Click for Part 1 - reviews and pictures from the first half of the June tour.
Benedictus
Tears And Pavan
Ghosts
A Glimpse Of Heaven
The Flower And The Young Man
Alice's Song
Flying
The Hangman And The Papist
Autumn
You And I (When We Were Young)
Out In The Cold/Round And Round
The River/Down By The Sea
Lay Down
Hero And Heroine
Simple Visions
THE SUN HOTEL, HITCHIN, SUN, 29 JUN 2003
A few thoughts about the Hittchin gig last night. Though I've heard about it, I've never actually been to the famous Sun Inn Folk Club in Hitchin. The Sun Inn looks as though it's an old coaching in, fantastic building in one of the olde worlde bits of Hitchin - unfortunately for us in finding the venue the street it was on was dug up and impassable, so we had to go round the long way and find a car park a little way away. Looks like a great club though and I'll certainly try to get back there again.
The folk club is held upstairs in a large function room, with a small stage on one side - and I do MEAN a small stage, probably the smallest space I've seen the boys have to fit themselves into. The opening act, Jim Edwards, who performed a nice set of acoustic guitar-accompanied songs, some with a blues feel, even had trouble getting himself onto.the stage: he performed the first song standing up, then gave up and borrowed Brian's stool for the rest of his set. An excellent fingerstyle guitarist (Brian popped in to watch from the side), I thought his voice at times sounded very Nick Drake, and wasn't surprised to find a couple of Drake covers on the two CDs he had for sale (which I bought).
Nice to see various folks there in the audience, Steve Young (the Witchwood discussion group owner) with Rod Green, the Strawbs' trusty CD cover designer in tow; Kevin and Jan; Sue and Mike Holton, Adrian the Rock (Adrian's also a moderator, along with me, of Witchwood, but though I've seen both of them before, that's the first time all three of us have met - where was David Claridge, the fourth man .... ?).
I missed the three Acoustic Strawbs shoe-horning themselves onto the stage, as I was in the bar getting a top-up, sadly missing also what sounded to be an excellent"Benedictus". If so, it was to set the scene for a very slickly performed Strawbs gig, one of the best I've seen (and believe me I've seen a few!). It seems as though, far from tiring them out, the constant touring has honed the show put on by all three players - as it used to by the end of a full band tour - to a level of skill that allows for new flourishes and further developments to the arrangements. Dave Lambert was particularly impressive on vocals - taking care to show the softer side of his voice where that is needed, and on guitar, his power chords are stunning, and his instrumental work note perfect as always. Dave Cousins was in fine voice throughout also, particularly on "Tears And Pavan". And the combination of the two on "Flower" was just electric.
The first set had more of a folk club feel, with "Benedictus", "Glimpse Of Heaven", "Flower And The Young Man" with its accapella at beginning and end, the two banjo numbers, and, unusually (well it was a folk club after all) "Hangman And The Papist" to close the first set (Dave, who was in particularly fine form anecdotally, started introducing "New World" much to the ausement of the other two before he realised his mistake and started again). Brian's guitar work comes to the fore in the first set, particularly on "Ghosts" and "Glimpse".
The second set majors more on the progressive period, drawing in three epics from Hero And Heroine alone. "Autumn" is an excellent opener, building to the anthemic "Hold On To Me" chorus with both Daves singing. "Out In The Cold/Round And Round" was particularly powerful, with the acoustic rhythm at the start of the latter, having a foreboding, meancing feel; Lambert's acoustic power chords particularly fine on this and the closer "Here And Heroine", which as many have said, just gets better and better.
A few new touches to "River/Down By The Sea" to my ear (not saying they haven't been there before, but I've not spottred them, on this occasion listenbing particular intently). Always good to hear "Lay Down" and the folk club, who hadn't had much to sing along to seemed to respond well. And a return to the stage for "Simple Visions" - two old men and Dave Cousins very happy, along with a thoroughly contented audience. (Well apart from one guy in the toilet who was wistfully saying that they didn't play "Will You Go" - well it was a folk club after all ....
Benedictus
Tears And Pavan
Ghosts
A Glimpse Of Heaven
The Flower And The Young Man
Alice's Song
Flying
New World
Autumn
You And I (When We Were Young)
Out In The Cold/Round And Round
The River/Down By The Sea
Lay Down
Hero And Heroine
Simple Visions
BRIDPORT ARTS CENTRE, FRI, 27 JUN 2003
Just got in from the boys' concert at the Bridport Arts Centre in Dorset. About a hundred people in an attractive venue. An excellent concert, although Dave Lambert's guitar sounded a bit "bright" on occasions. Lambert played immaculate slide guitar and sang beautifully on "The Winter Long" and Dave Cousins was in good voice all night. This was my fourth Acoustic Strawbs concert - songs they hadn't played at the previous three included "Flying", "Autumn", "Round And Round" and "Out In The Cold", plus Dave's amazing Edith Piaf-style "Simple Visions" as the encore, arms flying everywhere - Je Regrette Rien. Oh, and "Hero And Heroine" sounded quite different.
