Bedduth

          I must admit I didn't fancy driving through the thick fog which suddenly enveloped my village last night but I'm glad I did, over The Wolvey Alps to Bedworth Folk Club. After I had plugged it and on a "live" interview which went out on BBC CWR at around 3.45pm, saying I was going I had little choice. And besides, any opportunity to see Bill Bates and Keith Donnelly peddling (or should that be pedalling?) their own unique brand of comedy needs to be taken.

            I'm sure that secretly, Bill must sometimes wonder about the fact that the excellently crafted  serious  songs he's written ( like "Miner" or "Over The Top Boys" )are often forgotten or overlooked amidst the mayhem surrounding his set(s). But the fact is that he is a natural comic talent. Added to which the symbiosis which occurs whenever he gets loose with Keith Donnelly renders the shared material is near genius. It's the closest thing to a Double Act on the Folk Circuit, a cross between Morecambe and Wise, Cosmotheka and The Chuckle Brothers. 

          This was a comedy vein Black Parrot Seaside mined happily for a few years, but it surely has to be so much harder work when there are only two of you to choreograph the anarchy? Technically of course, there's always only ONE of them, as Bill appears solo nowadays. However, (finger on lips, wink wink), it's remarkable how many times Keith is in the audience when Bill appears. He needs little persuasion to come out and assist/harass his mate. You cannot simulate or enact the relationship they obviously have. It is naturally, organically funny, whether the ad-libbing is from the stage, aside, or delivered deadpan from Keith sitting innocently with the audience. A running gag about a Dutchman and spontaneous bouts of sneezing for example. 

              Not all the comedy in the room was provided by these two however. Gremlins seemed to be nibbling away throughout the night. Watching Webby trying to wind a lead around a mike stand was comedy gold. So much so that Keith commended him on it. (I haven't seen such concentration since next doors cat stalked and killed a robin). I did wonder if Gill turning off the P.A. instead of an electric fire ( one which seemed to be annoying everybody on the far side of the room) was an accident or part of the act. Malc's reaction answered that. Later still he himself would make unscheduled alterations to the wall sculpture over there. His surreptitious attempts to readjust it did not go unnoticed.

        Illness and no shows meant Malc had to do some hasty rearranging of the floor spots. This had the advantage of giving us a chance to enjoy Maria Barham, so swings and roundabouts there.  Brian Phillips, the smooth old devil, had no technical  problems. He delivered two songs with the usual panache before embarking on an Odyssey about a televised combat between fighting shellfish which made me wonder what he puts in his tea nowadays. His Anker Folk  Poet Laureate Award is safe for another year. 

             Dave Fry provided the warm up for Bill's second half set. I settled down for some crooning and warbling from the Fry back catalogue,but his third one " I wanna be Bill Bates," really made me sit up. Cleverly written and masterfully delivered,it said everything all of us there present felt about the man. Keep it in your set list,Dave, it's a winner. A presentation of a special mug followed. Touching scenes. For a moment we could be on the red carpet in Hollywood.  

Dave Fry

       Bill's  25% grasp of things technical is legendary and he exploits it ruthlessly. ( Or does he..?) He clouted his beloved iPad with a guitar neck, lost plectrums,trod on several objects and nearly got stuck to the floor several times. He relies heavily on the iPad(no shame in that) and his dismay when it lets him down or Keith meddles with it is hilarious. He had so many problems with guitars that at times the far side of the room looked like an operating theatre, as Keith and Katherine Fear wrestled valiantly to resuscitate one which had developed what sounded like Rhinitis. Is this all unrehearsed? Keep it in, if it isn't! 

           Bill was genuinely suffering from the 'Flu which had already poleaxed others and yet this gave his voice an odd, gravelly timbre which was quite endearing. (Typical of the man that he brought along his own mike and stand so that he wouldn't infect anyone else). We were treated to some old favourites-tales of Car Boot Sales:Recycling:Man Flu (ironic) and some more recent ditties about Healthy diets.

         But the peerless highlight of the evening for me was their second half question and answer treatment of a Simon & Garfunkel medley. Keith was merciless as he piled on the gutteral barking out of staccato questions. Keith-" Where Are you?"  Bill- (rather nervously) "I'm sitting on a railway station," Keith "Why?" Bill  " Got a ticket for my destination," Keith "What noises are you making?"   Bill- " Hmmmmmmmm"  You get the drift. This had me in tears, and I'm not talking pathos. 

            As if this was not enough hilarity, Bill's encore was a self-penned  homage to Steve Knightley. (Poor Steve got stick from several quarters throughout the night but I don't suppose it will bother him much). This featured Bill singing along with a pre-recorded track providing accompaniment. It was outstanding. Proving that, the image of bumbling inefficiency and nervousness is actually a mask. It was technically brilliant and lyrically wicked. So much so that once again, I laughed until it hurt. And so did everyone else. 
            No exagerration to say that Bill has been to Hell and back,in several ways. Those who care for him are delighted to see him returned to public performance and on top  form. I'm sure those looking down on him last night would have thoroughly approved.