See also Part 1
Benedictus
Simple Visions
The Hangman And The Papist
The Golden Salamander
Barcarole (For The Death Of Venice)
Ghosts
Autumn
Cold Steel
Shine On Silver Sun
The Antique Suite
Oh, How She Changed
Dragonfly
New World
If
Lay Down
Hero And Heroine
THE SWAN, LEEK, THURSDAY 29 SEPTEMBER 2005
Well I was heard leaving the Riga muttering ( some would say mumbling given the time our socialising started that day ) " I've got to do one more " . But how ? Monday was out Friday was out, so it just had to be Leek and a three hour drive on a Thursday.
Boy was it worth. Met up with Bob and Louise Richardson as I reached the venue, exchanged a few pleasantries and a beer before settling down for the evenings entertainment.
My first visit to this venue and what a good atmospheric ambience, exuded from the audience that had filled the venue well before the opening number. Thursday night is bell ringing practice night in the church close to the venue, but once the set started they were not noticed at all - the bells I mean.
There were to be one or two surprises as the evening progressed, notably for me, instead of Cut Like a Diamond we had Simple Visions, a song one of my usual travelling companions had been gagging for all tour, but failed to see.
Tonight was a bit like" end of term " with Cousins in full flow with his anecdotes and stories, old and new, with some expanding to epic proportions causing much on stage banter and laughter.
The first set, except as above, followed the usual pattern, and was very well received by the gathered throng. Barcarole just gets better and better and tonight it was perfect. Most unusually, Chas, looking forward to the trip to Wales the next day, broke a string. Whether the two were linked I just don't know.
Dave C was enthusiastically overflowing with news at the interval of future plans that he overlooked re-tuning for Antiques in the second set. Quickly resolving this, when back on stage.
Antiques was delivered to perfection and with the assistance of much choral work from the audience as it reached its final section, the audience were carrying on their good work from Shine on Silver sun.. The set just zipped by in exemplary fashion.
By request "for his mum" from a young member of the audience, the encore was for the first time that I had seen on this tour was the return of "Hero And Heroine". So if you want a request in future, suggest you go along in your old school uniform add a little anti ageing cream and you might be in with a chance. If "Simple Visions" happens to be played next time without being on the set list, I think I'll be looking forward to it for more than a single reason.
If the Leek venue's sound system hadn't quite been the best on tour, (it was still good ) the warmth and audience reaction certainly made up for it, making it a very memorable and special ending to the tour as did the band themselves.
So that brought to a close this tour for me and a trek that had taken me to many new venues for the first time and brought with it a whole host of happy memories, that will stay long in my mind and hopefully others.
As the night closed, the two Dave's, Chas and Neil all mentioned how much they were looking forward to the American/Canadian expedition and what lucky old things you are over there to have them all for the next 6 weeks.
Benedictus/Simple Visions
The Hangman And The Papist
The Golden Salamander
Barcarole
Ghosts
Autumn
Cold Steel
Shine On Silver Sun
The Antique Suite
Oh How She Changed
New World
Dragonfly
If
Lay Down
A Glimpse Of Heaven
TUDOR FOLK, CHESHAM, MONDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2005
The Tudor Folk Club is an excellent venue, a large high hall in the White Hill Centre, with metal struts across to hold the roof up, all inexplicably painted a violent shade of pink. Fortunately Dave had a shirt which did not clash! The lighting was good and the sound was excellent, with one caveat, Dave C's voice was too quiet in comparison to Lambert's, which showed a bit in some of their harmony work.
Acoustic Strawbs turned in a dynamic performance, with some of the recently-added (or re-added) numbers now fully bedded into the show. Opening not with "Cut Like A Diamond" - missing from the show entirely - but with a new pairing - the dulcimer free "Benedictus" followed immediately by a rousing "Simple Visions". Interesting to note that with "Dragonfly" and "Golden Salamander", there are now three dulcimer songs in the set (four when the encore is "Witchwood") and on none of them does Dave currently play dulcimer.
