Ding Dong at The Bell

     It nearing the end of the month, I spent last night once again just over the hill road, in the company of Sly Old Dogs and friends, at The Bell, Monks Kirby.  (Is it me? Or are the SODs and their "friends" getting just a little bit prettier?) Anyway, they were ably led and choreographed by Doctor Willow.  (Which sounds like some 1970's kid's t.v. cartoon).

     We were just a little thin on the ground in places,presumably because of the Bank Holiday. At one stage the musicians outnumbered the audience. This is common in many folk venues but quite a rare spot here. And speaking of a  rare spot, Paul interrupted one song intro  by enquiring of Bob Brooker which bird was bothering him as he tried to sleep during the previous night. He added hastily that the nuisance was being caused by something "hooting." He then gave an eerie and frankly  fairly frightening impression. Bob opined that it was either a Raven or something objecting to an owl. I disagree. ( I haven't shared with Bob yet, that I am an RSPB member). Setting aside all possible double entendres about birds bothering men in their sleeping chambers,my guess would be a coot, a  moorhen, or Canada Geese.  All have calls which can carry quite a long way on a still, calm night like Saturday was. I expect Paul slept with the window open. Partly to get some fresh air, and partly as a potential means of escape. Most waterfowl are feeling pretty frisky at the moment, and their mournful lovelorn cries would carry quite a long way. No charge for that advice,Paul. Just send me the Bill.

  

     Ever the daring, crazy Loon, I made my first contribution by singing what is usually the final song of the night. An alternative version of " Wiil Ye Go Lassie Go. "  Being quite early in to the first of three halves, this got a few people confused. The Pub Dog went out for a wee, and Paco started stacking the chairs. I just wanted to make the interesting point that variations of so many songs exist. The version I did  is one I picked up from Alex Campbell. Not, (unhappily), in person, but on disc. It has an additional verse to some versions which  I've heard locally.  And a few very Scottish-sounding phrases about "dear glens sae drearie", " I will twine for thee a bower," " wi' all the fleurs o' the mountain."  Och, yes.  Another little known fact about this fine old song is that it was written about a disobedient ( but beautifully groomed) collie, who (like Doctor Willow) featured on childrens' television. She kept turning up at the ranchhouse door and barking. And this horrid little kid with a brace and a check shirt used to keep shouting the title line at the dog.  Try it. But use an American accent. ( Makes sense,now,  right?). 

     Anyway, there was some stirring stuff for the audience to savour. Rousing performances from "The orchestra " of classics such as Wild Rover  and Rose of Allandale. Pete in particular had a positively Richie Havens moment, spanking the axe and plucking the guitar strings with a speed and aggression during a Jackson Browne number, "Before the Deluge". The recently departed (alas!) Old Boy himself would have approved of such delivery.

   As a reward for the singing along with me during Go Lassie Go, and because Sean Cannon wasn't there, I aired "Black Velvet Band," my guilty pleasure, as my second piece. Always well-received.   By this time, Cheryl had arrived, and she contributed a real crowd pleaser, "Drift Away," the anthemic Dobie Gray song. Got everyone singing in a wistful kind of way. After a lengthy promo for Coventry Songwriters circle, Bob did one of his own songs, the newly penned "Bridlington Quays." Nicely sung and nicely played, with a haunting little whistle accompaniment. More wistful singing also accompanied Paul's  60's classic "Colours." When he'd finished, Bob executed perfect comic timing and brought the House down by adding, pensively, during a pregnant silence, " I always liked that Jason Donovan."

   Other highlights were the always greatly enjoyable "Yarmouth Town," performed by Colin Squire and his accompanist Paco, on hot spoons. (Because he'd fetched them from the dishwasher). A rousing song, this,and performed at a mischiveously rousing pace.  And that Sue Sanders is a bit of a dark horse. Having seen BPS and Bill Bates tearing up the house at Beduff just a few days back-there she was again.Sitting opposite me,last night. And only playing the fiddle! Rather well, actually. Performing solo and adding some nice stuff to other people's work.

   I'd sat next to Tony Super and his wife, and so I was able to crank him up and get him re-started during a stall half-way through "Over The Hills." Tony and I usually have a pre-gig chat nowadays, so we don't duplicate each other's repertoire. As a result, neither of us sang Peggy Gordon! But he did do "Marie's Wedding."  I have sung this in public previously-but only once. Lovely tune.

   For my third choice, I couldn't make my mind up whether or not to do "Lakes of Ponchartrain," or "Need Your Love So Bad." Both songs I really love. I chose the latter as it is considerably shorter than the six verses of "Lakes." I had a feeling that the SODs wanted to rip things up a little, and I didn't want to delay things. I wasn't wrong.  Fabulous finish,boys!

