Last
night, (for the second time in four days), I joined a roomful of
musicians and a good singing audience for a night of organic Folk and
acoustic music in a Warwickshire pub. Having spent Thursday singing with Black Parrot Seaside in Coventry's Humber Hotel, I felt priviledged to
be allowed three songs in front of this lively company. Again, not in
the South of the County, with its Tapas bars, Sushi outlets and Prada branches. Not
at a Radio 2 Awards Night, nor at the Albert Hall. There was not a
Guardian journalist or a BBC Culture critic in sight! This time I
was out in The Wolds for the monthly gathering of the Sly Old Dogs
and Friends at The Bell Inn, Monks Kirby. If you wanted a passable
definition of The Craic outside Eire or The Hebrides, this is the
nearest you could get on The Mainland. Certainly in Coventry and
Warwickshire, anyway.
Locally,
there aren't many rural pubs on a Sunday night which could pull in
this many punters to sing and play live music. I passed my local at
about 8pm, as I left our village to steer the Bentley along the Cloudesley Bush
Corniche for the brief 10 minute hop to MK. The car
park was empty, all the lights were blazing, but not one customer was
visible through the giant windows. No-one dining, no-one drinking.
( Publicans and Managers-what can we learn from this?)
By contrast, just a few miles over the fields (as the crow flies) The Bell
was rammed. In particular the overflow restaurant area which doubles
as the music room on Sunday nights. Audience numbers have fluctuated
here over the last few months, but it was evident that tonight was
going to be a good 'un. The Central heating was on, it was a mild
night and within minutes of starting, the indoor temperature was like
an Algarve Summer evening.
The
Dogs were musically at full strength. Eight musicians, Martin
Bushnell, Colin Squire, Richard Ryder, Pete Willow, Nigel Ward, Bob
Brooker, Paul Kelly, and John Mackintosh. Supplemented by Banjo Dave Paterson.
Amongst the Friends were Gerry Bailey, Phil Benson and Rob
Halligan.So there were at various times, and in various
combinations, an electric double bass, two fiddles, several guitars,
two banjos, mandolins, a bodhran, a tuba , a whistle, all manner of string
instruments and some talented singers. Oh, and me.
With an above average-sized audience in, composed of all age ranges, how could it go wrong? Well it
didn't, even though there were a few tiny minor glitches. Phil Benson
and “The Orchestra” had a few false starts on “The
Sunny Side of Life” before they finally got it under way in the
right key. Paul Kelly seemed thankfully to have fully recovered from
a previous altercation with a bookcase, although later, he would
demonstrate motor co-ordination was still an issue whilst
spectacularly dissassembling an Instrument Tree. ( Thing you hang
stuff on whilst not playing it-not some wondrous new horticultural
advance). Bob Brooker made a good attempt to play virtually every
instrument in the room whilst trying to select one which was near
enough in tune for him. After about five minutes of tutting and
plucking, he went for one. (His own). Pete Willow ran out of
plectrums, though I'm not surprised, with the speed and vigour with
which The Dogs attacked one medley of Dance tunes.
Mine host Paco wandered in to do a
couple of Solos on the Spoons, and the pub alsatian wandered in to
inspect the salvers of roast potatoes which had been thoughtfully
dotted around by Paco and Co, on the tables, for our delectation. Later
on I thought I saw, from the corner of my eye, Bob Brooker absent
mindedly using a Roastie as a plectrum. But the light can play tricks
with the eyes in there.
Rob
Halligan was Rob Halligan, passionately busting some earnest tunes, a
couple of which I'd heard him doing on the radio, recently. Whilst
spanking his guitar with great energy and panache. The audience
responded warmly to that. Phil was in an “O Brother Where Art Thou?”
kind of Groove, (must be something in the Canal Water?) treating us
to seamless segues from one song to another. But to everyone's
relief, he drew the line at trying to emulate Alison Krauss. (Not
saying he couldn't, but trying to picture him reaching for some of
those higher notes in her cover of “I Will ” isn't a pretty
thought).
As
for me, I did “Between The Wars,” “Black Velvet
Band,” (rude not to?), and finished with our new baby, “ Down Our
Street.” Once again D.O.S. delivered. You can't get a better
compliment for a new song than hearing audience members say “ I
liked that!” when you've finished. And so Street ,Son of Odeon,
will be joining the permanent set list as soon as we can play it.
(Smiley face!)
In
such exalted company I felt honoued to be granted three. I'm only a
“Friend”, and not a SOD, so I'm not being sycophantic in saying
that The Collective in full spate like this are simply irrestible.
They are the Feature at Atherstone Folk Club next month-18th
March, albeit a slightly truncated version as one or two are
unavailable. Go see them. If you can't wait till then, Martyn and
Colin are playing at Warwick Folk Club tonight. 