Review: 15th May session
Hi all, I was asked to write the review for todays FAB CLUB session - Mike's birthday.
MICK and NORA: were our comperes for this session, after a number of jokes about Mick's missing shorts, they started the afternoon off with a song about hop picking in Kent,
with a TIO TIO TIEIO. 
BILL: offered us an unaccompanied number, which I have heard somewhere before, but am unable to place the artist. A gentle little song with the chorus lamenting, where am I going, what happens now.
MARGARET: our lady of the Ukelele followed, with a throbbing version of the classic Black Velvet band. One of my favourite folk numbers. It got a few people joining in. Nice one.
GERRY: was our next singer, he did a sea shanty type thing, which I had never heard before. Something about a ship called the Kangeroo. Good number, and a great performance!
JO: the lady of the crystal voice, she did another sea shanty, the characters of this one were busy, breaking out of prison, nicking boats and shipwrecking themselves on desert islands. Then getting rescued, its the busiest song I've ever heard. Not bad for three minutes! I believe it was entitled Anderson's Coast.
PAUL BALLANTYNE: regaled us with an anti-war song, called Matthew. This one was about the American civil War, powerful song.
After the break it was time for the birthday boy to strut his stuff.
MIKE PARROT: gave us a special song, dedicated to someone in the audience, unfortunately I never got the chance to find out who this was. The song was a moving number called appropriately My Kind of Girl.
What followed was a real treat, Mike's nephew and niece, CLIVE and JASMINE performed as a duo, and did a tasty little violin piece. Very nice!
MIKE, GORDON and DEBBIE: This trio performed a song called Working Class Hero. As an ardent John Lennon fan, I thought they were going to do his song, but what they did do was a very clever jazz style number - good song.
EITHER OF US: this unique duo consists of our man Tim, and our girl Claudine. This is the first time I have ever heard of someone rename their song just prior to it's performance. A very interesting number called Something Else
MARK REED: next up was someone with whom I have a more than nodding aquaintance, He played a guitar piece that was dedicated to a lost relic, a thing called summer. The piece was in the flamenco style and is called Aralanthia.
ROCKIN' BOB: there was a massive round of applause when the Pitsea Market 6 string plucker got up and did his stuff, our man Bob played a lovely little number called Lucky April Shower.
JO: this was without a doubt one of the most unique performances of this song I have ever seen, come to think of it, of any song I've ever seen. There were more hip and hand gestures in this performance, than in a jive competition. The number itself was called Long Live Love, the rest I leave to the imagination. Excellent!
MICK and NORA: our very competent comperes, came back for a second set and gave us yet another sea shanty. This one got a lot of response and participation from the audience. I never got the title, but it had Jamboree in the chorus. Nice performance.
After the second break we got down to some serious business.
MIKE PARROT: gave us what can only be described as the FaB Club cult anthem, a cleverly worded song dedicated to the Fab Club itself. You only have to hear Claudine get excited to know this one is coming!
Tina Tate
TINA TATE: from what I heard, Tina was there only to watch, but sort of got drafted in to do a song. giving a very powerful rendition of AND I LOVE HER SO. This is, according to the internet, a song originally written by Don McLean. Not bad for someone with a sore throat. Excellent performance
GORDON: gave us another Jazz inspired song called Starstruck, not one I've heard before but
a good number none the less. 
THE CHEEKY GULLS: Claudine and Margaret, The trick with this one, is how to describe it without being rude. I think a load of old knickers will suffice, all colours and shades. Definitely no stains on this one, no broken elastic, just one busted plectrum. Brilliant number, had me and most of the audience in stitches .
EITHER OF US: An unusual performance this, in that Claudine used a stick to imitate the sound of running water. The thing, I was reliably informed, is called a rainstick. A nice song this, called Balinese Dawn, written by Tim, whilst taking an overnight stay in Bali, the story was about beating everyone to the beach. Sound familiar?
BILL: Gave us another unaccompanied song, a chorus song, which had lots of support. I believe it had something to do with a light shining in the morning, not something I like to see much, especially on Monday. Nice one Bill.
GERRY: This performance was for me the highlight, he did a superb version of Ralph Mctell's From Clare to Here. Well done.
ROCKIN' BOB: Our man Bob was about to launch into his version of an old Jazz standard, when he had to stop due to a bout of cramp. He got a well deserved round of applause.
MARK REED: next up was this character from over in the corner with the pen of power, he did what has been described as a haunting song called Eastwind.
PAUL BALLANTYNE: Our final song of this session, and one that had a ring of propheticism about it. Paul performed a cover of the Pink Floyd song Wish You Were Here.
Today was a very good session, and thanks must go to all those who helped make it the day it was, The performers, the people who run the venue, and of course to Claudine, for taking the time and effort to make it all happen. And from all who took part, hope you had a good birthday Mike.
And finally, my moment with the pen of power has passed, so hopefully I've done justice to those with the bribes, and to those without. I'll cya all soon.
all the best,
Mark Reed 