Part 2 - from New Milton (15 Jun) to Ludlow Festival (29 Jun)
Witchwood
Tears And Pavan
The Flower And The Young Man
You and I (When We Were Young)
The Hangman And The Papist
Alice's Song
Flying
Ghosts
A Glimpse Of Heaven
Autumn
Simple Visions
Evergreen
The River/Down By The Sea
Lay Down
Hero And Heroine
THURSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, BURY ST. EDMUNDS, 9 JUN 2002
On Sunday evening I attended the Acoustic Strawbs gig at Thurston near Bury St. Edmunds, one of two venues near to me on this tour, the other being Lowestoft. The venue was in a sixth-form college in the biggish but still quaint looking village of Thurston deep in North Suffolk. It's a nice looking and aurally warming theatre. I was very impressed by the past and present picture art from students that lined the walls in the corridors, particularly the three colourful 'cartoons' depicting Suffolk life at a seaside resort and other nearby locations.
The gig seemed to be part of a regular folk club. The school canteen area just outside the theatre had been set-up pub style with a few barrels and kegs to compliment the 'folk'. After the gig I sensed that the folk attending - many keenly supporting Strawbs tee-shirts, vinyl's for signing, and obviously attuned Strawbs fans - seemed a time-warp of sixth-formers now transformed into old hippies, and perhaps some actual past sixth-formers of Thurston College.
Having arrived late the support act was already performing and I chose not to enter the Theatre but hovered near the beer until someone appeared and I was served. Whilst waiting I introduced myself to Brian Willoughby and said hello to Dave Cousins.
Please bear in mind that I'm still saving my pennies for the Baroque and Roll CD and that this was my first hearing of Acoustic Strawbs (but I have had many experiences of the Cousins/Willoughby format). I'm immediately struck but how delicate the music is. This was so evident in "Down By The Sea" where Cousins was able to sorrowfully weep his song rather than the anger usual in front of the electric band. Even the fact that the three guys are sitting rather than standing (Cousins/Willoughby stand) allows newly discovered tenderness to the songs.
I'm a firm believer that every live song should have a different performance, every time - I'm not at a gig to hear the music as it appeared on the record. So for me, immediately every song is fresh and new, and I was impressed by the arrangements acquired for these songs. The arrangements seem appropriate to the Folk atmosphere of telling a story / painting a picture. But I did sense in me that if the Electric Strawbs were in one room and the Acoustic Strawbs were playing next door, on most occasions I'd be visiting the Electric Room. In fact, I believe there is even more of a compromise available (or another format). I yearned for the bass end - a good bassist is percussive as well. And on some occasions I pined for some sort of chordal movement, such as the Mellotron in "Tears" - perhaps the cello should reappear? But this is me just wishing to guild the lily. What we have with Acoustic Strawbs on the road is three talented musicians craftily interacting in honour of the song and the voice.
"Evergreen" transported me back to Holland Park in London on a summer's evening probably exactly 20 years ago, when I first heard that song. The recorded version with Tony and Chris doesn't cut by the lack of a quality piano. Tony is genuine, the arrangement and playing by Chris in genuine, the keyboard is not genuine. But this gig, and that 20 years ago, presented the complete genuine article. A treasure.
The (new) arrangements for "Witchwood", "The Flower And The Young Man", "Flying", "Ghosts", "Autumn", "Evergreen" (we are all getting older), "Down By The Sea" and "Hero And Heroine" are inspired and exciting, and I hope that similar progression continues into Electric Strawbs when it/they reappear.
After the gig Dave Cousins and briefly Brian signed stuff and chatted to people. I love watching this thing - to see people getting their special moment with someone they admire and enjoy. And to see the broad cross-section of people. How some of these people came to discover Strawbs music and get so into it is a marvel and the magic of music? Oh, and over-hearing a little chat it seems that Cousins is somewhat inspired by Mervin Peake!
Scary bit of the night was trying to find my way out of the village. At one point I had no idea whether I was heading N, S, E or W - it was north I needed. Fields, and woods, and scattered farm buildings, and road signs that refused to tell me what I needed to know. I fear Dave, Dave and Brian are still there.
I couldn't believe it when I saw the listings. My musical heroes playing at a school on my home turf. The good folk of Suffolk are not renowned for shows of wild abandon and enthusiasm but maybe that's all changed now! Things started off slowly with a totally forgettable support act (yes! I could have done better!) and too many pointless 'intervals'.
