Doc P, D minor and more !

Newport Open Mic Night 11/9/12

After a spectacular London 2012 came to an end this Sunday with a brilliant, but slightly controversial, Coldplay concert, perhaps some musical variety was in order. Luckily, Newport Open Mic night was on hand once again: this Tuesday saw some brand new faces, welcomed back seasoned pros, and played host to a diverse array of music from performers both young and...not quite so young.

This week started with another great set by young musicians Olly and Jake, who are thankfully becoming Navy Club regulars.

Next we all got into the key of D Minor. After not having time to play last week due to the sheer numbers of performers, Dave Minor returned to grace the navy stage. Starting off with a re-worked acoustic performance of the Black Keys’ modern day classic ‘Lonely Boy’, Dave took us through a great set featuring the debut of a new composition of his: ‘As we fall’.

Martin Woodhall on guitar, Phil “The Gerbil” Jervis on bass, and Remynie Faith on drums joined forces to form the spectacular Uncle Knockout!  (as they were known for the evening). Dan Nicholas took a break from the journalism to join them on stage for AC/DC's Whole Lotta Rosie. In my unprofessional and biased opinion, they utterly smashed it, not least due to Dan's impeccable guitar work and stage presence. Believe me, you won't see bottom wriggling like it anywhere else.

Dan Walton, or as we know him, “the one with the moves”, played a stylish acoustic set, how does this guy know so many old songs!?(Of course we all know the old ones are the good ones!) Dan is normally seen with Blue Tuesdays, a talented young three piece who feature covers by the likes of Cream, Hendrix, Wings and more. They are playing live at the Navy Club on Friday 21^st September, if you are interested in hearing more.

Melissa Severn was back with another trio of her own compositions. Melissa brings particular value in her clever changes of pace throughout her songs, and her maturely constructed and engaging lyrics. Its hard to believe she is still only 14 years old. Keep up the good work Mel!

Doc P, usually seen on a Wednesday night at Stoke's Leopard Hotel, popped in for a SPOT of extra practice before his charity gig on Saturday. Doc is playing a charity gig in support of the Stafford defibrillator project. He finished, of course, with the Pet Shop Boys' Heart – I said it was a diverse evening!

Keyboards are allowed at the Navy club too! Well know Newportonian Roger Price tinkled the plastic ivories with a smooth selection of blues songs. With a little bit of good old audience participation, He finished off his set with renditions of crowd favorites We Are the Champions and delilah. Falsetto vocals and mouth trumpet were activily encouraged! 

Newport Open Mic Night would not be the same without Rich T on guitar and vocals and Chicken on bass, who once again gave it their all with an anarchical, punk-rock medley.

By this point it was late in the evening and people had begun to return home, but those that stayed until the end were rewarded handsomely when Martyn Templeton picked up the guitar and strummed out relaxed versions of The Letter, originally by the Box Tops, and Ben E. King's fabulous Stand by Me. Martyn has a really lovely voice; it was a truly top class way to round off another superb evening of music.

So next time you're sitting at home on a Tuesday night faced with another evening of dull football qualifiers, dreary midweek T.V and the wife/husband/cat, make sure you come along to the Newport Open Mic Night at the Royal Navy Club in Bellman's yard for a bit of R&R, it has to be the most entertaining, musical Tuesday evening that £1 can buy.

Thanks to all that turned up,

Words by Rebecca Threlfall and Dan Nicholas

Pictures by Laurence Gale