprisingly, we did two "safe" Parrot songs-well chorused by the audience-and a couple of other BPS standards from the old set list. Robert Johnson's "If I had Possession" and the folk song "Courting is a Pleasure"

Karen was not too well and sent her apologies. Dear lovable old Rob Oakey was M.C. I sat next to him for the evening. I was seeking enlightenment and wisdom from this stalwart of many a folk club. Certainly, I definitely got some of that. I also seemed occasionally to get a broadcast from Radio Luxembourg, a few "pardons?" and a plethora of cryptic answers and knowing smiles to reward my constant thirst for knowledge. He's a mine of information is Rob, but a very deep one.

So... I can't tell you all of the names of those performing, even though I could see Rob had scribbled them on a piece of paper. I knew some of them already of course. The ubiquitous Dave Fry. (look it up, Dave-you can't touch me for it!). Rob himself, twinkling away on that lovely guitar. A much better player and singer than he gives himself credit for. Whispering Campbell Mckee. Colin Squire, whom we'd last shared a billing with on Jubilee Night on Wolvey Playing Fields. Big Jim Smith and his two lady singers.

Then there was Terry and Janet, a lovely and really talented couple whom we'd last appeared with at one of The Maudslay Hotel Nostalgia nights.  Using Terry's accomplished playing, (on another splendid jazz-style guitar) , Janet's beautiful plum rich voice and (Armstrong?) rhythmn guitar, they knocked off four very  interesting arrangements between them. I hope they won't mind me saying they've been on the local circuit a long long time. And they're still damn good.

There was a Simon there who I've seen at a couple of venues. Good guitar player,interesting songs. And another Colin, who did some Scottish songs. One was "Alli Bally Bee"-all about Coutar's Candy. Hadn't heard it since I was a kid. I don't remember Coutar's but I once had a thing for Ross's of Edinburgh Puff Candy which was a poor man's Crunchie. No wonder I've got awful teeth....

There was a mysterious Mexican singer-guitarist, who I think was Jesus. (Not in any sycophantic way, that was his name). He played delightful finger-style and also accompanied a lady with a very powerful voice. "Killing me Softly " was her highlight, whilst Jesus did good covers of James Taylor and Ralph McTell songs. There was one remarkable gentleman who sings unaccompanied songs like "It ain't necessarily so" in a way I can only describe as unique. There were three or four other performers who I'd seen before, but as Rob wouldn't tell me their names, I can't recall who they were. They performed Blues,Country, instrumentals. I thoght they were all good-and very very different. Apologies to those I can't name. I can't remember my own most of the time. If you'd like to temind me who you were, and which songs you did, I can edit this and make it more informative!

Sunday Night Rings a Bell

I was back at the Bell Inn, Monk's Kirby Sunday 26th August, to join The Sly Old Dogs for a night of good audience singing and good music.

I went Solo and did "Thirty Foot Trailer" (Ewan McColl)  and "Chicken On a Raft"  (Cyril Tawney via Young Tradition). Both used to be very popular circuit songs  in 1960's Folk Clubs. They were responded to warmly here. For my third number I gambled on a new one I've floated in a few venues-" What a Folking Liberty." This has a chorus which an audience has to sing very carefully if they wish to avoid committing an offence. On one occasion at Bedworth Folk Club I got it wrong myself, to much hilarity. Let me give you an example:

" Oh Folk me what a Folking Life!
  It's no folking good for me!
   But if I wasna out a Folking
   Then where the Folk would I be?
   So Folk you once and Folk you twice
   and Folk you once again
   We know Folk all and we'll sing Folk all
   and we'll sing it once again."

Try singing that quickly to any tune you like! Let me tell you,when you start getting vowel sounds in the wrong place on that one it's a downward slippery slope. It makes "Pheasant Plucker" seem tame! Got through it though, despite there being a sudden and unannounced firework display on just outside the window. Never had that effect on people before.

Though some regulars were missing due to holidays, there were a couple of additions to add to the entertainment. Maggie Coleman, and Dave Cook, for example. A thoroughly enjoyable night.