FaB Club review for October 22nd
I used to visit folk clubs quite regularly during the late sixties and early seventies. However, in 1973 I stopped going, and it was nearly twenty years before I ever went to a folk club again. Upon my return to the folk scene in the early nineties, one of the first clubs that I visited was the Waltham Abbey Club, which at that time was held on a narrow boat moored on the River Lea at Waltham Abbey. This is where I first saw Alan Neville and Sally Vinson. I was quite fascinated by Alan’s songs because he tended to use rather unusual and offbeat themes and topics for his storylines. His songs were nothing like the usual songs that you would expect to hear at a folk club. With Alan’s songs, be they serious or comic, you simply had to listen to every single word. Ten years ago (September 1996), I did a concert with Alan and Sally, (Steve O’Kane and Fiona McBane were also on the bill), and this was the first time that I had seen them perform together as a double act. I’d always admired Alan’s songwriting skills but regarded Sally as more of a singer/guitarist/performer rather than as a writer, (sorry Sally!).
However, last year I did another gig with them at an open air concert in Dagenham and was really taken by Sally’s songwriting. I’d really like to hear a lot more of her songs. Now for the review.
Although Alan and Sally were the main featured guests for this afternoon’s session, they took the brave decision to actually open up the proceedings with their first set. Their opening number was one of Sally’s songs called ‘Once Upon a Time’, a really strong opener with great lead vocals from Sally and some really nice harmonies from Alan.
Next was a most unusual, but very cool arrangement of the old Sandy Shaw song ‘Long, long live Love’. I’d never really liked this song, (in fact I’d never really liked Sandy Shaw!), but this was a truly great arrangement sung in a very laid back ‘down home’ style. Very pleasing.
It was then time for the first of Alan’s songwriting contributions. A song called ‘American Movies’. Despite the title, I’ve always thought of Alan as a VERY English writer, just like Ray Davies (The Kinks), Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze) and the late Clifford T. Ward were all VERY English in there writing. But Alan isn’t really like any of them, he has his own style.
This song was highly evocative with some nice guitar phrasing and a truly great ending with superb vocals from Sally that really showed her strong vocal range.
The fourth song of the set was another of Sally’s compositions, ‘Last Summer’.
A beautiful song about growing up and almost a cry for lost youth and innocence, a theme that most of us can identify with.
Their final number for this set was the old Bee Gee’s song ‘Got to Get a Message to You’. A rousing ending that had everyone singing.
Sue Tuckey was our amiable host and compere for this afternoon’s session and she was joined by her other half, Trevor (Number One. . . . . but more of that later).
They of course are better known as Tone Deaf Leopard. As usual they were resplendent in their leopard gear, but minus the ears today! I suppose that they are to folk music what Ozzie Osborne is to chamber music! (I wonder what Cecil Sharp would have made of them?) Their first song was an hilarious parody of ‘The Wild Rover’, with a rip-roaring chorus of “No hay, never!” . . . . . need I say more? With Trevor on guitar and Sue on bodhran they then performed a song which I believe was called ‘Folk Music Star’ which told how by learning to play just three chords you can be catapulted into the glamorous world of sex, drugs and sausage rolls!
The acoustics in the function room here at The White Hart are excellent. I’m certain that the wooden floor contributes greatly to the ambient sound. I’ve often noticed that small rooms with wooden floors seem to project unamplified music much better than carpeted venues. The opposite seems to apply when in comes to amplified music.
Anyway, Simon was next on and his voice took full advantage of the acoustics. He has a very clear, wide vocal range and uses dynamics extremely well.
Too often singers are either ‘belters’ or ‘whisperers’. His first song was a traditional number called ‘Anderson’s Coast’. He then followed on with a fine chorus song which I believe is called ‘Dreaming of Liverpool’.
JoJo was the next performer. Her first song was very different from anything that I’ve heard her sing before. A very pleasing piece called ‘Under a Waterfall’ which is a Thomas Hardy poem that she has put a nice melody to.
I do hope that she does more songs in this genre. She then followed on with an old song that I always though was called ‘Name, William Hill’, but was informed by JoJo that the correct title is ‘Census’. But either way a great rendition. This song is in ¾ time. I’ve always noticed that songs in this tempo are great when sung accapella style, particularly when there is a chorus that the audience can join in with. I guess that this is because the melody flows quite freely in waltz time.
It was then the turn of Liz, the FaB Club’s poet in residence. I haven’t seen her for a while and always enjoy her offerings. She has a very individual style of writing.
Like Sally’s earlier piece ‘Last Summer’, Liz’s first poem ‘Oh my! haven’t they changed’, is also about lost youth, but taken from a very different perspective. In many ways this poem is reminiscent of some of the bittersweet monologues that Joyce Grenfell used to perform.
Her second poem, ‘Geological Soup’, was a cleverly constructed and whimsical look at creation, almost Tom Lehrer-esque with it’s multi-syllable rhymes.
Sonia was on next, singing just one song, the Harold Arlen and Yip Harberg classic ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’. This was a very fine rendition of a rather difficult song to sing. This particular song, plus ‘My Way’, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ and ‘Danny Boy’ I’ve often heard sung, (or should I say slaughtered!) at clubs and karaoke events.
Because of the wide range that the melody climbs, people seem start off OK but soon start straining to reach the high notes. Sonia sung this song extremely well and with great feeling.
