13^th May 2007

 

Here we go again!

Music, mayhem and poetry, and the added fun of Mike Parrott’s birthday party.

Did Claudine dress up as a French maid?

Did Tracey go missing in Acton?

One thing’s for certain, a lot of good vibes made it an excellent afternoon.

The MC’s today were Tone Deaf Leopard: Sue Tuckey and Trevor Little.

 

First on were the Leopards doing a song called Scowan Urla Grun which was collected on the Shetland Isles.  Sue on Bodhran, Trevor playing guitar. Strong rhythm from Trevor backed up by dodgy chorus singing by folk brethren. Very Calypso like and great fun.

 

The Leopards added James and Ben to play The Man Comes Round, a Johnny Cash number. Trevor started in a western drawl like John Wayne. Great full sound of two guitars and mandola plus Sue belting it out. Trevor’s bound for glory in his gospel-like ending.

 

Margeret, one of our local treasures, sang Titfer On, with smooth banjo-ukelele playing. Cries of Titfer On resounded around the room.

 

 

She always plays so consistently and really feels the rhythm. She then broke into ‘Travelling Light’. Great foot-tappin stuff this, stirring the audience into loud accompaniment.

 

Bill Pardon. This naughty man is here again. Ever popular Bill started off with a Cornish ditty called In Zennor. He sang a tale of a mermaid, with a rustic accent to a chorus of ooh’s and aah’s . A great tale nicely oooohed.

 

He’s off again now with a song about women; a Cornish number called Newlyn Maid. With a wurzel-like vocal, he delivered this saucy tune. Fab singers, one and all, joined in on the colourful and challenging chorus.(we’re getting there, he retorted) Wonderful as always, a clever wordsmith.

 

Culture was requested, so we all got out our jars.

What was really wanted was Liz’s poetry.

 

Liz started with a poem about trains called ‘Settle to Carlisle’ weaving a picture in her own unique style about the reflections of early travellers. The club really liked this one.

 

Her second poem was about reunions called ‘Haven’t They Changed’. Liz always comes up with interesting themes and creative imagery.

 

At this point, was the moment everyone had been waiting for: Mike’s party buffet.

 

Norman Faulkner, another of the Fab Club regulars, stepped up and sang ‘Yellow Bird’, a classic calypso. He gave a warm rendition of this song and performed with great gusto on his ukulele.

 

He then followed this with a well known song, Tell me Quando Quando Quando.The chorus was picked up quickly by the Fab crew. Nice finish.

 

Happy Birthday was sung to Mike in full harmony, by all Fab Club friends.

 

Mike Parrott thanked everyone for their cards and gifts. (and the big wads of cash!) He then sang ‘Vote For Me’. Claudine said she would heckle, and purred vocally in the background.

 

This has a very catchy chorus and some French phrases crept in. Great tune everyone entering the party spirit. He then went into a popular self-penned number ‘It’s a Girl I’m Searching For’. It was very enthusiastically taken up by Fab club members. Good solid delivery and excellent performance.

 

 

Joe Migdal brought his new techno-toy along: a loop station, and tried out various vocal harmonies and noises to the Lollipop tune, and included some of Mike’s catch phrases.

 

 

Then another vocal gurgling, possibly jingle-like, called The Fab Club, which included Tone Deaf Leopard roars. You have to slightly out of your tree to do this.

 

Ron McNally came on, playing a lovely Gibson jumbo guitar which gave a warm country feel. He sang a van Morrison song, Back Street Affair, which went down very well.

 

 

Ron definitely has the country style in his voice. His second song was I Kept On Moving On by Stu Stephens. A fine finish.

 

A large delicious cake appeared, surprise, surprise, Leopards doing dodgy jokes about candles, then strains of Happy Birthday filled the air.

 

Next came the raffle

 

Leopards started the last part of the afternoon with a song called ‘Time to Check the Freezer’. The audience chilled to this one.

 

 

Margaret played her new canary yellow ukulele. Another calypso, this time called ‘Island in the Sun’ in a bright and refreshing way.

 

Bill Pardon’s final number was House of the Hoy and Anchor, to the tune of the House of the Rising Sun, incorporating first hand knowledge of what goes on in that wonderful den of talent at the Ship! Great fun.

 

Liz delighted us with a poem called the Troubadour. This was about local buskers at Southend and minstrels of old. A thought provoking piece.

 

Norman slipped gently into a George Formby number: Swimming with the Women.  His uke playing was as always, crisp and clear. Ee by gum, it’s turned out nice again.

 

Joe  (oh god I’m on again and I haven’t prepared anything) produced Sally Racket.

A short, sharp sea shanty.

 

 

 

Claudine made club announcements, and talked of forthcoming Link radio shows.

The Fab Show has been going out on Wednesday nights on 92.2 FM around 7pm.

 

Mike parrott  finished off the afternoon, with three songs he has written. "Missing in Acton" being the first, a tale of two people waiting at the wrong stations and never meeting up again. A great chorus well performed.

 

 

Next up a solid popular song called "I miss her Enormously". A very catchy chorus kept everyone singing. He reminds me of the late Wally Whyton. Mike finished with a song called "Starstruck" (written by G. Shears- ed. note)

,a delightful ballad.

Enjoyed by all present,with an unusual chord ending.

 

 

Trevor from the leopards,

 thanked everyone for coming

A great afternoon’s entertainment.

 

Joe Migdal.