I digress - dulcimer songs:
Dragonfly
Fingertips
Witchwood
Benedictus
Queen Of Dreams
The Golden Salamander
The Rose
Next one up ? My vote goes for "Fingertips", as that could work really well with the three guitars setting up that droning instrumental - if Lambert can replicate Wakeman's parts, surely a little star can be knocked off before breakfast. Back to the review ....
The revised "Hangman" is next, those extra flourishes from Dave L sounding more natural now that I'm used to them - the churchy organ from the bass pedals works very well too, and both Daves put their heart and soul into the vocals. And then "Salamander", with those wonderful synthy vocal sounds matching up with the powerful three-voice harmonies. Quite a few of the songs in this set emphasises the big vocal sound that this line-up could/can still make very effectively, the next "Bacarole" being an excellent example. This intricate song, with Dave Cousins fingerpicking the main motif, and the three voices blending in harmony, is by now in the tour as tight as you could wish it and will I am sure delight North American fans just as much as it did the attentive folk club audience. The two epics, "Ghosts" and "Autumn" round off the first half.
The second half opens with the two banjo numbers "Cold Steel", which always impresses, and "Shine On Silver Sun", another big vocal number. "The Antique Suite" is the first of three "really old" numbers from the first three albums ("Oh How She Changed" and "Dragonfly" follow) which are to me the core of the second set. "Antique Suite" is deftly delivered - the highs and lows of the first two quarters , the Lambert riff and desolate Cousins vocal of the third, and the folk-club singaround feel of the closing section gel together perfectly. Lambert, having originally turned in a fairly close Tony Hooper-style performance on his two lead vocals, has now added some of his own vocal colouring to the parts, which works well. Chas's bass work is especially impressive here too and his little between sections bridges on the bass-pedals, and the "live tuning change wizard" Cousins' varying modal tunings make the song a perfect showcase for the combined talents of Acoustic Strawbs. Always a favourite track from Antiques, but in its new guise possibly climbing up there for me as one of THE key Acoustic Strawbs tracks.
And followed in fine form by "Oh How She Changed" which also demonstrates just how powerful and orchestral the three-hand line-up can be. Cousins was relaxed and anecdotal this evening, holding the audience in the palm of his hand, and reminding us just how pivotal to the 70s the producer and arranger of this song - Gus Dudgeon and Tony Visconti - proved to be. Lambert's acoustic solo particularly fine. The last of the trio, "Dragonfly", is gentle and soulful, Cousins opening up with the dulcimer melody on the red Gretsch, Lambert and Cronk then picking it up on 12-string and e-Bow respectively, whilst Dave C sings and plays a fairly basic strumming pattern (same tuning as "Oh" I think). Beautifully arranged, and nicely relaxing after the sturm und drang of the previous numbers.
Another quieter number "If" proved very popular with the audience - nice to see the new numbers getting as good a reaction as the old. The revamped "Lay Down", with a bouncy instrumental opening and lots of superb bass from Chas, which now picks up much of the lower end dynamics which Lambert used to play in the old Cousins/Willoughby/Lambert arrangement. Interestingly, whereas before both Lambert and Cousins would play the thrashy riff in the middle and at the close in unison, Cousins is now playing something different. For an encore, though the bodhran was in evidence, it wasn't required, and we were treated to "Glimpse Of Heaven" instead.
The best show I've seen on this tour, and looking good for the US.
London Fashion Week is now over, so Pete & I being the dedicated followers of fashion, (we call it Hobo Chic), decided we would take that trip up the A404/A416 to check out what the best dressed Strawbs are wearing this season. I beg to differ on Dick's comments regarding "La Moda" showing in Chesham, I would especially like to point out the Cream quarter sleeve number worn by Dave C, which was punctuated with the leaf image of Monstera Deliciosa and complimented with matching socks. However competition was fierce - Dave L's collection retaliated, with a Blue Bled dyed quarter sleeve with peach splatters and matching guitar strap! But I digress.
