1st May session:
Review:
As The Orsett Cock was officially closed on Sunday, Terri very kindly let the Fab Club run as a private party which made us feel very important!
The Sandy Brechin CD ♫Out Of His Tree♫ which even had my none dancing feet twitching put us in the right mood before Claudine took on the daunting task of compering. Paul/myself had agreed to attempt the review at his/my own risks!...
We opened the session with a text message from Mike in
First up was our very own Claudine with the heartbreaking song ♫My Heart♫ sung beautifully with her sweet clear voice and excellent finger
picking on the guitar.
She was joined by Paul for her next offering, the foot tapping Tom Petty
song ♫Learning To Fly♫, nice strumming guys.
Bill gave us two unaccompanied songs next, the first was about a fly of rather dubious toilet habits to which we all filled in various "shss" noises when we weren't laughing at the humorous verse.
The second song was more traditional boy meets girl, boy chats up girl, with a great singalong chorus.. ♫Crow like a cock...♫,brilliant stuff Bill!
Paul and Margaret, don't drink too much guys!
Then it was the turn of "Lady Formby" herself or Margaret as she likes to be called with ♫Fanlight Fanny♫. Such enthusiasm and skill, nobody plays a ukelele like Mags, George would be well pleased.
This was followed up by Lonny Donnegan with of his songs improved upon, ♫Putting On The Style♫, Margaret certainly does that.
It's so refreshing to hear instruments other than guitars getting a good workout.
Stuart came next and because of electrical troubles with his keyboard, borrowed a guitar and treated us all to Dusty's ♫No matter What You Do♫ with some very skilful chording and doo's doo's in place of the words, very
laid back.
♫Do You Want To Dance♫ next with some nice disco lighting to add to the atmosphere...
Nice to hear some rock and roll Stu!
Tina also sang unaccompanied, (how do they do that?) with the lovely Bread song ♫Everything I Own♫ written by David Gates for his father and really done justice with Tina's strong and true voice.
Carole King's ♫Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow♫ also got the Tina treatment, WOW!! Eat your heart out Ms King!
Paul was next up with John Martyn's ♫Sandy Grey♫with the words of the first line of each verse taped to his trusty guitar (that's cheating).
Noticed an ant that had got in for free ;-)
After many attempts to play in the right key and various toing and froing, he finally managed to play the popular
shouting something about his mini size which presumably was about his little crib sheet taped to the music stand.
Mark Reed regaled us with a couple of his own compositions, the first a great bluesy number called ♫Out Of The Past♫ with a super story line and some trick guitar work. Considering it was the first time he had played it live, it was very impressive.
Everyone loves a sea shanty and Mark's second contribution satisfied all there who like a rousing sing a long chorus: ♫pull hard me lads!♫ you could almost smell the sea...
Then it was break time and Claudine put on her Breton music and taught us a traditional dance that we all picked up very quickly, you can't suppress natural talent, we were fantastic, although that may have been Claud's
great teaching method. (we had to call her "Miss" and put our hands up!)
After the break it was time for "Rocking" Bob with ♫You Belong To Me♫. Bob's 30's and 40's music is just the thing to bring a smile to one's face and to get those feet tapping.
He took out the big bass uke for his next number, ♫The classic Marta♫. Bob's style of playing always makes me think of gangsters molls and flappers.
Mick and Nora came up next, Mick, ever the style icon looked the part in shorts, black tee shirt and trainers. I bet he wasn't too hot. Their playing was though, with the lovely shanty song ♫Shoals Of Herring♫ with Nora on her reliable old squeeze box... A class of their own these two...
Carrying on with the nautical theme You shall have a fishy song with a southern accent but none the worse for that.
Oh yeah I almost forgot, Nice legs Mick! ;-0
Claudine and Paul played the haunting Show Of Hands song ♫Seven Days♫ next with its lovely harmonies and although played off the cuff sounded beautiful.
Bill was up again with another unaccompanied song ♫Parting glass♫ sang with a lovely accent and a good true voice.
Mags gave us ♫The last Of The Summer Wine♫ with her trusty uke at her side making us wish for the summer (and the wine too...)
Stuart managed to fix his keyboard and played a soothing mellow melody to relax us further; another welcome addition to the FaB club family.
A Leo Sayer song was next on the agenda from Tina, I'm a fan of Leo's but Tina sang it just as nicely.
Paul gave us Warren Zevon's Roland ♫The Thompson Gunner♫complete with some aggressive strumming and some info on Roland's weapon of choice.
The long-awaited raffle saw lucky Nora win the Choc orange that she promptly passed it around, nice of her!! Sally won the wine and Keith the two free entry tickets.
Another original from the talented Mark Reed called ♫Don't Leave Me Alone♫, very laid back and owing a bit to Mark Knopfler I think.
Rockin' Bob could melt anyone's ♫Cold Cold Heart♫ with a few strums of his trusty guitar.
Mick and Nora played the popular ♫Dirty old town♫ to finish off the day with Nora on the tin whistle. The perfect way to end another fabulous FaB Club day!
Mick and Nora
A pity we have to wait until the 15th of May but it will be well worth it, I'm sure.
Claudine has done a fantastic job of getting the club off the ground and
it is already the folk afternoon not to miss.
