Singer - Songwriter
admin October 1st, 2006
By Andy Johnson
Put a crowded bar, ten players and over thirty songs together and what do you get? A fantastic, if what frenetic, evening of entertainment, that’s what!!
Plug & Plays showcase of local songwriters is getting a regular feature of the season’s line-up and is proving as popular as ever with supporters of all the artists enjoying the night and giving well deserved applause to each of the acts.
Tony Carson was first on the stage with a Latin version of “Fame”. Not an original song, but a very original version. Finishing up with “Gena” and “Blues for Bessy”. John Brake was next up with four soulful numbers “Sky West and Crooked”, “Sweet 16” about a teenage suicide bomber (very topical!), “Beating Heart” and “Despair and Wonder”, all allowing his voice and harmonica playing to come through to good effect. Phil Caton without his trusty ukulele but with keyboards entertained us to “Coming Back”, “Never Learn” about the crisis in Darfor, the humorous “Dickie-Dow-Dow” and “Constant Alibi”.
With the crowd now well warmed up, Bruce aka “The Electronic Pimp” gave what must be the most unique style of bass player/singer combination ever. Full overdrive, drum machine and table-top dancing made “Woodpecker Soup”, “Second Thoughts” and “Some People” part of the evening that not many will forget in a hurry. Andy Halsey then brought us all nicely down to earth with “A Love Song”, “The Fugitive” and finishing off with “Give the Game Away”. All showing his fingerpicking technique off to great effect. The bluesy “Lonely Sober”, I Got You” and “Get Up” were the songs from Phil Saunders giving full rein to his blues harmonica and easy playing, which sort of led us into Banjo Bill giving the audience a completely alternate take on how to play a banjo and sing a song at the same time. His strong voice and laid-back style of playing had the crowd applauding strongly at the end of “To Be A Rover” the Turkish influenced “Obard” and “Moon On The Water” co-penned with Pat Simmons.
There was a strong contingent from Kendal in the players and they now took to the stage to show the home crowd how they do it down south!! Some beautiful drop tune playing from Dave M. with “Not Sweet 16” and “The Tall Tree” had the crowd loudly applauding. Kirk McIlhenney then took to the stage to give a tapping, hammer-on, double-stop style performance of “What Are We Fighting For”, “Eyes For You” and Black-Eyed Dog-Gimme Love”. Very reminiscent of John Gomm who, incidentally, is playing here next month. Check the Plug & Play web site!!
Last but not least was the very versatile Paul Harrison, making a welcome return to Plug & Play showing off his dexterous style of playing and knowledge of the fingerboard to fine effect. “Home”, “Driftin’” and “Hellhound” (with words by Robert Johnson), all had the audience wanting more. He duly obliged with the instrumental “The Traveller” finishing the night off in great style and leaving the audience with the feeling of having had a great night out.
Special mention should go to Tom Corda-Stanley who plugged in and out the various players throughout the evening and who got a well deserved round of applause at the end. Part of the great response to the evening was due to the web site www.mostlyaccousticcumbria.co.uk, which promotes interest in this type of event across the region. Check out their web site for details of more to come in the area.
Hasta la November. Baby!! Keep it live!!