Bridport looked at its attractive best and the Strawbs gained some more converts. Interestingly there was a young boy of 10 or 12 sitting on the same row as me who was singing along, knowing all the words. Well done, young man. Carry the torch, keep the faith etc..........
As luck would have it a holiday booked earlier this year coincided with an Acoustic Strawbs gig down on the South West coast. A chance not to be missed, tickets booked and map consulted to find location; we arrived on a beautiful summer evening to find a splendid theatre with "bags" of atmosphere.
The lads, as usual, were on fine form with Dave's anecdotes, stories, and jokes, well received by an appreciative audience. (About 90-100) The first set started with Benedictus and this set the tone for the whole evening. In particular Ghosts was, again, a pleasure to hear. The interaction of all three guitarists was breathtaking. With Dave`s association with the west country "A Glimpse of Heaven" was very appropriate for the venue.
The second set started with the brilliant "Autumn", but Dave's tale of the approach of autumn and the nights closing in drew quite a few moans from the audience on this mid summer evening. "The River/Down By The Sea" was played with such power, Dave and Brian's playing was breathtaking, that, after a stunned silence, the enthusiastic applause nearly "took the roof off". Of all the songs given the "acoustic treatment" Hero and Heroine stands out. This, for me, was the highlight of the gig and shows how a song can be completely changed in feel and content from the original recording.
For the encore "Simple Visions" (what else) with Dave in full flow and Brian/Dave L matching every move. As one of many Acoustic Strawbs gigs I've attended this one must rank near the top, the sound was excellent and the atmosphere in the theatre great.
After a short chat to Brian we set off back to our cottage to prepare for the 400 mile journey home the next day. The moral of the story, always check the web site for venues, you never know.........
DEVIZES FESTIVAL, THU, 26 JUN 2003
I set off on my pilgrimage to the Town of my birth. With no taxes to pay it was straight to the pub nearest to the venue and on entering found Brian and Neil with first orders already on the bar. DC showed up shortly afterwards and a little later was followed by another celeb in the guise of Fred Wedlock, who handed Dave a bottle, perhaps with the elixir of life .
The town hall venue is a quaint venue, used more as a meeting room than a concert venue, but resplendent with plasterwork ceilings. The foyer was decorated with the black and white photos of previous mayors of the town going back to the year dot, which drew comment that it had taken a long time for colour photography to reach the town, I remarked that it was not surprising as it had also taken over 30 years before they got the band to come and perform there.
It was a very hot and sultry night with the only relief from open windows as we were on the first floor of the building, which no doubt left the sound cascading down to an unsuspecting street below.
The official capacity for the event was 150 but this was surpassed by the time the band took to the stage, as the event had sold out long before the night. The opening number of "Benedictus" was greeted with rapturous applause as it closed and it was at that time that I realised that this was to be one of those very special nights watching the band. I have not seen a crowd of Wiltshire folk react with such enthusiasm in a long while.
The sound quality was superb (watch out for Stockbridge later in the year - same engineer I understand) and whilst numbers attending appeared more than expected, every one was comfortably seated, but preserving the intimate atmosphere that the Band generate.
During DC 's intro to "Tears And Pavan", the distant peal of church bells drifted in through the windows, just in time for the usual description of the single bell tower. This just added to the moment and although the bells continued during the first set, it was only during Dave's intros that you noticed and they were not intrusive on the event itself. This caused Dave to comment that if he realised that they would be played tonight, he would have made sure that he was in tune with them.
"Tears And Pavan" was followed by "Ghosts", "A Glimpse Of Heaven", "Flower And The Young Man", "Alice's Song", "Flying" and "New World". A poignant and crashing ending to the first half. Applause had been long and sustained after many of the numbers leaving DC wistfully considering when he could start the intro to the next song.
Plaudits at the interval were numerous and the second half set of "Autumn", "Remembering/You And I", "Out In The Cold/Round And Round", "The River/Down By The Sea", "Lay Down", "Hero And Heroine" and encore of "Simple Visions" only cemented the views expressed at the interval.
This was a special night and one that all fans of the band should have been at . I was one of the privileged to see the outstanding performance, venue and audience all rolled into one. I was told that the organisers were heard to comment "top that" meaning they didn't think they could! Rumour has it that the band celebrated long into the night, they deserved it , the night had been special. I am off to Bridport tomorrow. If it is half as good it will be another night to remember.
