"Living Legacy"- a new CD by Brian and Marie Phillips

Emphasising the depth of local talent that you can see or hear in any Folk or acoustic venue, this 14 track CD encapsulates fully the entire breadth of this talented duo's repertoire. Containing many favourites from their "live" performances, it captures both the excellence (and range) of Brian's musicianship and the depth of Marie's distinctive vocals.   Their arrangements of several songs have previously made me go off hunting for versions of them. So it's good to find many of them conveniently listed on one album. Their treatment of some of my personal favourites like Lindsey Buckingham's " Never Going Back Again,"  Dougie McClean's other classic, " Garden Valley" and Iris Dement's prophetic " Our Town" are part of a very satisfying listen.

 

     The album was recorded mixed and edited by Norman Wheatley, who also did the honours on our last CD. Kevin Dempsey  adds guitar on two tracks and Maria Barham provides backing vocals on a couple, too. Brian fairly spanks out a solo version of Davey Graham's instrumental "Anji " and takes lead vocal on John Martin's "Fairytale Lullaby." There are also covers of songs by Dan Fogelberg, Stevie Nicks, Kate Rusby and Jez Lowe, included, amongst others. 

 

Highly recommended. You can find how to obtain it  it here.  http://www.brianandmarie.co.uk/

 

 

 

" Warwick is Our County Seat" *

* a line from "On Bedduth Bank"

 

    En route to Warwick last night we worked out that this was the fifth format which Black Parrot Seaside had brought along to entertain the erudite and enthusiastic audiences of Warwick Folk Club.  Solo appearances, duos, trios, four pieces-but this was the first time myself, Dave, Arnie and Mick had played it. What a fine town our County Seat  is. How well we always seem to go down with audiences there.  ( Hmmm.........what can any of us learn from this?)....

    We'd been expecting a whole host of floor singers before our first spot, but instead we just had a brief couple of songs from M.C. Michael before being ushered forward. There were some familiar faces amongst those present, so the invitation to get singing with us was taken up heartily and immediately, as we opened with "All Over Now."

     Ditto "The Odeon " and " Down Our Street," both of which appeared to stimulate those Nostalgia glands which would be titillated further by the Main Guests, Andy Casserley and Chris Lowe. We calmed things down with a version of "Need Your Love So Bad," and then wheeled out " If I were a Goat. " I have to say that the audience also tackled that (none-too-difficult) chorus with slightly eerie gusto. Indeed, there was some improvised bleating which strayed in true caprine style from the straight and narrow.

 

 " How Silly! and yet...lovely" enthused Michael, thanking us before introducing Andy Casserley.  ( What a commendable resume of the BPS oeuvre that is!)

 

       Andy had a fine singing voice and a whole host of squeezy things with bellows which he played extraordinarily well. Later he would play other instruments just as expertly. His first half comprised some nicely-judged traditional tunes, most of which included dire fates and lessons for us all. Michael began the second half and then BPS returned to soften up the throng before Andy's second slot. This time he would be accompanied by his mate Chris Lowe.

     We did "Courting is a Pleasure," and then thought the audience sufficiently relaxed to air our paon to Folk Singers everywhere,"What a Folking Liberty!" All was going swimmingly well until I had a complete "A" moment in the final and climactic verse. I got my Banjos, plectrums and Occarinas hopelessly mixed up, and lost the story I was telling. All that finely tuned innuendo was also lost, whilst the other three looked on in resigned shock. As I wallowed in the pit of amnesia. Nonetheless, it seemed to go down all right, even though I had to have several runs at finishing it even adequately.

     Andy and Chris then completed the evening. Chris had a very finely honed sense of comedic visual presence, and a good voice for Music Hall. Which is perhaps as well, for that's what they did. Back came the concertinas and melodeons and Andy also played the banjo on several numbers. They opened with "Pickled pork" and continued the theme with songs about Dicky Birds, Tram Journeys and general Variety Sauciness. They finished with "Proper Coffee Pot," as the audience tried gamely to match their flawless enunciation of each chorus.