The Tudor Folk Club audience were blessed with a near perfect set, (as Dick said in his review, probably the best so far) The evening started with "Benedictus" - and after this the bar was moved higher and higher. The highlights for me, were "Barcarole", "If" and "Autumn", (my top twenty Strawbs numbers change weekly, depending on my mood). Pete, couldn't choose, but when pushed, pointed out "Ghosts", "Dragonfly" and "Oh How She Changed". If only the rest of the Strawbs fans out there could have heard the new arrangement of "New World" - it swept us away - especially the instrumental bits, Dave C did something magical with his key of D whilst Chas and Dave L "book-ended" the piece with comment first from the Bass and then a dramatic reply from The Dean - (I have no technical knowledge, so please excuse the crude description). Out of this world!
It was really nice to hear some tracks from Deja Fou, but if I could be bold enough to put a request out into the ether, hoping the band will hear - it would be nice to see "Face Down In The Well" and/or "Under A Cloudless Sky" played live. Once again I feel compelled to say thank you to the band, for touring, to the Tudor Folk Club for giving us an opportunity to hear them play. Also not forgetting their canine fan and of course The Badger Watch Team, good to see them keeping the faith. It was sad the evening had to end.
Wish the band fun and success with their tour of the States and really look forward to them coming back to the UK.
Cut Like A Diamond
Hangman And The Papist
Golden Salamander
Barcarole (For The Death Of Venice)
Ghosts
Autumn
Cold Steel
Shine On Silver Sun
The Antique Suite
New World
Oh, How She Changed
Dragonfly
Lay Down
Witchwood
RIGA MUSIC BAR, WESTCLIFF-ON-SEA, SATURDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2005
Right where do I start with this one? The walk through the town, the walk trying to spy Mike and Sue Holton, the walk to the art exhibition, the walk to the cliff top bar for 5.30 drinks, the walk to the restaurant or the walk to the gig - you gotta be pretty fit to keep up with us, on our own little tour. Anyway the five of us, that's Mike, Sue, Carole, Lindsay and me of course had decided on the basis of local knowledge, that we needed to be first in the queue for the gig. This was to make sure that the rest of the party who hadn't joined our trek (and each of us, of course), could get one of the very few seats available so we could sit down throughout the night.
We stood outside the locked doors for about an hour and were joined by Andy and his good lady Gill and also Lindsay's teenage pal Christine. No she's not a teenager, but was Lindsay's pal in those long distant teenage years . Neil peered outside from the pub next door to see what all the commotion was, saw it was only us, excitedly causing the obstruction on the pavement and wisely disappeared back in again.
By the time the doors opened a few more had joined the queue. This meant Lindsay and Carol had to dash, as in those teenage years, to the front of the hall grabbing in their arms all the seats they could find, together with two tables and get us in a prime spot in front of the stage. With all the work done we were joined by the web guru DG, who was promising us all something very exciting, in the morning.
This was going to be a late gig with the support Aloneme, not starting until after 9 p.m. so those seats were very welcome given the long night ahead. This was the second support act running we had seen that we agreed were well worth a listen. As they are out on a short UK tour soon and described as "bittersweet acoustic pop" you may get chance to catch up with them for yourself.
The Acoustics started in rousing fashion with "Cut like a Diamond" booming out over the rock venue sound system. As has been evident at recent gigs "Barcarole" was sublime, with its echoing harmonies and a real highlight of this particular UK tour. "Ghosts" followed and it struck me tonight how Dave L's entry into this song is like a coiled "jack in the box". One moment just background and serene then in a flash, there as the centre of attention, awesome!!
Moving on apace, with a story or two in between, we reached "The Antique Suite" which I had already seen move members of the audience to tears earlier in the tour. If it was outstanding then, tonight it was just exceptional. The fluid opening guitar figure by Dave C was spot on and Dave L's angry ending vocals, bringing to a climax these very emotional works.
Chas switched so easily, modestly and seamlessly between 12 string, bass and pedals that it led to one member of the audience to ask "who is controlling the backing tracks". The sound was that big!
One guy, whose name I didn't catch and his lady, had come over from Holland just for this gig. Having followed the band now, for over thirty years they were mightily impressed.
As I am writing this, I am not sure whether this will be the last gig I get to, on this particular UK tour. It's futile to get into the debate over whether this is the best acoustic set or not, as each tour has been unique in its own way.