More in the Eva Cassidy style as opposed to a Judy Garland mode.
After the break I opened up the second half with two of my own songs, ‘Growing Old With You’ and ‘The Sea’. This second song was based on a poem that I wrote back in 1988 but with a tune that I added in 2000.
So, in effect, this song took twelve years to write!
It was now time to welcome back Alan and Sally for their second set. And what a start! A really strong opener with the ‘Be With You’, the old Paul McCartney song. Next was another of Sally’s songs, ‘Gypsy Road’. A highly melodic song, well sung with some nice guitar phrasing picking out a melody in an ‘answering riff’ style. A simple picking motif that gave a very haunting effect.
It was now time for another of Alan’s compositions. This one was ‘Johnny on the Grass’, which he informed us was the first song that they played together back in the Waltham Abbey narrow boat days. A poignant song, and like Sally’s ‘Last Summer’ and Liz’s ‘Haven’t they Changed’, this song was another ‘reaching back for the good times’ piece. They followed on with another of Alan’s songs, ‘Cinderella Synchronicity’. A rather philosophical song about desperately reaching out for something, but as we would expect from Alan, taken from an unusual standpoint.
Next was their take on the old Cat Steven’s classic ‘The first Cut is the Deepest’, with an extra verse added by Alan.
Finally they ended their session here at the FaB Club with a simple but most unusual and highly original love song called ‘Blue Pyjamas’, which once again showed off the Englishness of Alan’s writing. Some neat guitar picking and nice harmonies from Sally.
Although they both perform solo, as a duo they also work extremely well together. As a double act they have really matured. Not just the usual display of two individuals singing along in harmony. They have worked out some lovely constructed and tight arrangements whereby the two vocal parts really do combine. Thanks to both of you for a very enjoyable session.
For those who would like to here more of Alan’s work he has got a CD available. I obtained a copy from him several months ago when he said, “It’s only a home recording!”. Well that’s as maybe, it’s still a good album with Alan playing various instruments. My only criticism is the use of digital percussion on some tracks. (Sorry Al, I’ve used drum machines myself and I hate them!!!) I realise that Mike Parrott and Gordon Shears will totally disagree with me for saying this, (both being deeply involved in electronic music) , but it’s simply my own personal view. I just love real drummers and even with added rolls and off-beat phrasing drum machines always sound artificial to me. OK, I’m a luddite!!! Can you imagine how Tone Deaf Leopard would sound if they had a ghastly drum machine? Anyway, back to Alan’s CD. It’s called ‘Waltz and Al’, and has some great songs on it. If you’d like a copy I’m certain that Al will oblige.
He can be contacted on
Trevor Number Two (Trevor Bradbeer this time), was next. He played the ukelele for his first number, a most hilarious song called ‘The Three Legged Man’ which had everyone laughing with it’s numerous punchlines. He then switched to melodeon for a highly energetic instrumental called ‘Captain Pugwash’. This piece certainly got everyone clapping along, and Trevor surely showed his expertise and lightning fingerwork as it accelerated faster and faster.
A real virtuoso performance that had everybody quite breathless.
The next performer was Sparky with his mandolin. He took full advantage of the audiences clapping and tapping mode by singing some old Irish favourites in which everyone joined in with either by singing, playing drums on the table tops or playing shakers and triangles etc, etc.
Firstly he sang ‘All For Me Grog’ and leading into ‘Stacey Reilly’ then following on with ‘Whiskey in the Jar’.
The audience participation carried on enthusiastically when Mikanora came up to perform. Today it was Mick on guitar and Nora on concertina. As you all know their instrumentation varies. Today it was two rousing sea shanties, ‘Donkey Riding’ and the perennial favourite ‘What shall we do with a Drunken Sailor’. This second piece really got FaB Club audience rhythm section going to new heights. I’m certain that they could be heard along Grays Beach!
It was now the turn of Trevor Number Three, (Trevor Barham). This afternoon certainly was a treble Trevor day with a trevor trove of musical acts. This was his first time at the FaB Club. I first saw him perform at the Havering Folk Club a couple of weeks earlier. He has a strong, rich voice with a slight huskiness that gives warmth to his self-penned songs. His first number was called ‘All Lovers are Young’ (from teenage years to one hundred and one), a very melodic piece with a nice catchy melody. His second song was also a love song, but from a more quirky perspective as indicated by it’s title, ‘Sunshine over Romford!’
All the performers had now been on, but we still had ten minutes to go, so Simon did an unaccompanied shanty. (Was it a sea shanty, river shanty or estuary shanty?) Either way he got everyone singing along. He said that he wrote the song with Tony, (Would that be Tony Prior?). A really good number.
Finally Tone Deaf Leopard came up for a finale that sent us home in high spirits. Their first piece was an update on the old Country Joe and the Fish anti-war song ‘Fixing to Die’. An amusing song but with a very serious underlying message. Finally they created a great laugh with their infamous ‘Four Wheel Drive’ song. I always think of this number whenever I see a four wheeler in Tesco’s car park!
On this dull October afternoon the weather outside was grey and dismal, and it was absolutely pissing down with rain. But here inside the FaB club the sun was shining brightly. Thank you to all the performers, and a special big thanks to Alan and Sally for a truly great afternoon’s entertainment.
Dennis Homes