The Damn Truth - Empyre

THE DAMN TRUTH - EMPYRE

Musicioan Pub July 25thg 2023

This was the proverbial gig of two halves... first up were EMPYRE.A competent rock band, who came on and, with the exception of the bassist, looked as though they were being obliged to do unpaid overtime in the accounts department... the Bass player however came on and displayed some of the energy and commitment you want in a rock band. Musically they were sound and the singer has a fine voice... they went down well and got a fine reception, but from what appeared to be a large family and friends section... but sorry guys, it did nothing for me...you looked disinterested and that is infectious, and the self deprecating humour between songs was too close to the truth to be engaging... not a great start

Then... after a short break, The Damn Truth came on like a runaway express train with rock'n'roll charisma to spare... smiles and good vibes... and crashed into the first number which got the whole crowd moving... from then on is was hot, sweaty, exciting rock'n'roll that just showered the audience with the great feeling . The band was ultra high energy from start to finish and were clearly having a ball (so were the audience!!) and as Tom said "we dont care how many we play for, we do this cos we fuckin love it".... absolutely... and so do the audience.

Lee-La plays guitar and sings, and is reminiscent of a reborn Janis Joplin (high praise indeed), singing with a strong and wonderful voice. All four musicians are great players in their own right and put them all together and something magical appears...

This was truly hot, sweaty, exciting rock'n'roll from the go... wonderful vibes and a wonderful rapport between the musicians on stage and between the band and audience...

After the show and a chance to meet the musicians I didn't really want to leave the room and break the spell... this was rock'n'roll as good as it comes! Huge thank you to Lee-La, Tom, PY & Dave for a memorable gig

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

Chris Murphy

 CHRIS MURPHY

Musician Pub July 19th 2023

So First off... this gig at the The Musician Pub was a total stunner... possibly the best performance ever in the venue... i ended up high as a kite and almost speechless... so, who delivered the show... tonight we saw Chris Murphy.

Chris is not only a violinist, he also plays mandolin, sings and writes songs and tunes... but that is hardly covering it.

He started with a couple of his own tunes in irish style, an air and a jig followed by a song... from there he took us on a journey around the USA delivering tunes and songs in the style of the musics of much of the country, covering among others, bluegrass, country, ragtime, blues...

He playing is absolutely magnificent... not only playing violin, but using tape loops on stage to multi layer the fiddle... both bowed and plucked/strummed... creating waves of sound and music that build and build into something quite magnificent. The multi-layered fiddles at times being hauntingly beautiful and ethereal, as in Hyacinth, and at other times breathtaking and exciting.

The show never slacked or dipped... the playing and use of the multilayering was at all times rivetting...

Chris delivered some 2 hours 20 minutes of stunning music... and i havent mentioned that mindblowing final piece... a long extended fiddle piece that started quietly and built and built just ripped along leaving everyone ecstatic and breathless... he wandered out into the audience and sat at a table while playing much of this piece... and when he returned to the stage and finished the crowd stood to cheer him...

No hype.. no exaggeration... Chris Murphy is a phenomenal musician and entertainer who had no trouble at all establishing a rapport with the audience and 140 minute show seemed to be over in just a few minutes.

This was a special... outstanding... memorable show... and i am so thrilled to have been there to witness it

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

Papa Shango - Dr Spork

PAPA SHANGO - DR SPORK

Musican Pub July 15th 2023

Tonight started quite normally at the The Musician Pub with a set of vintage 70's rock covers by Dr Spork.The band deliver a selection of covers of classic rock songs including the compulsory "Wishing Well" and "Smoke on the Water". The band played well, there was a great spirit about them and I particularly enjoyed the look of glee on the drummers face when he attacked the kit... It may not have been the greatest set we've seen, but it was good and I enjoyed it.

Now.. how the hell do you review a gig by the outrageous phenomenal Papa Shango. If you've seen them you will know what i mean... if not.. here goes.

Start with the fact that the band are all mad as a box of frogs... completely barmy... and you know i love eccentricity... The girls in basques, including flautist Papa Nikki, sing, squirt water at the crowd, roam around the audience squirting cream and distributing biscuits as well as surrounding a human dartboard... the main girl singer sings... supports Shango, roams the audience encouraging participation while Shango himself prowls... it's difficult to prowl menacingly while laughing joyously but he manages it... he also sings and chats and jokes throughout...

And what of the band... behind the madness and insanity there is a damn fine rock'n'roll band... mind you the musicians don appropriate headgear for the songs and leap around the audience playing

The show is non-stop rock'n'roll, massive energy, insanity, utter madness and total joy... you spend the whole gig laughing and grinning like a loon while boogieing away...

... and the songs... all original... outrageous... you may get the idea from the encore number... "Danger Wank"....

Papa Shango is more than a rock'n'roll band.. much more... they are the ultimate entertainers... huge fun and simply wonderful... it should be compulsory to go to a Shango gig.. .you wont see rock'n'roll quite the same way again....

Absolutely wonderful band... huge entertainment and i loved every second of this fabulous night

Huge thanks Papa Shango... that was a simply wonderful night!!

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

Chameleon Dreamers, Multimorph, Peter Ingram

CHAMELEON DREAMERS - MULTIMORPH - PETER INGRAM

Musician Pub July 14th 2023

Well, this was a different show... a psychedelic swirl of music and words that i found hugely enjoyable.

The evening started with performance poet Peter Ingram who delivered a few of his own poems... strong words and feelings I am sure... Later in the evening Kenny quoted TS Eliot in that you have to feel poetry before you understand it... and sadly i didn't feel this at all... Peter did not communicate in any way, looking mainly at his words and the stage left... and it left me rather cold.. however, as said earlier... i feel that the poems were probably pretty good and well meant.

Then we had Multimorph... a multi dimensional psychedelic band who turn the clock back to those heady days of psychedelia musically, but are bang up to speed with the messages about caring for the planet and needing more love and understanding. The centre piece is the lyrics and delivery of the leader, Maureen Anderson (vocals/sax/flute) who tonight appeared more relaxed, happy and animated than i've seen her... while giving her usual theatrical performance as well as singing and playing. The band as a whole was cooking along beautifully getting feet tapping and moving... that is to say nothing about the dancing fish!!

Closing the show were the newly formed Chameleon Dreamers... (Kenny Wilson (vocals/guitar/accordion), Pip Greasley (poems/synthesizer) Jackie (drum/castenets). Their set started with a few poems delivered by Kenny over his accordion, then Pip delivered a set of poetry over his synthesizer before the centre piece of the show.... Kenny's Chameleon Dreams song... a flexible evolving piece celebrating the heyday of the Chameleon Cafe. This featured vocals and electric guitar from Kenny, Pip on synthesizer and Jackie on Percussion. The piece was the central theme of the earlier Chameleon Nights gig... another Chameleon Nights gig coming up in September!!

Overall... a hugely enjoyable evening delivered to a small but hugely appreciative audience...