Each of those tours has brought its own set of values, indeed the past 30 months have brought many treasured memories of the band and its history, including both classics and new material - long may the ongoing developments continue. Indeed, it is fair to say that this tour has brought a number of unexpected delights and many a pleasurable experience that I may not have thought possible, just a short while back.
So, it's soon to be over to you guys and girls in the States to keep things moving until January comes along and we all can get out on the road again here in the UK (with the exception of course, of one or two little journeys later in the year!!)
HUNTINGDON HALL, WORCESTER, FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2005
Firstly, the venue: I"m embarrassed to admit that I live only a forty-five minute drive from Worcester, occasionally go shopping in the city and have never noticed Huntington Hall on Friday, in spite of parking just across the road next to the college and river, we had to ask the way. A converted and restored 18th century Methodist chapel, the interior still contains pews (very comfortable, by the way), memorials on the walls, the instruction "Praise Ye The Lord" in gold lettering behind the stage and a balcony which is presently out of commission. When darkness descended on a nearly full auditorium, the band assembled, then unaccompanied began with a beautifully harmonic "Benedictus" the fusion was perfect or as one of the youngest members of our party (just turned the magic 40) said to me at the interval: "What a start! What an opening. Stunning." You'll have to take my word that he's not given to exaggeration nor is he easily impressed.
And that about sums it up. Stunning. It's very easy to expect professional musicians to 'perform' (we"ve paid after all) but Chas Cronk, Dave Cousins and Dave Lambert deserve praise for doing far more creating and executing complex arrangements in which all three guitarists complement each other rather than compete is not easily achieved. The silence accompanying each song, sustained fractionally after the last chord or note until applause sounded, tells its own story spellbound is the clichι but I think here it was true. Having heard over the years, on and off, quite a few Strawbs gigs, electric and acoustic, I certainly appreciated Chas Cronk's contributions to this incarnation on bass, twelve string, pedals and, of course, his vocal support "Barcarole" in particular stood out, as did "Oh, How She Changed" and "A Glimpse of Heaven." Dave Lambert's skill on guitar and vocals provided a succession of wonderful moments: close harmonies with Dave Cousins throughout, solos in "Ghosts", "The Antique Suite", "Down By the Sea" and to the audience's delight "Cold Steel." As for Dave Cousins for whom it's never 'just another night at the office' in good voice and humour, every story told a song, it was a mesmerising journey which included a delicate, tonally exquisite "Dragonfly", passionate and edgy "New World" and "Hangman and the Papist", glorious "Autumn" (How does Dave Lambert create those opening bars?) and plaintiff, romantic "If."
Any disappointments? Only the absence of an acoustic "Hero and Heroine" but with "Benedictus" to open and "A Glimpse of Heaven" to send us homewards on a clear September night we weren"t complaining. If you're reading this and haven't yet seen them in action unlikely but there may be a few browsers out there this is something special. Next time they come to town, don't miss them! Failing this: invest as I did on Friday night on the way out of the hall - in the CDs Strawbs at Nearfest 2004 or Full Bloom and the DVD Live in Toronto or add them to your Christmas wish-list. Live music never sounded so good.
Travelled to Worcester Huntingdon Hall on Friday night. I always love going to this venue as do the band, Dave C saying how they love playing there and the sound the building produces. Was a little disturbed to find the hall was not as full as it usually is, the band usually fill it but there were no seats sold upstairs at all and not all seats downstairs were full, foolish people who did not go!
The set opened with the acapella "Benedictus", this is the first time I'd heard it and I must say I thought it was superb, the three part harmonies were fantastic and I have to say the band were in fantastic voice throughout the evening, really spot on. Also the sound was stunningly clear and detailed. Next I was expecting "Cut Like A Diamond", but no, they've dropped it and did "Simple Visions" instead. I've not heard "Cut Like A Diamond" since it was done to death (ie played as the opener at every show)during the 90's and I would have liked to hear it acoustically.
A superb "Hangman" (with Dave C making reference to the recent rioting in Belfast) and "Golden Salamander". Very nice to hear "Barcarole", really came over well as an acoustic piece. Then the superb coupling of "Ghosts" and "Autumn" closed the first half. "Autumn" featured some amazing string vibrations from Dave L, not heard anything like that before.