(Bumped into Dave Cousins in the corridor during one of these: he still gives me a 'hunted' look after an unfortunate incident at the Cousins/Wakeman gig. Don't worry mate, I'm a fan not a mad 'stalker'! Honest!)
However,when things got underway we were treated to a truly awesome performance. The best I've seen yet! The standard of sheer musicianship was remarkable and Dave sang with heartfelt emotion, particularly on 'Down by the Sea' My companion described the music as 'beautiful --really wicked!' (All the songs, except 'Alice's' were written before she was born!)
Highlights for me were 'Autumn' complete with the seagulls courtesy of Dave Lambert and 'Evergreen' - a beautiful song which reminded me somehow of Tony Hooper and his work with the band(Guest spot??). Actually the guitar playing throughout was exceptional--especially some subtle work from my favourite Jeremy Clarkson lookalike!
The adage 'save the best til last' was clearly in evidence. I love the new arrangement of 'Hero and Heroine' (featuring Dave Lambert on 'Dublin Airport Duty Free shop' bodran)
Thanks for a great night.
Witchwood
Tears And Pavan
You And I
Simple Visions
Alice's Song
Flying
Ghosts
Lay Down
Autumn
Glimpse
The Golden Salamander
The River
Down By The Sea
Will You Go
Part Of The Union
Hero And Heroine
TIDBURY GREEN GOLF CLUB (PRIVATE PARTY), 8 JUN 2002
Well, how many people get the Strawbs to play at their birthday party .... Louise, who along with Bob, Nick and Lynne, seem to get to almost as many gigs as I do, booked them through Speaking Volumes for her birthday bash at the Tidbury Green Golf Club, and very kindly invited me along.
Nick Evans is a folk performer in his own right and he opened for the Acoustic Strawbs with an excellent short set - I was very impressed. Some Martin Simpson songs gave him an opportunity for some good guitar work (better than me for sure) and his voice was clear and tuneful.
Only fly in the ointment was that the Golf Club had booked a disco in the function room upstairs - Louise and Bob only found out the day before and there was nothing they could do about it. The boys weren't at all phased - I'm sure they've each played worse in their time - and reassured their hosts that it was really OK and that they'd carry on regardless. The thumping beat was very loud, and got louder as the night went on and Dave Cousins had discovered the reason: when the Strawbs turned their volume up it went straight up the chimney, so the DJ turned his volume up .... and so it went, the Strawbs never ones to refuse a challenge, opening with "Witchwood" and "Tears And Pavan".
In the folk club days, Dave Cousins was always a superb raconteur and joke teller - I've been to Cousins & Willoughby gigs where the music was almost incidental! - and tonight Dave rose to the occasion with three or four brilliantly told lengthy jokes, the first being at Bob's expense ("fair play" as Bob might say). It's a side of Dave we rarely see these days, but fitted perfectly with the party atmosphere.
Acoustic Strawbs
"You And I" was particularly good, building to its climax, then subsiding again. "Simple Visions" was a chance to crank the volume up against the competition, and then the banjo section with "Alice's Song" which got serious applause and "Flying". "Ghosts" was particularly powerful, and I enjoyed that thing in the loud middle instrumental Brian does on the top string, which to my mind sounds like crows calling to each other...
A raffle had been organised in aid of Autism charities, which raised £90. Funnily enough, Dave Dave and Brian ALL won prizes - isn't that a coincidence, particularly when the prizes were - an oven glove (DC - that became a bit of a prop later on), a toy golf set (DL) and a sink plunger (BW).
After a single John Lennon song from Nick, a very different look for the Strawbs' second half - I really am pleased that they are ringing the changes on the running order with each gig - makes it much more interesting for folks who attend more than one! Opening with a good loud version of "Lay Down", which the audience clearly recognised, then into "Autumn", where some of the quieter sections were clearly quite difficult to execute given the thumpy competition. A rousing version of "Glimpse" and a strong "Golden Salamander" were separated by the story of the Sidbury farmer and the frog from DC, before the powerful finale of their set proper "River/Down By The Sea".