Just back at work so I can post a review of the show in Devizes. I'd thought the venue was quite small from the outside and wasn't mistaken! On the way in I spotted the band entering the pub just behind the hall, no surprises there! Of course Devizes being the home of Wadworths brewery, there is a fine selection of pubs to choose from! I'd guess the hall held about 150 and was sold out. The venue was the upstairs meeting room of the town hall and came complete with ornate plastered ceilings, chandeliers and large portraits on the walls. The stage was just an area in front of the large bay windows on the front of the hall so anyone passing in the street below would have had an amazing blast of Strawbs. Bumped into Nigel Bennett who was sat just behind me. Apparently his brother sponsored the show!
The set was the same as the rest of the tour and having last seen them in Cirencester I was surprised to find they can still get better and better. Dave L's playing was amazing, Brian's seemed effortless as usual. Dave C's voice was possibly the best I've heard it and "New World" was particularly awesome. "Round And Round" is another song I couldn't imagine played acoustically, but it works really well (I wasn't a fan of this song until hearing it at Chiswick with Chas playing thunderous bass, now I really like it). Some nice new stories and a very funny joke about his accident and a Jehovah's Witness. Dave stopped at the start of one song (my memory is terrible!) and complained about his tuning to which Dave L quipped, "you play in tune?, ha".
Because of the size of the venue, the band actually stood on stage and took the rather rapturous applause before the encore, the first time I've ever seen that happen. In fact the reception from what looked like one of the most respectable and aged Strawbs audiences I've seen was pretty fantastic!
Would have been nice to hear some more different songs in the set but the band played for more than 2 hours so we can't really complain! As Devizes is a sleepy Wiltshire market town, I couldn't imagine an amazing concert by the Strawbs happening there but it did!
Benedictus
Tears And Pavan
Ghosts
A Glimpse Of Heaven
The Flower And The Young Man
Alice's Song
Flying
New World
Autumn
Remembering/ You And I
Out In The Cold/ Round And Round
The River/ Down By The Sea
Hero And Heroine
Simple Visions
MARTLETT'S HALL, BURGESS HILL, SUN, 22 JUN 2003
I could pretend to do a blow by blow review of the evening. However, the plain facts of the matter are that I was woken up by a thunder storn this morning, and the threat of thunder storms continued all day. Sadly, this and the frequent cracks of thunder and outbreaks of torrential rain were not enough to call off the Party in the Park, but were enough to destroy our hopes of walking to Burgess Hill (about four miles north of Brighton). Instead, we had to brave the crowd barriers and hordes of policemen and struggle our way to Brighton station and be forced to get a train without buying a ticket. At least I can now say that I have been within a quarter of a mile of Atomic Kitten.
Arrived in Burgess Hill and went to where I thought the gig was. It wasn't. Spent some time finding it -- it is very well hidden. Went to bar to get beer, and the band came on before I got back to my seat.. It was dark.
They were superb, as usual. There is little more to say about a performance that has solidified in both presentation and skill over the past eighteen months. The boys were great. From my point of view, the lighting was good, so I might have some decent pictures too. We shall see.
And so it was time to go. Burgess Hill railway station recalcitrantly refused to take our money for a ticket home, and I became vaguely worried that, as the area is now a penalty fare zone we might have hassle when we got back. In the distance, lightining played over the downs. We got the train, and all the barriers at Brighton were open and unguarded -- I guess all the security men had had enough of Atomic Kitten and gone home to do something with the pent-up energy -- but we got a train to London Road, our local station, and walked home in torrential rain while the lighting danced and crackled above our heads. Arrived home, nearly sober by now, drenched, extremely happy at the end of a good evening despite all the jobsworths trying to spoil it for me, and discovered that while I had been dodging raindrops, I had become 53 years old. Made vegetarian sausage sandwiches, had a glass of fizzy water, and sat down to share this. Happy Birthday me.
Paul Brazier (53 years, one hour and seven minutes old, and counting! and the lightning is flashing and the thunder is cracking and rumbling... I wonder if I will ever sleep again...)
In the morning I had no idea I would end up in Burgess Hill on Sunday night, no tickets or travel plan, particularly with a couple of closer gigs taking place later in the week. Come 3 pm I had convinced myself it was on, particularly as I found tickets were still available and plenty of time leaving at 4.30 for a journey at worst should have taken 2 and a half hours. But some strange things have happened on the way to gigs in recent weeks (see WSM) and Sunday was no exception.
Shortly after leaving home I came upon a couple of cyclists, nothing strange in that other than a closer inspection revealed the gent had a pack strapped to his back and popping out was the head of a terrier. Obviously out for his Sunday "walk" the dog looked content as my mind drifted to Blue Angel. A sign surely.
