* 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.