But, more to come. By special request, "Will You Go" was next and the audience sang along from the songsheet thoughtfully provided - when you mix a bunch of people who've had a good meal, plenty to drink, an excellent show and who are happy to join in - you get probably the best (certainly the loudest) version of "Will You Go" I've ever heard. When the chorus "and we'll all go together ..." kicked in, you thought the roof was going to lift off. That sorted upstairs out anyway! I put in a strong request to Dave to reinstate that song in the set, particularly for the folk club-type gigs where they're used to joining in with chorus songs. He commented, and I agree wholeheartedly, that it was wasted on the B-side of "Part Of The Union" - if it had been put out as an A-side it'd probably have been a monster hit.
photo from Nick Evans
Last up, unusually for this grouping, was "Part Of The Union", again with songwords. Nice touch was Brian Willoughby taking on Blue's little piano solo in the middle (BW does BW!). After the short reprise of the chorus, that was the end of the set, but the boys were persuaded to return to the stage for an encore "Hero And Heroine", which possibly wasn't the same as on previous nights - certainly Lambert seemed to find himself with the bodhran in hand when the guitar was expected ....
Thanks very much indeed to Louise and Bob for inviting me, Lindsay and Adrian - very pleasant company indeed. I also had the pleasure of Lindsay's company on the journey up from London to Solihull, having offered her a lift and we had a great time chatting about Strawbs and related matters - great fun, much more fun than travelling on your own. Thanks again.
Our genial hosts, Louise and Bob !
I'm still in a bit of a trance. What a great night we had and hope you did to. We were so busy all Sunday answering the phone, we had so many calls from friends saying that they are now Strawbs fans and couldnt believe the quality, what a great band they are and such nice lads (I say lads because a lot of the ladies fancied them). We thought they had a great audience and a good response, pity about the noise upstairs, we didn't know about the disco.
Best birthday present I've ever had !!!
Witchwood
Tears And Pavan
You And I
Flower And The Young Man
The Hangman And The Papist
There Will Come The Day
Alice's Song
Flying
Simple Visions
The Winter And The Summer
Ghosts
Benedictus
Autumn
The Winter Long
Evergreen
Glimpse Of Heaven
The Golden Salamander
Inside Your Hell Tonight
The River/Down By The Sea
Lay Down
Hero And Heroine
ARMTHORPE COMMUNITY CENTRE, 7 JUN 2002
Alison's pictures are at http://www.clevelandbrowns.demon.co.uk/as/armthorpe.htm
I set off on my 85 mile journey to Armthorpe, near Doncaster, with time contingency built in as I thought there was bound to be lots of Friday afternoon traffic, accidents, roadworks etc. on the A1. Of course, I had a straight run through without hold-up so I arrived at the Community Centre nearly an hour early to find the doors locked, though peeking through the windows I could see the soundcheck in progress. Fortunately a few minutes later a gentleman turned up with a key and I sneaked in to use the loo and then sat quietly in the corner of the bar eating my tea and listening to the beautiful music coming from the main hall.
Armthorpe Community Centre is a recently constructed brick building with wooden floors, in a former pit village. It consists of a large main hall with a bar area at the rear and the acoustics were very good. I grabbed a front row seat and ended up sitting next to and chatting to Dave Passmore who co-wrote the Strawbs article in Record Collector - a Strawbs nut after my own heart.
The whole show was once again excellent, with both Daves in fine voice, and the audience was completely captivated. We got a special extended version of "Simple Visions" as Dave abandonded the 4th verse and ended up going back to verse 3 - I love this version more and more every time I hear it. It was great to hear "Flying" and considering it was only the third night of playing it live, they pulled it off very well (Dave C later remarked how difficult it is to play).
The second set opened with Dave C saying "Hello again, and it's still light!" as he looked up at the skylights (it was gone 9:30pm). At this, the MC left his seat and disappeared. Dave's dulcimer playing on "Benedictus" was the best I've seen live - his fingers seemed to flow effortlessly tonight. Then we were straight into "Autumn" at which point a strange whirring noise started as the blinds on the skylights slowly descended which sent Brian into fits of giggles just as Dave L's seagulls made an appearance and caused great hilarity all round. "Autumn" is a welcome addition to the set :o)
"Evergreen" is a favourite of mine and I wasn't disappointed and the second set was topped by a wonderful "River/Down by the Sea" and "Lay Down" where we all sang along. The encore of Hero and Heroine was stunning. It had the audience clapping along and bopping in their seats. This has to be one for the recording studio - a brilliant finale.
