Sunday, 3rd September 06-
FaB Club Review Pauline Turner
Hi to you all my readers. I am no connoisseur of folk music, have no knowledge of the hard work entailed in writing your own music or playing an instrument, but I have enjoyed the FaB Club sessions so much that I’ve decided to give a go at writing the review… So to those of you who may be offended by anything I write (or don’t write) then please feel superior at my inadequacies! J
First up and compere for the afternoon was Tim, who started with a number by Richard Thompson called Ring Some Changes. We were able to join in and this really set the mood for a wonderful afternoon. He followed on with a song he wrote himself regarding a railway journey in
Bob came next, and the fact that he stayed in the corner of the room should have warned those of us that didn’t know Bob’s style, that a little sauciness was going to creep into a song we all thought we knew the words to – now we all know where ‘little Bob’ came from.
Margaret, or should I say Lady Formby, followed using her own style to give a fresh slant to a beautiful song ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane’ as well as treating us to a lesser known song of George’s being ‘Keep Fit’.
Clive and Don (Sic transit) – a new duo to the Fab club wowed us with their own strong sound and songs full of humour. Clive on keyboard and Don on guitar gave us a new slant on a Billy Joel number proving, like me, that they’re mad and love to get ‘rat arsed’ down the pub (or at the beer tent…..just about anywhere in fact). I do hope we hear this duo again and again and again and again …. Hell I seem to have got stuck in the refrain. Their second number was more of a traditional number, just to prove their versatility; and you’re quite right lads I’ve no intention of kissing a frog - especially since I’ve found a few toads in my time.
Following on from this excitement was Dennis, who seems to be heading for stardom with CD releases and various contracts, but not before he has his own Fab club special on the 24th September 2006. The mood changed as he sang an old 1930’s number ‘I’m in the Mood for Love’ then followed with a blues number. Dennis seemed to want to steel Bob’s thunder by telling us that he was conceived due to a hole in a French letter.
Moving swiftly on . . . . Alan Neville advised us just where he keeps his French letters – except he keeps his plectrum in his. Well just who does need rubber if you’ve got plastic? Funny I always keep the odd coin or my bus ticket in my ‘condom pocket’. For a man who loves his guitar he was very brave and sang unaccompanied a very stirring song by David Bowie.
Then just before the first break we had Denis number 2 ( Denis Ahern) who treated us to a great blues number complete with its own commentary. As I enjoy blues music I found this quite a treat but then Denis sang a song about a bogey – someone please put him in the corner with Bob or make him go to the ‘naughty step’. This latter song was a parody on a much loved song of mine ‘Help me Make it Through the Night’ by Chris Christopherson. I forgive you Dennis as I had such a laugh!
After the break we had our very own Fab club founder, organiser and general factotum, Claudine. She only sang the one number which she wrote herself. Let’s hope she pens many more.
Mike followed with two great songs the second being a real favourite with everyone joining in with ‘have a banana’. Perhaps, though we can look forward to a new ‘Fab club’ song now it has moved to a new venue. Come on Mike you know you have one just waiting for pen and paper!
Fiona then prayed and sang her first ever composition ‘Yesterday and You’. I’m sure I speak for us all when I say please can we have some more. Oh yes and can you tell me which God you prayed to because I’d love a voice like yours and to be able to sing like that.
Refreshing stuff,
Then Mick and Nora gave us two traditional songs – Mick playing guitar and Nora the squeeze box. I really enjoyed the different sounds produced by the squeeze box and their relaxed performance.
Not to be out-done by Fiona, Steve then sang a new song he has written called ‘Easy’. Personally I think this beautiful ballad is worthy of a number one slot. We all yearn for someone in our own lives to make it easy. We all wish we had it in us to write a lovely ballad like this one or be the one to whom such a song refers.
Well my readers I’ve nearly finished. Just a quick mention about a raffle with no raffle tickets. Tim came to the rescue whereby we chose our own three numbers, (between 100 and 399), which we could write down anywhere we liked even or, maybe preferably, on a body part. Gosh that corner is beginning to get somewhat full of grown men.
The final session allowed Clive, Don, Alan Neville, Denis Ahern, Mick and Nora and Steve and Fiona to entertain us with another song each prior to the closing of this year’s initial meeting of the Fab club.
What a great start to the year!
Hope to see you all there next time!
Cheers,
Pauline Turner
