Blackbeards Tea Party

BLACKBEARDS TEA PARTY

Musician Pub 30th November 2024

Out to The Musician Pub last night to see a unique band, Blackbeards Tea Party... I must admit being caught between two extremes with this band. On the one hand I found the music samey and getting monotonous, even the traditional songs remoulded to sound the same as the original material... while on the other hand i loved the sheer exuberance, musicality and vibe of the band.

They hit the stage with loud huzzahs and cracked into their first song with huge energy... Hard to categorize the music... elements of folk, rock, punk, glam all delivered with huge energy and some pretty nifty choreography throughout.

Strong lead vocals throughout and the guitar, bass and drums led by high tempo fiddle and some of the time with lively accordion.

The first half concentrated on original material and ended with a couple of traditional songs, "Who's the Fool Now" and "Whip Jamboree"

The second set was really more of the same, a mix of original material and traditional songs all delivered at high pace in the Blackbeard style... ending with a rousing "Come Landlord fill the Flowing Bowl" which i hadn't heard in any context in many a year...

The encore started in unique style with the fiddle player playing a tune while the drummer drummed a rhythm on the strings on the neck of the fiddle with a pair of chopsticks... stylish!.. until the rest of the band appeared and filled out the sound.

Visually the band are terrific... sparkling "glam" outfits and always moving... with perfectly choreographed dance routines and some extravagant leaping around... you have to admire a band who can deliver such a physical display of dancing and leaping and continue to play without losing anything in musicianship.

Overall the band are terrific high energy, visually rivetting and dynamic... you seldom see a band deliver a set with such assurance and energy throughout... and with such musical quality...

However, i do have the reservation that in reality I found the sound very samey and unrelenting... but by the end... the sheer exuberance and energy made it a hugely enjoyable show

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Roger Wilson & Chris Parkinson

ROGER WILSON & CHRIS PARKINSON

Musician Pub 28th November 2024 

Last night The Musician Pub hosted a most enjoyable gig... Roger Wilson & Chris Parkinson.

The duo have played music together both as a duo and in the House Band for many years and their long standing friendship was clear to see as they interacted with each other and with the audience throughout.

Their strength is clearly their musical prowess, Roger playing fiddle and guitar and Chris on accordion and harmonica and delivering a rich mix of up tempo dance tunes from Britain, America, France and further east in Europe.... generally speaking a tour through their musical past.

The two instruments and playing blend beautifully throughout and the tunes are simply irresistible keeping the toes tapping busily at all times.

They both also sing, delivering some traditional songs, covers and original material... among others, Chris gave us "Matchbox Blues" (Blind Lemon Jackson, but learned from the singing of Ringo Starr!) while Roger premiered a lovely new song, "Cockleshells" and an unexpected (by me at least) cover of Tom Waits' "Shiver me Timbers"

The rapport between the musicians and between stage and audience was wonderful, both musicians have an easy charm and some lovely chat and tales.

Both musicians were playing at the top of their game and the music exhilarating... and Chris' dextrous switch from accordion to harmonica a sheer delight!!

This is the kind of music i have always loved, and i loved this performance from start to finish... absolutely superb evening.

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Hartland Country Band/Venus Attax

HARTLAND COUNTRY BAND/VENUS ATTAX

Musician Pub 27th November 2024 

I'd seen and enjoyed a couple of members of the band playing as a duo in recent times so was looking forward to seeing the full band in action at The Musician Pub last night... sadly it proved to be a disappointment.

First up, a couple of my own personal bugbears... UK country bands wearing big cowboy hats, it never looks right and at least 3 members with ipads/tablets on stage... both, for me detract from the overall performance.

I know Hartland are a country covers band, and that is fine... i enjoy country covers... however the material concentrated almost solely on more recent pop/country material, most of which I didn't recognize, or particularly enjoy. They did dip into some tried and tested country material, but very much the very predictable, such as "Jolene", "Country Roads", "Wagon Wheels" and "Rhinestone Cowboy"

The band ring the changes through the set by switching from electric lead to lap steel, which along with the fiddle adds to the country feel. They also have four singers who switch and alternate the lead vocals, as well as adding harmonies, to keep it varied.

The overall performance was also marred, as so often with local bands and friends/family audiences with an at times noisy audience.

Looking round the room towards the end it was noticeable how the audience had thinned out...

Very disappointing gig, i left before they delivered an un-merited encore.

Venus Atax opened the show with a support set

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Govannen

 GOVANNEN

Guildhall: 22nd November 2024

I don't normally do reviews when I go to gigs at more formal venues, such as the Guildhall (or Y Theatre/DeMont etc) and don't take pictures... but this performance last night by Govannen deserves attention... the band were firing on all cylinders and delivered an absolutely wonderful performance which the sold out audience revelled in and absolutely loved.

The band kicked off with a set of tunes which went at a heck of a pace and followed it with Dan singing the Waterboys "When Will we be Married" which set the tone for the evening... they mixed songs with tune sets throughout pacing the set superbly and keeping everyone delighted throughout.

Difficult to pick out highlights... but for me Dan's song "The Storm" which closed the first half is always outstanding. Each of the musicians took their turns in the spotlight.