A very pleasant chat with three Daves afterwards where I was a little alarmed to hear I was going to get sorted out, but it turned out to be with with a full copy of "Baroque and Roll" (I have three copies, none of which has the reprise on "You and I"). The perfect end to a week off work that started with the arrival of the superb Chiswick DVD.
Witchwood
Tears And Pavan
You And I (When We Were Young)
Autumn
Evergreen
A Glimpse Of Heaven
The Golden Salamander
The Flower And The Young Man
Ghosts
Benedictus
The Hangman And The Papist
Simple Visions
Alice's Song
Flying
The Soldier's Tale
The River
Down By The Sea
Lay Down
Hero And Heroine
BLACKHEATH CONCERT HALLS, 6 JUN 2002
For two photo galleries from this gig, see Gallery 1 and Gallery 2.
Blackheath is a smart concert hall venue, big stage area at one end of a very high vaulted space. The very friendly and helpful staff were setting out the tables and chairs when I got there and very kindly reserved me a space at the front for photography purposes. What a difference in attitude from the staff at some venues! Having got into my car to travel over there I found it had suffered a massive puncture, so I'd had to get there by train, the upside being that I could have a few drinks without worrying about driving home.
The first "half" was pretty much as for Hounslow, with "Flower And The Young Man" moving in from the second half (given the length of the first set, it'll probably move back!). The audience reacted very well indeed and gave lengthy applause to a superb "Autumn" and Dave was visibly pleased by its reception. "Evergreen" was a little tighter too. After "Flower" Brian nudged Dave C and suggested that the bar might want to sell some drinks. DC had obviously been carried away - I think he thought he was doing just one set - and commented "Oh, I was enjoying myself" before starting up into a nice tight version of "Ghosts" to finish off the set.
In the second half, the dulcimer came into play for "Benedictus", and then "Hangman And The Papist" followed. "Flying" was absolutely splendid tonight (though Dave later told me he was having difficulties hearing the banjo on stage), with far less hesitancy than the previous night. The banjo plucking fitted well with Lambert and Willoughby's guitars, the two Dave's harmonies were tighter too. I just sat there grinning with pleasure through the whole song. "Soldier's Tale" takes the energy level up again, for the run up to the end of the second act, "River/DBTS" and the return of "Lay Down" (not really surprising - there can't have been many gigs since 1972 when that one hasn't been played, so last night was probably quite a rarity).
The band left the stage through the side door and the crowd chanted and hollered for more for a quite a long time - then back they came (from the back of the hall - "we got lost" said Dave "a Spinal Tap moment") to deliver "Hero And Heroine". DL had learnt his lesson from last night, carefully removing his guitar strap before starting the number so that he can play bodhran in the intro, pick up the guitar then return it to its stand for a final burst of bodhran without getting tangled up. A good performance of this one too.
The only slight criticism of the night was that unusually Dave Cousins' guitar was the loudest thing on stage - I did tell the boys at the back but the adjustment they made didn't seem to have much practical effect - and the two lead parts were sometimes drowned out. They could have boosted Dave's vocals a tad on some of the quieter numbers too.
Witchwood
Tears and Pavan
You And I
Autumn
Evergreen
Ghosts
A Glimpse Of Heaven
The Golden Salamander
The Flower And The Young Man
Alice's Song
Flying
The River/Down By The Sea
Hero And Heroine
WHITE BEAR, HOUNSLOW, 5 JUN 2002
Folk night at the White Bear. I wandered in as the Maestro Cousins was sitting on a bar stool changing his guitar strings and trading mild abuse with Fred Wedlock, busy with a quick sound check. Behind Wedlock, a large screen was showing the Chiswick DVD with the sound turned down (Fred was later to quip, you lot thought you were seeing the Strawbs, but all you're getting is a film show".)
Fred was preceded onstage by Becs (sp ?) Marshall a singer/songwriter/guitarist and her band (lead acoustic guitar, bass and bongos). Becs' voice is very good indeed, and I particularly liked the slightly quieter more melodic number "Happy To Be". I'd not seen Fred Wedlock before but he proved as good a comic turn as Derek Brimstone last year, continuing his barracking of Dave Cousins, who was standing at the bar grinning widely at some of Fred's more risque jokes (plenty to choose from!) Of particular note his encore, "Tights and White Satin" a catalogue of sexy clothes and perversions set to the Moody Blues hit - he got the audience of "90% old hippies" singing along to the chorus "and they love it, yes, they love it".