AND THE NUTS WERE DULY GATHERED

LAST NIGHT'S BEDWORTH FOLK FESTIVAL FUND RAISER

BEDWORTH R.F.C.

        Over the years, we've tried to mellow, as you can see from a Zama Records Company Promo photo (above). We've tried to introduce more traditional Folk songs and some Blues, into our act. However. There's no getting away from it: some people genuinely seem to like us mucking about a bit  a lot-both lyrically and otherwise. Club organiser Malc Gurnham certainly built up expectations beforehand, with his imaginative titling of this event . So we disciplined ourselves to splitting the evening between us and our good friend Bill Bates. And agreeing to do only erm, (intentionally!) "humourous material."

       I was really psyched-up beforehand. The local paper had billed  the Live Music attractions available that evening as:  Muse, The Specials, Bill Bates and Black Parrot Seaside and The Moscow State Symphony Orchestra. Exalted company eh? Bet Muse don't get that every day! My heart leapt as I arrived. The Rugby Club Car park was totally full. Wow! Had they all read the advertising, and come to see us, because the Ricoh was full? No. They'd come to see the model car racing next door. Oh well.

      We began  a night of three halves with a mix of excellent floor spots. Malc and Gil, Dave Fry and Maria Barham, a debut from the Robinson-Stone Brothers, and a rare outing for Phil Benson. Dave, bless him, had been unprepared for the slightly nutty theme, but to make him feel at home, we laughed at him anyway .Firstly for forgetting that in the first place and secondly when he suddenly realised that he'd been playing with what appeared to be a business card (found in a telephone booth?)  inserted behind the strings on the neck of his Guild. I'd wrongly assumed that this was some new economy capo, intended to dampen the sound.

 

    Maria had arrived clearly (and as always!) ready to enjoy herself. Gil's desperate attempts to get a photo of Maria  windmilling her guitar about were also amusing. Through her second number, Maria created such a downdraught that an entire stack of Chester Folk Festival leaflets tumbled one by one and rather eerily, to the floor. (It was probably a poltergeist, so I'm not going there). The debutantes played three thoughtful and musical numbers including an Eagles cover,using the interesting combination of guitar and electric keyboard. Phil delivered an enormously long anecdotal song about a marathon pub crawl. I'd heard someone do it a few weeks ago somewhere else. The chorus, which grows longer by the verse, remained utterly unfathomable to me.

  The second half began with Bill delivering some of his own songs. I have to say that one or two of them  every one was quite rude. Bill is a fine guitarist, a great raconteur and a writer of songs which just pack in the jokes. (He told me to say that).  He starts quite a few  of them with " I knew a girl called Rita,". Or Cheryl. Or Susan.  Or whatever. He was once in Hi De Hi. Or a Butlin's Redcoat. Or something. I was very disappointed to find that, although he sang his infamous Chocolate Bar Song, there were no free samples available,as previously. Obviously Santander are tightening the screw on him. Thank God he hasn't (yet?) written a song about prophylactics

   A difficult act to follow,then. Arnold had been riding the Duchess of Hamilton earlier that afternoon. Apparently,with a tender behind, and a full head of steam up, she'd got quite hot whilst he was doing so. Possibly why he was certainly looking quite dishevelled when he arrived (late!) from Nuneaton Station. We wobbled (rather than launched) our first set with our first* single- "The Whistler." (*Our only single.) Joe always likes to tell us at this point that he picked the single up for 75p in a Charity shop. I like to reply that I was offered £150 for one by a collector last year. That makes him go quiet. (Though not for very long). I had distributed a bag of whistles, tooters and squeaky dog toys just before commencing, in the hope of recreating the atmosphere on that legendary You Tube clip of " The Whistler,"at a BFC Christmas Party in 2007. Oh you know...the one where Norman Wheatley is wearing a pair of antlers....

   "Cockney Power" then followed,with the audience gamely attempting the convoluted chorus. This was to be one of our three Cosmotheka-inspired numbers, so we felt it apt to follow up with a debut number. Our version of "Houses in Between." Which owed more to Al and Dave Sealey than Gus Elen. However, there were some "technical" problems, and so we scrapped that hurriedly bringing  forward "The Odeon." Another popular chorus song. By this time, Joe, perhaps disturbed by not having a floor spot, became more exciteable than I'd ever seen him. Even at the Boro' Play-Off Final he wasn't this animated. Whatever he's on, I want some of it. We concluded the second half with our homage to all Folk Clubs everywhere-"At The Septic Monkey." That got lots of laughs. Most of which we'd intended to happen.

