Last night a couple of audience members asked me where they could still get information about BPS. I can only repeat that our web site, whilst a fascinating archive of Black Parrot Seaside history, is no longer current. I have no access to it, and consequently, cannot amend edit, or add material. For the moment, therefore, this Blog, (which is currently irregular in itself), is the only way to keep up. If we have news of us appearing anywhere in 2013, then this address and Facebook is probably the best place to look.
Amongst new cover versions we are rehearsing are that lovely song "The Lakes of Ponchartrain," and the old Gus Elen Music Hall favourite, " If It Wasn't For The Houses In Between." We have also been working through our back catalogue, trying out new arrangements to fit our revised instrumentation. To our delight we find that we can still do all of the following, and will be including them in any set lists:
Requiem for Steam* :Albert Balls: Courting is a Pleasure: The Gravy Train :Naughty: Bedduth Bank*: The Bold Pirate* : What a Folking Liberty and The Odeon*. Those asterisked are CD originals-the others are more recent. Those in bold type are versions of other artistes' songs. We expect this list to lengthen as we continue rehearsals. All of the Blues material should still feature, for example.
So "The Grit Tray" may turn out at some venues, and each of us have agreed that where availability necessitates, solo spots are still quite in order. We have to hope that this latest BPS format may be entertaining someone, somewhere, soon. (Confusing, isn't it?) Plus, we hope to continue to involve our honorary "Parrots" on an informal basis, as and where the opportunity permits. Musicians including Pete Willow, Malc Gurnham, Dave Parr ,Jon Harrington, and "Off The Cuff"-all of whom have jammed with us in the past. ( Perhaps "chutneyed" would be a more appropriate verb than jamming. They certainly did it with some relish!) (Sorry.....!!)
Last night I was at The Bell, in Monks Kirby, guesting as a "friend" of the Sly Old Dogs ensemble. What a pleasure it is to go back there and have the luxury of the backing of a fine group of varied musicians. Last night, whilst singing "Black Velvet Band," -that BPS bete noire which has always divided the band-I had fiddle,banjo,squeeze box, mandolin and several guitars chugging away behind me. Plus the Bell audience belting out the choruses in front of me. Very uplifting, and very helpful. So distracted was I, that I lost track completely of a song I have sung publicly hundreds of times. Muddling up verses and choruses,and gabbling absolute rubbish for the famous verse about pocket-watch-nicking down Broadway. Both audience and musicians were in fine fettle however, and utterly "relaxed" by this time, so we were communally able to pull it back for a rousing finish.
I also aired "Lakes of Ponchartrain." This was the first time I have sung it in public. A lovely song with a haunting melody and a sad storyline. I hope I did it justice. And possibly for the last time in this form,(i.e. acappella), I sang "Peggy Gordon." Not unaccompanied, as I had the ensemble noodling away bravely as I tried to keep time, and the audience murmuring the choruses sympathetically. The three of us have been working on an accompanied version "Peggy Gordon" for several weeks. We hope to give the Old Girl an outing soon.
Next Monday I hope to be at Warwick Folk Club as part of their "Comedy Night." I can pretty well promise that some original BPS funnies will be performed there. Maybe even our famous Beyonce tribute. We'd hoped to do this gig as a three piece, but with Arnie and Mick unavailable, that too will be a solo spot. Hope to see some of you there?