At the start of the second half Dave C said the signs asking for no photography weren't the band being precious it was just that the stage was so high, the angle of any shots looking up at them would make them look like garden gnomes! Unbelievably the four people in front of us didn't return to their seats (2nd row centre) which improved our view tremendously but must have been offputting for the band.
"Cold steel" went down very well, it really is a great song. Dave stayed on banjo for "Shine On Silver Sun" and then came "The Antiques Suite" - excellent, must say Dave C's introduction really makes you think about putting other peoples feelings ahead of your own embarassment. "Oh how she changed" was a highlight for me, Dave L's voice was really something - was all night actually. Then "Dragonfly", I have to say this was the other highlight, really trancy amazing stuff, with Dave L making some fantastic sounds with the ebow. "New world" was very powerfull with the bass pedals working to good effect. The set closed with "If" and "Lay Down", Dave C inviting the audience to sing along as he was sure the building would enjoy the harmonies! The encore was "Glimpse Of Heaven". Dave L again had his Bodrahn but didn't play it, shame a second encore of "Hero And Heroine" would have been the icing on the cake!
A great evening, probably the best I've seen this lineup. I do miss the amazing playing of Brian, but the additional interest from Chas' 12 string, acoustic bass and pedals certainly makes up for it. The ideal would be a four piece to get the best of all worlds!
Looking forward to the next UK tour!
Passionate Kisses
Not Too Much To Ask
October To May
The Circle Game
If (*)
Simple Visions
Hangman And The Papist
Golden Salamander
Barcarole (For The Death Of Venice)
Ghosts
Autumn
I've Been My Own Worst Friend
Green And Yeller (Henry, My son)
Starshine
Framed
Stairway To Heaven
William Tell Overture
BOB AND LOUISE'S PRIVATE ACOUSTIC STRAWBS PARTY, 18 SEPTEMBER 2005
Well Saturday 17th September came around and we had been waiting for a whole year for it to arrive.
It was time once again, for the by now infamous Inkford party.
Inkford is hosted, by the more than generous, Bob and Louise Richardson, this time reputedly, in celebration of Bob's birthday - yet another one!! - he always seems to get one, every year at around this time.
Well guests arrived from early evening, some fortunate enough to hear the sound check and catch an early preview of a Dave C song yet unheard by most, including even the indefatigable Strawbsweb guru, who did his usual bit of arriving - just in time !!
Those that tried to avoid the hard selling of the raffle tickets by Lin Evans and her subservient man servant, soon had their arms twisted, once they had glimpsed the array of prizes on offer, which included the customary cuddly toys, bears and pictures of the band - and a special prize, that despite demand from a number present, still went home unclaimed.
The evening's entertainment started (unless you count the pre party singing from the shower) with:- Nick Evans and Sue Stevens with "Passionate Kisses" and "All I Ask Of You", well it was, until I was later told, it was "Not Too Much To Ask".
Our hosts then stepped forward, juggling all their responsibilities for the night as easily as a parrot shelling peanuts to deliver "October to May" and "The Circle Game". They always have a trick or two up their sleeves and despite Dave C being keen to join them and making a slightly premature entry on "October to May", held the best for last, as all three took to the stage for a rendition of "If".
Acoustic Strawbs then took to the stage to deliver their first set in their usual accomplished concert style and drawing great admiration from the gathered throng, including a number of "first timers" although I am careful not to use that "Branson" airline term, as I could gather no proof, in the time available.
The interval came and we caught wind of a change for a second half. We all filtered out across the courtyard to a sumptuous buffet prepared in an idle moment by Bob and Louise and the hotel employees. All had a general chat, a few more drinks and a few more and then back for the second half.
Dave C took to the stage and did a two song solo featuring "I've been my own worst friend" and a very amusing "cockney" song about a tale of eels and snakes.
A few Cousins' special jokes along the way too, as well as a serious review of Bob's career in the Army, which was undertaken about the time when the army game was on TV, for those old (odd) enough to remember it.
Well he did it in America and fortified by several tequilas, he did it again tonight, as Chas strode forward to do a solo "Starshine" Now I do feel privileged to have witnessed that. Bravo!