     We'd played the same bill as the fabulous Cosmotheka many years ago. They were well loved, and rightfully so. They certainly influenced several of our songs, and our stage performance. We still occasionally do "Beside The Seaside" and "Houses in Between." Like ourselves, Andy and Chris didn't plagiarise, they adapted and arranged songs, so that any Dave and Al songs they did had their own stamp on. The outcome was a very atmospheric and pleasant experience.

     All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable evening. " Come back soon!" a very nice lady called out to us as we packed the instruments away afterwards. I think she meant it, too. We'll do our best.

Autumn Drawers On

 

     After a lovely sunny day, for the first time in, oh, ages, my alpine drive across the High Sierras of North Warwickshire was completed in gathering twilight, as I joined revellers ( is that too strong a word?) at The Bell in Monks Kirby last night. For a gathering of Sly Old Dogs and Friends. I saw only two rabbits and a blackbird on that drive, so the odds on a below average attendance on arrival seemed high. But the room was once again busy, and in addition to The Pack there were numerous Friends (me included) to add to the musical goings-on. I was looking forward to the evening, as I had missed the previous two-one due to an altercation with another vehicle en route, and the other because I was confused. People say I still am.

     I arrived early to distribute table fliers for a new Folk Club, opening in Nuneaton next month. (Did I mention that?). As Sly Old Dogs are the guests there on November 5th, it seemed a sensible thing to do. Sean Cannon joined us last night too, and with the audience pounding the tables and screaming for more, after he'd finished ( I think he pays them), I stupidly forgot to plug his future appearance at NFC, too. Oh well. You can see more of Sean when he comes to The Crown. (Did I mention that?).

    Mine host Paco played a spirited part in last night's proceedings. More accurately, he played spoons on a couple of SOD's numbers, and duetted rather touchingly with Sean on a Spanish song. Looking into each others eyes across a crowded room, it was all rather disturbing. A bit like Rene and Renata for the Clinically Insane.Other singing and playing guests included Cheryl, Gerry  Carol  Gillespie, Colin Squire and Eddie. For the record, I did " Thirty Foot Trailer" and a Parrot original," Down Our Street" which always goes down well with this audience.

         The spectacle of Bob Brooker, complete with new haircut, and strumming his giant Bazouki (Matron!), hairy legs akimbo and whilst wearing a stunning pair of voluminous green shorts, was almost more than the faint hearted could take. But it  was near matched by Paul Kelly, newly perched atop what appeared to be a Builder's ladder. In fairness, this did enable him to deal with the regular heckling more effectively. He told us it was to help heal an injury incurred whilst mixing cement. During Paddy on The Railway, Paul's dangling legs, barely able to reach the bottom rung, twitched  and danced convulsively. It was all a bit macabre, and like watching one of those mannequins in a glass encased end-of-pier slot machine. The orthopaedic chair ( if that's what it was, not something from his garden shed) also empowered Paul to dish out virtually every pun on steps, chairs and bad backs known to man and beast.

      Talking of John McKintosh, my suave and erudite co-compere from RODFEST only a couple of nights previously, he plucked bass for the Slys.  John and I were just plain and simple entertainers last Thursday at The Tump.  ( I was plain). I always say there is nothing like good comedy, and that's exactly what you get with John. (Read it aloud).  He proved once again that he is to Stand Up what Genghis Khan was to Gynaecology, as he told jokes which would get him beaten with a Shepherd's crook from Corwen to Llanfairfechan. But John gets a tick from me, for referring to one table of hecklers as "Waldorf and Statdler."

     Proceedings in the third of three halves (that's the New National Curriculum Maths,by the way) were enlivened by the spectacular aerobatics of a crazed wasp, attacking both musicians and audience, and a Crane Fly which landed (fatally) in my pint of Shandy. Perhaps this heightened insect activity is why our audience began to thin a little, as the night drew to a close? Take heed, would-be Nuneaton Folk Club performers. (Have I mentioned that at all yet?).  Leaving early, or just after you've done your spot is very bad form in the Parrot's beady eye view. Your thrift given will be very short indeed, if you come that malarkey with us.  And don't give me all that Old Sailor about missing the Last Bus. There aren't any buses in Monks Kirby. The stagecoach and Hansom Cab haven't even got there yet.