Fab club
Sunday 26th November
Andy Smythe Special
It very quite in the pub – very unusual – there is no football, no crowds cheering, drunken fanatics chanting and lovely peace and quite.
……oh ho the leopards just turned up….Boland Leopard and Nelgwyn – is that spelt correctly sue? - Leopard….where do they get these names from? I can hear T-Rex turning in their graves. They happen to be our compares for today…anything can happen…..watch this space…..
Ok here’s our first act of the afternoon……
It’s…. Tone Def Leopard…..
Both armed with guitars, drums and wigs and of coarse the leopard skin clothing
Their first song is a little ditty written by themselves and is called ‘Xylophone blues’
Done in the usual comical style or is that style-a-phone?
….stop press…..Sue’s playing the drum cleverly disguised as a leopard skin head….
Their second song …a leopard classic…’I’m a rebel’….with no bladder control…this is done for the tons of new people that haven’t heard the old stuff…..OH DEAR!!!!!
What poor soul has got to follow that…….oh B*****R it’s me….
Simon Oliver ….well first of all I played a traditional and personal favourite called ‘Bold sir Rylas’ all about a knight who on his day off hunts a boar for his lunch, tries to get suede by a barking mad wild woman for killing the pig. He solves the disagreement by cutting her in two with his large sword. Simple.
Sonia Martin is up next reading a Dylan Thomas style poem written by herself. What talent! Her second poem is also a self-penned one again superb stuff. Unfortunately neither has a title yet, well done Sonia…Liz look out!
Next is Ruben who is described as a closet Leopard. He was actually a Fab Club virgin last week and now he is a veteran.
He starts of with one of his own songs called ‘Blue to grey’, great performance!
Next one is played superbly in a catchy style another self penned song called ‘Only takes a minute’ ‘.
Now he does a cover song from Marvin Gay called ‘What’s going on and mercy me’
Great one Ruben, can’t wait to hear more of your talent soon!
We have a ten minute break…..
And now, ladies and gentlemen, it’s the one, the only, Mr Andy Smythe
His first song is called ‘Whisky Priest’. This is one of Andy’s oldest songs and one of my own favourites. He sings with his usual song and haunting voice which vibrates around the Fab Club room.
This fella’ is so talented that he plays the harmonica as well. Fabulous!
His second song ‘Half me, half you’ is a new one that I’ve not heard before. A very catchy song with a good joining chorus, written I feel not in his usual style, and it makes a great change!
‘Autumn Gold’ is another of Andy’s older songs. He plays this on the piano and captivates the audience with this beautiful ballad
He now plays yet another new song about a Scottish loch inspired from a school trip. Another great ballad played superbly on the piano.
Next is a cover version of the Woody Guthrey song ‘This land’. As Andy play’s he has the audience singing and tapping their feet straight away. Marvellous!
Another new Smythe song ‘We love our children too’ all about the Israeli and
Andy finishes with a piano ballad called ‘Brothers’, one which I’ve heard many times before and still love. I look forward to the next half hour of Andy and his wonderful voice.
We now have another three floor spots…..
It’s…. Bill Pardon….. armed with witches hat, witches hair and his trusty song sheets.
He does one of his own Cornish song called ‘Newlyn maid’. He sings this with a very good Cornish accent.
His second is song about the Hoy at Anchor folk club. Sung to the tune of House of the rising sun. A very good parody. well done Bill. Actually it’s all about him finding folk music again. He calls this one ‘The house of the rising Hoy’
Claudine is up next. Described as our resident nutty French woman, she starts with a
Tim Almond song ‘Movie in the making’.
‘It’s another train’ is a great Pete Morton ballad. One of Caudine’s favourites and popular with the club.
Nice one Claud!
Ken takes the stage next with an empty plastic bottle used as a drum.
He sings ’What do ya wanna make those eyes at me for?’ a 1917 song – wow!
The club sing along happily.
He asked me to accompany him in the Cliff Richard song ‘Living Doll’. I found the chords some what difficult but we were victorious and pulled it off.
Another break …..
The Leopards kick of the last part of the afternoon with a song called ‘
We now have the Fab Club virgin of the week Clive Cowan Singing an eagle eyed cherry number ‘Say tonight’ An amazing performance and so well sung.
His next number is ‘Tightrope’ an excellent performance.
Andy Smythe returns to the stage. Hoooooorah!!!!
If it’s any thing like the first half then the clubs in for another superb treat!
He starts with a piano foot tapping number called ‘ and you’ve guessed it…it’s self-penned.
‘Garden of sweet
Back to the guitar…he tells a very funny story about the time when he was stuck with two drop dead gorgeous ladies in
This leads to another of his songs called the ‘
A Leonard Cohen song follows ‘Hallelujah’ sung…..oh for love of music what can I possibly say that hasn’t been said already? He’s superb, great fantastic, marvellous, talented, stupendous, an unbelievably good song writer and performer!
And if you’re looking this up on the net and have never been to Fab Club before you’ve missed a real treat!
‘Sap and earth’ is a very new Andy Smythe song. A great one destined to be a favourite with his fans.
‘Changing Seasons’ one of Andy’s older songs and a great catchy tune. In fact I would say this is a must for foot tapers every where!
Andy has written a song about a British soldier coming back from the
His last song – booo! – is a Rufus Wainwright song called ‘Art teacher’
Ok. Not his last song. He does an encore called ‘
This has been on of Andy’s best performances.
Well done mate!
Ok folks.
That’s all for now.
If you enjoy these reviews then you really need to get yourself down to Fab club. See you soon I hope.
Simon Oliver