Second half and the main event for the pub full of die-hard Strawbs fans, White Bear habitues and others who'd braved the elements that foul post-Jubilee Wednesday night. A few familiar songs first to break the ice - "Witchwood", "Tears and Pavan" and "You And I" as strong and pretty much as tight as we left them back in February (which is impressive).
And now pastures new: "Autumn" resurrected from Hero and Heroine - the mid 80s band used to play this when they first reformed, and I was interested to see how they'd handle the third, piano-based section. The Hawken intro is handled gracefully - Lambert supplying album-perfect seagull noises with a slide right at the top of the neck of his guitar - and the middle section could have been arranged for three guitars anyway, Cousins in good voice on this one. The third section works well too, Lambert handling the vocals after the intro and building to a climax with Dave Cousins joining him on the chorus. Excellent - this one will be VERY popular on the tour.
Then, another surprise - "Evergreen" - with Dave Lambert offering cello noises using the Ebow device he used to great effect on the 2001 tour. This also worked well, though I'd like to hear Lambert more on the backing vocals (and balance a tray on his head and stand on one leg, if that's all right {grin - he don't ask for much does he ?}) - which would recreate more of the lush choir vocal I love so much on the Don't Say Goodbye version of this song.
"Ghosts" came next, another one that's lost none of its power in the intervening months, and then "A Glimpse Of Heaven" and "Golden Salamander", the latter seeming even to have benefitted from a break - the cleanest version of "Salamander" I've heard. "The Flower And The Young Man" continues to be a strong favourite too.
As we move into the final quarter, Dave straps on the banjo and the trio perform "Alice's Song", to be released as a single on 10 June. We're all expecting him to reach back for his trusty Gibson at the end of that, but no, it's the first live performance of a song rarely if ever performed live, the spendid "Flying" from Bursting At The Seams. (It was played on Whistle Test, but as Lambert confided later, that wasn't "entirely" live.) Some breakneck banjo from Dave (I'm a little rusty" he apologised later, but it certainly didn't show), chord slides from Lambert, and building towards the choral climax and then the solo coda from Dave Cousins. I've always loved that song and that one will also cause some misty eyes in the audience when played in future.
"River"/"Down By The Sea" with a few new/adapted flourishes in the guitar duel section closed the set proper. Called back for an encore despite the lateness of the hour, they obliged with "Hero And Heroine", much smartened up from its first tentative appearance at Birmingham in February. "Big H" in its acoustic clothes, now opens with Dave Lambert playing the bodhran, switching (with some difficulty on the White Bear's cramped stage) to guitar, then back again to bodhran for the playout. Much tighter, much more powerful, delivering its initial promise.
photo by Dick Greener - more photos from Dick Greener
A few things missing - "Lay Down" for instance, and a Dave Lambert song (I hear interesting rumours of a new song from DL) - but no doubt these will be restored in the full two set performance. Don't expect things in the same order - Cousins was winging the running order tonight.
You won't however be disappointed. The battle-hardened bunch of Strawbs fans in our corner were all absolutely blown away by how good the first night was and by the new material the trio have brought into the set.
[Paul Brazier used to come the White Bear in the old days, but hadn't been back for mny years. On the promise of a lift back into town from me, he travelled up in the foul weather from Brighton, despite having been at work during the day, and also popping in first to his friend Jane's book launch - DG.]
The Acoustic Strawbs were wonderful this evening. But, even better, I got to meet some of the Witchwood people, and it was a lovely atmosphere generally. On the train to London I had been congratulating myself prematurely on staying relatively dry under my huge umbrella. Have you noticed when you walk in heavy rain how the backs of your trouser legs get soaked? Well I did, today. So I sat on the train with my wet trousers clinging to the backs of my legs, feeling just a little miffed. But I was going to see Jane's book launched, and The Acoustic Strawbs at the White Bear! My trousers may have been, but my enthusiasm wasn't dampened. Did I say it was raining?