Chris delivered a couple of fine songs, "Carousel" and the wonderful "Jazz Potato" and Roger sang a couple including "The Beggar"... a real favourite of mine. In the second half Adele shone with a beautiful slow air on fiddle

After the "Storm" a short break and then the second half carried on where the first left off... with wonderful songs and tunes throughout.

The musicianship in this band is immense... Adele and Roger playing fiddle, and leading on most of the tunes were exceptional while Chris as ever played keyboards and various whistles, including the legendary :two whistles" piece and the kalimba. Dans guitar/mandolin/bodhran playing was as ever driving with the rhythm or playing delicate lines as required while Neil's percussion and backing vocals were outstanding, adding depth and rhythm to the overall picture.

Towards the end Dan announced that they had had a request, and were going to play a christmas song... cue for instant shudder... but no worries... they delivered a superb version of "Fairytale of New York" ... definitely their own arrangement and different in many to the original but glorious... and had the audience joyfully singing the appropriate bits!

After that... the final tune set virtually brought the house down... intense, high tempo, full of joy and simply wonderful.

For the encore they offered something different and a treat... and it sure was... Adele singing a traditional irish ballad, with minimal accompaniment from Chris and Neil... absolutely beautiful performance of a beautiful song and a wonderful way to round off what had been a very wonderful, very special performance...

Neil, Chris, Roger Adele, Dan....many thanks for an outstanding evening to celebrate the 30th anniversary...

I wonder how many of the capacity audience would have turned out had the gig been at the Musician or IAC?... Remember Roger is playing the Musician on Thursday with Chris Parkinson... it's going to be a terrific night... you'd be foolish to miss it!!!

Keep music live... keep music real... support your local venue

Kris Dever/Heather Cartwiright

KRIS DREVER/HEATHER CARTWRIGHT

20th Bovember 2024 

Pure joy at The Musician Pub last night... i love good music across many genres, but my first love has always been folk music... and that was we we enjoyed last night.

First up last night was HEATHER CARTWRIGHT. Heather delivered a short sweet and lovely set, beautiful voice and fine guitar playing. She kicked off with an american ballad and a guitar instrumental piece from her new cd, and made an instant impact with her lovely voice. The set continued with mainly original compositions, all of which were high quality. Lovely warm set delivered by a fine singer and writer... loved it

Headlining was KRIS DREVER... before-hand everyone was telling me how good he is, and they were right. Kris is a superb guitar player great singer and writer and delivered a simply magnificent set.

Professionalism is a term often looked down on, but Kris is a seasoned performer, in absolute control of what he does and his performance moves like silk from start to finish... admirable professionalism.

He kicked off with a bagpipe tune played immaculately on guitar and led straight into a song and later also played a fiddle tune, "The Unst Bridal March, on guitar.

Much of the set was Kris's original songs, mainly written in a very traditional way, and without exception excellent songs which you want to hear again and again, He did also play some traditional material and his own songs and the traditional material sat comfortably side by side.

Between songs Kris has an easy charm and some highly entertaining and lovely banter which made for a wonderfully warm and entertaining performance.

No question... Kris is a really class act...a superb artist delivering a truly wonderful set... superb... absolutely loved it and hope to see him again soon.

Overall a warm, beautiful and very memorable evening

Keep music live... keep music real... support your local venues

Bo'weevil Brothers/Slimjim/Howlin Matt

BO'WEEVIL BROTHERS/SLIMJIM/HOWLIN MATT

Musician Pub 19th November 2024

An evening of all sorts of stomping blues at The Musician Pub last night with the return of the Chicken Head...

First up was Howlin Matt playing hugely infectious foot stomping blues on guitar and mainly his cigarbox guitar. His playing drives along, especially his fluent and brilliant slide work and his voice carries the lyrics perfectly. Matt threw in at least one excellent original song but concentrated on the works of the blues masters of yesteryear, delivering their material with fire and passion. Terrific music and his warm personality rounded the set out with some great banter and comments between the songs... simply outstanding performance.

Next up was Slimjim... my memory may be at fault here but i remembered them as a duo... but they are a three piece featuring guitar drums and harp, with two lead vocalists. More powerhouse blues reworking the works of the masters... its always good to hear some driving harp playing in the blues, and the musicianship of this band was again top notch...powerful flowing stomping blues music. Good to hear the two vocalists bringing a different voice to the music.. .in a great set the highlight for me was the Story of Bo Diddley which tells of the start of the great man and the invention of rock'n'roll... and it rocked like crazy!!

Final act of the evening was a welcome return of the The Bo'weevil brothers... I'm sure everyone knows the band, and how good they are... and tonight they showed again why they are one of the most exciting bands on the circuit. Al contributing his trademark powerful growly vocals and harp as well as some driving bass work while Jimmy drives along on drums, as well as playing some great harp and adding top notch vocals, add in the superb guitar playing of Nick and you have a heady brew of rocking blues music.. Nick's playing is magnificent especially his slide work.

The band also delivered a hotch-potch of authentic blues and as always kept up a great pace and power which is totally infectious... another great set. Watch out for the album due early next year.. .it's sure to be a cracker

Over the evening we had a tour of blues music from every style and origin, each delivered with authority and style that kept feet rocking for the whole evening... hugely enjoyable and exhilarating evening

Keep music live... keep music real... support your local venues