The Black Parrot Seaside Collective swung into action last night at Bedworth Folk Club's Big Summer Sing. A decent sized audience were in good voice and good humour, as a procession of guests aired various songs in the spirit of the advertised "must have a chorus" theme.
Still missing our mandolin/banjo player, once again we were joined by our chum Malc Gurnham on acoustic bass. Malc was flushed with his success with us at Stratford Folk Club a week ago. He was also flushed with a substantial intake of Hobgoblin, on a balmy night in both meteorological and behavioural terms. As it happened we also drafted a couple more musicians in, with the result that BPS became temporarily a five piece. More of which, anon.
Malc and Gill kicked proceedings off with a series of songs from their extensive repertoire. "It's going to be one of those nights!" Gill correctly observed, during an amicable exchange of good-natured heckling. Rob Oakey, host of Coventry's Sty Folk Club then followed, selecting a contemporary theme including the Donovan favourite "Mellow Yellow." The audience were well warmed up as the inimitable Joe Roberts followed. If you wanted a definition of inimitable-then Joe is your man.
Joe blazed away energetically with his unique singing and playing style on a version of "All The Monkeys Ain't In The Zoo." Which of course, had additional, poignant local meaning, given the Chimpanzees' mass break-out at Twycross a few weeks ago. Joe was pounding the axe so violently at one point that his guitar strap came off, and there was a brief delay whilst first aid was attempted before a second song. This was I think, a Lonnie Donnegan tune, with a distinct Skiffle feel to it. Being Joe there was a little bit of Pete Townsend involved. At one point, his guitar neck was wavering dangerously towards Malc's pride and joy on its guitar stand. There was some screaming, but I think this came from the room next door where England had just gone ahead against Scotland.
Still a little dazed by Joe's performance, the audience were calmed by being treated to that rare Club experience, a Bedworth Virgin. The fact that it was Bob Brooker made this event even more memorable. For as he explained, whilst introducing one song originally intended as a hymn of courtship, Bob's a man who gets around. We've seen him in all kinds of folk settings-but resplendent in a magnificent tartan two-piece outfit and displaying a hairy pair of knees, this was his debut at The Bank. Bob is a talented instrumentalist, and a performer who puts a lot of thought into his choice of songs. He pretends not to, but I know from seeing him before, that he prepares well, writes well, and chooses eclectic material. Joe got quire excited again when Bob mentioned Grimsby, as he and I were both there this time last summer, seeing The Boro' hold the Mariners to a 0-0 draw. Bob did a nice version of the classic "Fiddlers Green." Multi-part harmonies on that evocative chorus.
It was then down to The BPSC to finish the first half. We REALLY do quite a lot of traditional songs, but few which include choruses. Most of our trad. covers seem to entail very sad narratives about ladies who let their chaps down rather badly, such as Ponchartrain, Peggy Gordon, Courting is a Pleasure and Black Velvet Band. Most of own material does feature choruses, so we chose "The Odeon" "Albert Balls" "On Bedduth Bank" and "What A Folking Liberty," in the hope that an audience with many familiar faces would belt the choruses back at us. And boy! Did they! We were joined on all four songs by Dave Parr on guitar, Malc on bass and Sue Sanders on fiddle. Sue comes to lots of gigs where we are and I've noticed she knows many of the words to our original songs. She'd also helped back me doing BPS numbers at Sly Old Dogs sessions at Monks Kirby.
I like to think we closed that first half with a little bit of good taste and decorum after all the ribaldry and reflection of the previous guests. We climaxed with "Folking" (if you see what I mean). It was particularly powerful, romping away so much at times, it sounded like Steel Eye Convention on Helium. I think we first aired this song at this venue. It's remarkable how well it's developed since. Definitely one for the next album, and close to this format. Bellowhead look over your shoulder. The Collective is coming.
Thrupp'nny Bits started the second half. No dog with them this time, but she'd just had 11 puppies, so did not need to bring a note. Eschewing the microphone (at least I think that's what Des did with it), they embarked on a run of three part harmony songs in the traditional vein. Des does not look anything like his Facebook Profile picture. Probably because that's Uncle Bulgaria, who is slightly better looking and a bit younger. During one number I was astonished to see Des using his Kindle as a prompt. Class! Now that's proper Hi Tech. Some of us were shocked to hear them conclude with a song about flatulence. It was good though-I meant to ask them who wrote it.
Bob Brooker returned and sang a couple more, including one of his favourites-"The Bonny Light Horseman." Or " Broken Hearted I will Wander." Or any one of several other versions of this lovely song. Then Sue got up, had a bit of a moment with tuning, but then added another talent which some of weren't aware of-she sang. Unaccompanied, too. Malc joined her for a second song which had a very rousing, gospel-style chorus.
Malc and Gill finished off a most enjoyable evening. They sang pretty well every coal mining song imaginable, in a town once notable for its collieries. Bar one. "Union Miners Stand Together." Oh well.