After the book launch - a glittering affair - strolled down to Piccadilly Circus to get the train to Hounslow, and couldn't move for people. I assume they were all trying to go home, having been rained off looking at the posh peoples garbage and stages being tidied up. I got on a train -- or was it a submarine -- and arrived at Hounslow East at five to eight. And it was a good job I had looked it up on the map yesterday. I didn't recognise it at all. Mind you, it is over thirty years since I was last there. Five minutes staunch paddling up Kingsley Road with only the illusion of dryness existing beneath my giant bumbershoot, and I arrived at the White Bear, but was not shuffled off around to the back entrance as in days of yore. but welcomed in at the corner door, and once my ticket had been inspected and a rubber stamp applied to my wrist (what a blast from the past that was -- I was surprised it wasn't fluorescent -- and it's completely disappeared now) I was allowed to leave my sopping parapluie propped up in a corner giving the floor a drink, and make my way into the back room for the concert.
The place has changed. Used to be, as I said above, that you came in the back door and the concert place was a giant empty space with rows of chairs laid out in it. There was a sort of wooden railing and then an arch dividing the room off on the left, and the bar was on the right, at the back of the room facing the stage. Now, that bar is gone, and instead there is a bar at the side of the room, and where the old bar was leads through to the rest of the pub. Strangely, someone has at some point tried to tame this room, and they have built in all those alarming booth-type arrangements of benches around tables, which means there isn't much room for people who want to see a stonking concert.
I went up to the bar and bought a pint -- the best pint of Fullers London Pride I have had in many a long year, I might add -- and stood there steaming slightly, wondering what I would do with all my bits, and wishing I could have got here earlier and got a seat. Of a sudden, there was Dick Greener at my elbow, inviting me to join his group at a table in one of the booths. So, lucky me, I got a perfect seat and to meet several really nice people.
And then it was time to begin. Dave Cousins introduced a young woman and her band, and they weren't bad -- not my cup of tea, I have to say, but presentable enough. She's got a good voice, but she could do with a proper band, and some proper songs. Her songs felt a bit lightweight for the belting treatment she gave them.
And then it was Fred Wedlock. Fred was a stalwart of the folk scene back in the 1960s, and he is still every bit as wonderful. His humour is first class, and only slightly ribald, and his guitar playing is really rather good.
Now was the time for the intermission. Soon enough, the Acoustic Strawbs took the stage, and they played for something just short of an hour and a half without a break, finishing well past eleven. Rivettingly, among songs familiar from the previous Acoustic Strawbs tour, there were several newcomers, most noticeably an astonishing version of "Hero And Heroine" played with a much more folk-oriented rhythm and featuring Dave Lambert on Bohran, and, according to Dave Cousins, the first live performance ever of "Flying", apart from once on The Old Grey Whistle Test.
I'm sure Dick Greener will give a much more complete review. I just wanted to throw out some impressions. The band were a bit ragged, and the sound wasn't quite right sometimes -- those giant cabinets just seemed too big for that little room. But it was good to hear them so on song, and lit properly so that I might even have some decent pictures this time. Currently downloading from the camera, it appears I took about 300 pictures tonight. One or two of them might even be worth the time.
The concert was over and it was time to go. Some lovely man invited me to a party in Solihull, and I'm very tempted. The usual standing around gossiping after a gig would have been very tense for me if I had had to get the tube, but Dick Greener had kindly offered to give me a lift to Victoria, so we did some serious chatting, then got in the car and in a mere half an hour I was standing on the concourse at Victoria shaking the raindrops off my umbrella again, and wishing I didn't have to wait half an hour before my train left.
On the train, a lanky couple in black ate chips then sprawled on the facing seat. Meanwhile, I checked and discovered to my joy the the mini-disk is finally working, and I enjoyed the latter part of the concert again, to the gentle hum of the trains wheels and the incessant patter of raindrops on the window.
Arriving in Brighton at 02.30 is no fun, especially when it's raining and there are no taxis, but I strode lightly up the hill, got in, had some supper, wrote this, downloaded the photos -- just finished, and there are some crackers -- and now it's almost time to get up, I'd better be off to bed.
What a night we all had! Won't go into all the rigmarole Lindsay and I had to get there (three and a half hours drive to get there but only one and a half to get back) but it was worth it, both for the band and the company of our fellow Witchwooders. Didn't start off very auspiciously when we crashed through the back doors usually used as the entrance in our haste to get in out of the rain, to find we were nearly on the stage. We retreated speedily before anyone knew it was us and found the right door! Had a long chat with Dave Lambert. Didn't really see much of Bex's set so can't really judge - as has been said before the venue is a bit of a weird set-up and only a few lucky ones were sitting down. The rest were not only standing but trying to peer round an archway whilst trying not to get in anyone's way. This included us until - Taaraah! Daring Dick the Wonderous Webmaster came to our rescue and, in a flash (or two) we found ourselves seated on low stools round a table.
