18th September 2012

They think it’s all over! Not on your telly!   Words & Pictures by Dave Whiteman

The fabulous Indian summer looks just about over. The nights are drawing in and time to put your feet up in front of the box to watch a bit of footie. 

This week, megabucks Manchester City against mega, megabucks Real Madrid…..brilliant. Unless, that is, you are a live music fan. This week around 50 diehard followers headed to the Wembley for local musicians, The Royal Navy Association in Bellmans Yard to watch a Premiership display of superb live performances at the Newport Open Mic.

With Adam on the sound desk, The Scratchouse Band, this week made up of Mark Langford on guitar, Stuart Ball on drums, Jake Fosteroj on bass and Dave Whiteman, back from his European travels, on vocals, rattled through a lively opening with songs from Tony Joe White and T Rex

Jake stayed on stage to be joined by regular partner Olly for a brilliant opening set including songs from Jason Mraz and Amy Winehouse before finishing with a polished ‘Sweet Child of Mine’

Next up,  a couple of visitors from Jaspers Open Mic in Shifnal.  Dave Busby, who regularly gigs in the area, supported by Micky Keefe on bass performed a soulful ‘Let’s Stay Together’ by Al Green followed by a brilliant version of Ben E Kings’ ‘Stand by Me’  A great short set from this confident and talented performer, watch out for him.

 

Mellissa Walford, just 16 years old, warmed the audience further with a set that included Florence and the Machine and a superb self penned composition that reminded you of Lily Allen and Ellie Golding, but was purely Mellissa, ‘Happy Days’ This young lady gets better with every performance.

Dave Whiteman had the difficult job to follow and played a mellow ‘Your Song’ and Mike & the Mechanics ‘Living Years’ before finishing with a fine ‘Walking in Memphis’

Always something different from smooth voiced Martyn Templeton and this week he gave us a mixture that included The Box Tops and The Faces, but Paul Wellers ‘Pebbles on the Beach’ was many people’s favourite.

For me, one of the best things about Open Mic is the way a group of musicians, who may never have played or even met before, get up on stage and busk together. A six piece band led by Neil WiIlday on vocals (and a great brass section from Ben Garrott and Johnny Lewis on sax and cornet respectively) rocked the house with songs from The Stones, Elvis and Chuck Berry…….excellent stuff.

Time for things to get a bit heavier, and with one of Newport’s best young drummers, Andy Conway and bassist Rob McDonald providing the thumping rhythm for Pippin Henderson’s searing vocals, they raised the roof and the volume with songs from Hendrix and Led Zeppelin.

Olly and Jake then returned to the stage for an encore that included ‘Breakfast at Tiffanys’ and a lovely version of Ronan Keating’s ‘When you say nothing at all’ These young lads have improved enormously over the past few months….check them out for yourself on You Tube.

As full time neared another version of the Scratchouse Band brought Andy & Pippin together with Dave Whiteman and Mark Langford for the last music of the evening. Ambitious versions of ‘Every Breath you Take’ and ‘Sultans of Swing’ maybe not perfect, who cares, but a powerful ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ had the crowd shouting for more. 

So as the final whistle blows, another wonderful evening of live music comes to an end. Friday night you can catch the excellent Blue Tuesdays playing at the Navy and if you haven’t heard this brilliant three piece yet, you should check them out. Don’t be put off by their ages….all just 16;  the sound is pure 60’s and they are quite brilliant, Start time 8pm and admission just £2.

What does it cost to see a live footie match these days? At least £25 I guess. For that you could have six months of entertainment at the Newport Open Mic, every Tuesday from 8pm….go on, you know it makes sense!

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