Now there is nothing worse than arriving late for a gig and with less than 40 miles to go well on time but then travelling down the A272 caught up with a horse box. I sat 3 cars back as we travelled for 30 miles at 30-40 mph behind the contraption. Frustrated, the time in hand soon disappeared and the immortal words of DC flooded back "I would have willingly shot the bu***r", as 8 pm drew nigh. Fortunately, having been to Burgess Hill before I had a real idea where the venue was and arrived just in time with 8 minutes to spare.
It was weird, the guy in the ticket office, was just as I imagined on the phone he really did have a beard.
It did not end there as during the interval I was approached and asked if I was in the AA. With absolutely no idea on the working of the combustion engine I thought the only thing I could do was to offer to push. It then struck me that perhaps it was a subliminal message, having been photographed at a recent event with certain Mr .G when sobriety was not necessarily the order of the day.
By then of course we had been treated to a typical strawbs first half with a good crowd enjoying
"Alice's Song" received a particularly warm reception and fresh from Grave New World, The Movie, "New World", an emotional ending.
I did not have the best seat in the house on the end of the second row, but it was next to the amp and and opportunity to just close your eyes and listen without any hint of interruption.
The crowd may have been approaching 200 on the night and was treated to a second half strong on favourite content.
The treatment of "Out In The Cold" during this run has been refreshing and the trio played with a vigour and energy that leaves everyone wanting more. As indeed has "Ghosts".
For me, that hopefully will be later in the week at the Devizes gig, that I am told is already sold out.
Benedictus
Tears and Pavan
Ghosts
Who Knows Where The Time Goes
Glimpse of Heaven
The Flower and the Young Man
Alice's Song
Flying
New World
Autumn
Out In The Cold
Round And Round
The River/Bown By The Sea
Hero and Heroine
Simple Visions
REGAL CENTRE, WORKSOP, THU, 19 JUN 2003
Another fine performance in a rather sparsely populated Regal Centre, Worksop where the draught beer ran out one pint into the interval (that's one pint pulled, not one for me!!). Oh dear, oh dear!
The show was great - a fine performance of New World in particular, and my teenage kids said respectively that it was "really kool" and "wickid", so, still capable of connecting with the youth of the day then!
The performance was punctuated by a bizarre incident where what looked like a steady stream of stardust, descended from the roof onto DL's shirt (maybe he should have painted some around his eyes Ciggy!). Actually I think it was plaster dust or something. This caused a general laugh, DL chuntered about it several times (between all the usual Head 'n' Shoulders and dandruff jokes) and was eventually told to "Stop going on about your hair" by DC who suggested that DL should try and be a bit more like Brian and just mind his own business. The response - predictably - was that it didn't matter what Brian said because he didn't have a mike!
Great stuff, and they are still - clearly - enjoying themselves."
I renewed my acquaintance with the Strawbs at Sheffield's Boardwalk last year.(2002) The last time I'd seen the boys was at Birmingham University in '74 or '75. I wasn't disappointed, and the gig underlined my delight to discover, via this website, that the band were not only still around but still touring! Scanning my shift rosters for gigs in 2003 when shifts co-incided and within reach of Doncaster or Glasgow, I came upon the Worksop gig and was only to happy to drive the short distance to Nottinghamshire's "Dukeries" for another dose of Baroque & Roll. I met two colleagues from work in the auditorium - closet Strawbs fans - it turned out!
The setlist was much as at the Boardwalk, but without "Golden Salamander" and "Hangman", and including "New World", "Round And Round" and "Out In The Cold". After the interval Dave didn't introduce the numbers but just launched into them, which included old favourites like "The Flower And The Young Man" and of course the obligatory "Down By The Sea", all delivered as freshly as if they'd been written yesterday.
Afterwards the boys came into the bar and chatted with all present, signing souvenirs and albums - and actually seemed to enjoy doing so. This was very much appreciated by all present, even if the bar had no draught ale and could only manage cans of John Smith's! Dave told me he'd met a Canadian lady who'd seen the Strawbs 51 times! [DG- This would be Jody who I met when I was on tour in the States with the boys.] This actually made my 5th gig,look pretty tame, and the sixth will probably be Nantwich, Rotherham or Gainsborough later this year.. Now, if they'll only do "The Shepherd's Song" and "Queen of Dreams".......
It was good to see them again at Worksop on Thursday. The set list was slightly different from Saturdays: I was rather surprised at the truncated second set, but apparently the venue hadn't expected them to play even as much as they already had, and wanted things wrapped up even though it was only about ten fifteen!
That apart, it was a nice friendly place (for anyone wondering, it's about 25 miles north of Nottingham and somewhat less ESE of Sheffield). Though the PA didn't have the most dynamic range in the world ever, it was otherwise pretty clean-sounding, and though the guys were good I didn't think it quite had the sparkle there'd been at Wythall.