Soon after this Fred Wedlock came on. Off stage he looked a lot older than in his TOTP days (don't we all) but onstage he was a bundle of energy - he so obviously enjoys performing it was a joy to behold. Very funny too.
The Strawbs set was terrific - good to see they were trying new things and successfully too, especially with "Autumn". DL has his seagulls flying again and all's right with the world. It was amazing though and looked like it was the one they'd rehearsed over and over - Dave Cousins said later that this was the song they HAD to include in the set. "Flying" was terrific as well although, being picky, I felt would be even better later in the tour as, although they all played their parts brilliantly, it needed to gel a bit more. So difficult to play though so I'm probably being a bit unfair. "Evergreen" was lovely I can't believe I haven't heard it live before- maybe I did in the early Brian days. Haven't heard "Hero and Heroine" played that way before - Dave C said that that was the way it was written, as a jig. Loved Dave L.s guitar bit at the end of "Down By The Sea".
All in all a great evening, hi to everyone who was there.
First show of the summer tour and what a cracking night. Lovely to hear "Autumn" and "Evergreen" which are two of my favourites. Dave's voice was in fine tune as were Brian and Dave on guitar. Nice to see Dave C playing the banjo on a couple of songs this time. "Hero And Heroine" came up again as the finale and got a good reception as did "Down By the Sea". After a two and a half hour journey and lousy weather, it was well worth it.
Typical: it's only midday Thursday and I've been beaten to it already. So quick rethink of my White Bear experience.
As per Paul's effort YES it did RAIN and RAIN and RAIN and if he didn't mention it I will. It was raining; so much so that our party of three's journey time was almost doubled. Which meant that by the time we got there Bex Marshall was already into her set. A brief stay in the bar and there we met the "girls" Lindsay and Christine before heading for the sounds. I liked what I heard and I didn't think Bexs' band was that bad.
Have to say the layout of the place was a bit unusual and the big speaker stacks on either side of the front of the stage severely restricted your view as did the arch at the back. So we ended up on one of the bench seats at the side, more of that later. Having sat down for the last part of her set I looked up to see Dick sitting there along with Paul (introduced to later) and eventually joining them; the "girls".
All in time for Fred Wedlock. Now I've spoken of him before and some have been suspiciously less than enthusiastic but I'd challenge anyone not to be more than a little amused at Fred's set. Cousins introduced him and both settled into a bout of good-natured slagging off whilst Fred got himself set up. To my shame I can't remember a great deal of the set mainly because I was too busy laughing but I recall him starting with congratulating Bex Marshall on her set and how she should get sponsored by "a German brewery and an amplifier company" the "Tights in White Satin" bit and the earlier "Peg Leg Sue Peg Leg Sue, twirl her round and watch her foot unscrew". Bawdy decidedly English humour (right up Claridges street) but some guy from Texas loved it. As did everyone else. I would have been quite happy to let Fred carry on (wash my mouth out) but it was an Acoustic Strawbs gig.
So interval time, more beer, buy DVD for £15, a fiver for a tape of Fred's and back in our seats for the lads.
As for our seats; well normally I'd have been a bit sick with my view at any other gig. Because of the speaker stack all I could see was Dave Lambert, the end of DC's instrument (no comments please!! I mean guitar or banjo) coupled with the odd flash of Dave's left hand as it travelled towards the top of the neck and the rounded end of Brain's guitar coupled with a lovely view of Brian's blue shirted right elbow.
So instead of watching I closed my eyes and just listened, a revelation; essentially because I personally thought the sound was terrific. Dave's voice despite sounding occasionally "froggy" when talking between songs was in excellent form and the whole sound was really well balanced. Though there was the odd complaint from the stage itself whoever was mixing got it spot on.
Dick has already supplied the running order but the highlights for me was Autumn, Evergreen and Flying a real suprise. Part way through Autumn I thought of Doug (a Candian Witchwooder and big Strawbs fan) and how he would have enjoyed this, so I tried to enjoy it for two.
A great night (again) and once again I never got more than a quick handshake or goodbye to my fellow 'wooders before venturing back along the M25 and home. Catch them if you can and if Fred comes your way see him too; you won't be disappointed.