Dave L appeared and performed "Framed" and "Stairway to Heaven" (who needs the full Led Zeppelin when it can be repeated on an acoustic guitar by just one man). Admiration all around at that. Followed by the "William Tell overture in C flat" (that's cheeks flat to you and me).
Back into the second set, with the exclusion of "The Antique Suite" and the evening then raced by urged on by some community singing during the songs.
The band certainly picked up some new fans tonight; some were planning to go over to see them again at Worcester, a week later, because tonight, they had such a great time and were amazed at the performance.
The evening closed with the audience singing something from Abba, to the band - something about thanking them for the music. I joined in of course, not to get singled out, but a sing along for me is usually something to do with the Wurzels and as I don't have a very good Swedish accent and unlike the others around, I felt a bit out of place.
That performance dragged a comment from our previous silent web guru to say how much he had enjoyed "Buck's Fizz" the group - not the drink. Not for their singing, but for ripping their skirts off on TV! He also won a teddy in the raffle and pronounced, (he was getting rather liberal with his comments by then), teddy would be joining the rest of the collection of cuddly toys he has at home. I asked no further questions!
Just time for a few more drinks, well loads actually and those that departed around the witching hour may have missed out on the birthday cake that was yummy and sweet. It was just what was needed after 10 bottles of cider, well eleven actually, not that I was counting.
We did finish a bit early this year - 3 a.m. to be precise and the bands final encore earlier was "Glimpse of Heaven" and for those left standing at the end, finding our way to our room successfully, was just that.
Thanks to all participants, but particularly to Bob and Lou for hosting such a great event.
Bob and Lou's private shows - a pleasure and a privilege to be invited - always encourage the boys to offer something different, and this was no exception. Confessing that they had expunged a few of the "down" numbers from the setlist (it was after all Bob's 56th birthday), DC promised surprises galore in the second half.
First on Nick Evans and Sue Stevens, doing some nice stuff together - as the last time I heard Sue sing Mary Chapin Carpenter's "Passionate Kisses" was the time the lights went out in the middle of it (at a previous Bob/Lou extravaganza), I was nervous till she got through it. Lou (vcls) and Bob (gtr) did a splendid version of "October To May", then a cover of Joni Mitchell's "Circle Game", both of which really suited Lou's voice. Joined by DC, a version of "If" rounded off the hosts' set.
The first half of Acoustic Strawbs included a splendid go at "Simple Visions", and the newly re-minted "Hangman", complete with organ noises from Chas's bass pedals, which fit perfectly, and a few new flourishes from Lambert. "Salamander" followed, then "Barcarole" which has definitely firmed up over the tour and now sounds spectacularly lush harmony-wise. "Ghosts" was back, followed by "Autumn". A great first half.
Second half started out with Dave Cousins, who's been his own worst friend, apparently. Dave's second song was a revelation, a cockney number from the old folk club days, very much in the music hall tradition. The first album Dave and Tony Hooper ever recorded on was a collection of such numbers, fronted by 60's folk entrepreneur Roy Guest, and I thought it was one I'd heard there, but it proves not to be so - anyway "Current Bun" or whatever it's called, gave DC an opportunity to flashback to the 60s and the days when folk music and music hall weren't so far apart. Broad humour and none the worse for it - a real entertainment.
Next up on the solo front, Chas and his "Starshine" - which was done on a more hesitant basis back in February at Joe Langer's Bristol CT show. Apparently Chas needed less pushing this time - it was great to hear that again.
Lambert was the final solo spot, starting with "Framed", moving on to an impressive solo rendition of "Stairway To Heaven" (try playing it like that in a guitar shop and you'll get thrown out, no mistake) and ending with his inimitable version of "William Tell Overture".
The second set proper started out with the banjo numbers "Cold Steel" - always goes well - and "Shine On Silver Sun", followed by a stonking "Oh, How She Changed", possibly one of the numbers which SO benefit from the bass pedals, as to be un-doable otherwise. "Dragonfly" in its new dulcimer-free guise went down well, followed by "New World", re-entrant "Witchwood" and the new gutsier "Lay Down". A round of "Happy Birthday" followed, then the encore "A Glimpse Of Heaven" (DL still has his bodhran on stage in a hopeful sort of way, but we've not seen it used other than as a tray for his guitar bits and bobs for a while - hmm, shame - see if that re-emerges on the US tour).