    Our mock raffle concluding this gentle parody caused some confusion. Especially as the real raffle followed, and at one stage there were two separate sets of tickets flying about. Maria kept  her  " We Love Our Westie " 2012  Annual, but Bill wisely left behind his copy of "Thin Bitch in The Kitchen." Although I try hard to make our raffle prizes so unpleasant they are unkeepable, several happy punters took them home.  Always gratifying, that.  Some kept their  whistles,too. Though Dave Fry kindly returned his squeaky adjustable wrench.

 

     After another break, and a sensible raffle draw, we were tasked with starting the final half of three thirds. Bill would conclude the evening. Malc kindly re-introduced us by recalling a conversation he'd had with local radio's Keith Wedgbury earlier in the day. " Black Parrot  Seaside," Keith had exclaimed," Gosh! They are so slick, aren't they?" Got the biggest laugh of the evening. Thanks for that, Malc! (Or was it "sick"?) Anyway, keep taking the tablets, Keith.

    "The Bold Pirate," went well, with further excellent audience participation.  Must admit, Rugby Club audiences can be lively, but I've rarely seen a Beduff audience quite so animated as this. What a crowd! "Albert Balls" followed, and by now Joe was not alone in looking as if he might not last the evening. (He knows the words better than we do, which is always useful). Arnold got a little carried away with his Duck Walks, Angus Young impressions and exotic guitar licks During this number,he makes The Ramones seem tame when he's in the mood.  The extended re-mix of "On Bedworth Bank," was received well. (Obviously, no-one in from Rugby, Kenilworth, Warwick Stratford, Leamington or Atherstone).

 

    "What a Folking Liberty!" seemed a somehow appropriate way for us to finish our contribution. Soon it was time for a rather more genteel (but still quite rude) Bill Bates to bring back a little decorum. ( He's always had a little decorum, Bill-he told us). Then. as a final, final encore, both of us led The Company in a rousing version of the B-side of our first* single-"I am a Vacuum Cleaner With the Brain of a Bird." Featuring a guitar duel at the end where neither Bill nor Arnold would accept the finishing flourish. Epically sung, with some good gospel work in the Acapella Section. 

 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWhx251CSq4    

 

Does this make Bill, as with Dave Parr, Malc Gurnham, Pete Willow, Keith Donnelly,Jon Harrington  et al, an honorary Parrot, now? Sadly, Bill, I think it does.

 

 Were people singing especially enthusiastically? Or just eager for us to let them go home? You see what you miss, folks, when you leave early? Tsk!

 

Join us for "NUTS IN MAY" in Bedworth tomorrow night!

And here's a line-up you won't see every day!

Here we have the CD-Format Black Parrot Seaside, on stage at The Maudslay Hotel in Coventry. Left of Arnold is the great Roddy Felton. Next to Eddie are Brian and Marie Phillips. Behind Geoff you can just make out Norman Wheatley. We were all singing "Go Lassie Go," at the end of a very emotional Fund Raising Concert.

   Tomorrow night, in a night of three halves, ourselves, Bill Bates and loads of floor singers will be concluding the Spring 2013 Festival fundraising season at Bedworth Rugby Club. Admission is free, but jugs will be passed. (Oo-er, Matron!). We have promised to do some of our dafter stuff, including The Whistler, The Bold Pirate, At The Septic Monkey (with raffle), an extended (rude!) version of Bedduff Bank AND a fitting finale with "What a Folking Liberty." Audience participation is essential-and this will not just extend to chorus-singing.

Free gifts of a non-Mars Bar nature will be on offer. Although...you may wish to give some of them back....

The Archive Parrot Photo of All time!

Wow! Here's THE Orginal, and first ever Black Parrot Seaside  line-up,taken from our first EVER rehearsal early 1975. Just look at all that hair! Left to Right, Arnold Chave, (guitar and vocals), Geoff Veasey (vocals), Tez Tehergee (guitar) Dave Blundy (guitar). All ex-Caludon Castle lads.  At least three more ex-Caludon Old Boys would later join us: John Walker, Mick Harris and Graham Caldicot. 

     Dave Blundy rehearsed with us, and helped us out a lot with our sound in the Electric days.He was actually working a lot with Davey and The Starliners at the time. He did guest occasionally however, notably at the notorious  Smithfield Hotel (Coventry) gig . Later, after the various rock formats and the first Folk format had split up, we still often rehearsed or jammed  in Dave's flat in Coventry. John Walker would join in,and one of our ex-bassists, Martin Smalldon, would bring along a double base.

Rob Lockington joined us soon after, as our first drummer. Mick Harris came in on keyboards. and has been with us on and off ever since. Graham Caldicot became a second vocalist. Barry Ousby became our first bassist. The debut B.P.S. gig was in 1975/6 at Wolvey Village Hall. Geoff missed it, as he had Mumps!