As Nigel has said, things went on somewhat afterwards - it's always great to catch up with the boys in an environment where I don't have to drive home afterwards and nor do they! But we'll draw a veil, I think, over my confessions to being a Bucks Fizz fan (true though - I thought they were pretty good pop and I'll defend that point of view to the hilt!! - outside, now!)
ROCKINGHAM ARMS, WENTWORTH, FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2005
My second visit to this excellent pub venue, the previous time was the last time I saw Brian in the band. Arrived late thanks to rubberneckers on the motorway causing a massive traffic jam and was thankful that Alison and Al had saved me a seat. Couldn't have been nearer the stage, another yard and I'd have been on Dave Lambert's knee. Other people I spotted of the usual suspects were the Madeleys and Mike Barker. Didn't write down the set-list but I think it's similar to the rest of the tour plus "Witchwood" as encore.
Highspots for me were "Hangman", "New World" and a revamped "Lay Down" and best of all "Antique Suite" which gets better all the time. Words in the second part were changed from wife to sweetheart as Dave L told me it's hard to sing that bit without it sounding like Y fronts !
My concert purchase was Nearfest and I quickly realised why people enthuse about it having partly heard it on the way home. What excellent sound for a live album.
Photo from Andy Slack
It doesn't seem like two minutes since we were saying goodbye to Brian at 'The Rock' yet this was the third time that we've seen the 'with Chas' line-up and it was the best to date. We arrived ten minutes after the doors opened [stuck in the same rubber-necking tail back as Andy] to find the place already 75% full - by 8pm it was packed.
Although he denied it afterwards, Chas was much further up in the mix and you could actually distinguish the majority of his 12-string contributions. The guys were very relaxed last night - much smiling and knowing nods to each other - and the new additions to the set created a good contrast to the tried and trusted "Ghosts", "Autumn", "New World" and "Lay Down"; the latter including an extended intro with Chas' bass line booming out through the new 'Rock' sound system. In fact, Chas' bass definitely adds a completely new dimension to the numbers.
Dave C was in fine vocal form, "Cut Like A Diamond" setting a standard for the rest of the set, Dave L's voice seemed a bit fragile on the some of the quieter pieces but he's taken ownership of the 4th part of "The Antique Suite" adding a bitterness that wasn't there in the original.
"Barcorole" is a great addition and "Dragonfly" is worth persevering with and I even warmed to the shorter, accapella "Benedictus". Lets hope they keep digging back into the archives as well as introducing newer songs - "Face Down in the Well" for example.
This line-up can't be compared to the Brian Willoughby edition - but it is one that I'll continue to look forward to seeing.
What can I say that hasn't been said before? This was one of the most enjoyable evenings in the band's presence I have had, and they were clearly really enjoying themselves which was good to see. I hadn't been to the Rocking 'em Arms before (I know I know, but someone had to do it!), but it's a lovely little venue, Wentworth is very fine spot, and the band clearly like playing there. Standing room only at the back, by the bar, after a very trying journey up from Nottingham. So close to the bar in fact that the last few bars of "Ghosts" were dwarfed by a bellow of "That'll be three pounds twenty seven please!" from the barman - very amusing.
My only complaint is that as the band left the stage after the encore, Witchwood, Dave L put the bodhran down on his stool and gave what I thought was the distinct impression that they would be back to do "Hero And Heroine", but the lights came on and the crowd began to shuffle out, so we may have missed as extra treat.
Standouts for me were "Cut Like A Diamond", "Antiques Suite", "Oh How She Changed", and the revised "Lay Down". I think the "Antiques Suite" has developed well, and there is some lovely bass work by Chas in there that I don't think appeared when I first heard it played earlier in the year. I really hope these versions of these songs make it to CD.
A cheering evening and - as always - a real pleasure.
Photo from Andy Slack
