The secret is definitely out. If you want to play at the Navy on a Tuesday evening, you have to get there early.
Once again by 8.15pm we had a full board of performers eager to strut their stuff at Newport Open Mic.
Carol Cartwright, a first timer last week, enjoyed it so much she came back for a repeat performance. A lovely version of Both Sides Now preceded a rarely heard Simon & Garfunkel number; I am a Rock, before a rousing version of Sweet Little Sixteen closed the set.
Olly Flavell has been writing new material and he showcased this evening with Sunday Morning, before assembling a scratch band to join him performing Crazy in Love.
Another youngster full of confidence is Melissa Severn. She has become a regular and firm favourite with her thought provoking self penned songs. You could hear a pin drop as Melissa sang a couple of her own, Our Story and Burn, but she then surprised us all by playing a cover of One Direction's Kiss You.
Dave Blue is one of the clubs most enthusiastic musicians. A brilliant guitar vocalist, he has put together a new band with Steve 'Blackie' Black on drums and Paul Cooper on double bass, called Old Bones Boogie Band and they are well worth seeing if you get the chance. A lively set full of blues, R&B and classic rock had the crowd wanting more, but with more than a dozen musicians still waiting to play, it was not to be. They are actively looking for gigs now, get in touch via the TF10 newsletter to book them, you won't be disappointed.
Whilst another new band was setting up on stage, John Pullen (left) and Martyn Templeton gave us just one song each. Rock & Roll is King from ELO is an ambitious song with just one guitar, but John pulled it off well, before Martyn tried a brand new song Titanium by David Guetta, great stuff from the pair of them.
Regular readers will know that my favourite part of the evening is when a group of people who may not even have met before get together and make a bit of noise. Simon Haywood, who came to the club for the first time just a few weeks ago, texted Dave Whiteman to say he had bass player, Paul Wiggin from Hednesford and guitarist Michael Halley from Lichfield (right), but no vocalist....could he help? Dave duly obliged and a super set of songs gave no sign that this was a first time performance.
I think I am right in saying that it is also the first time that Earth Angel from the film Back to The Future has ever been played live in the club!
Next up, Richard Thomas (right) played a mainly punk set, with Sham 69's Weíre going down the pub, before a couple of classic tracks from UK Subs and then the Sex Pistols God Save the Queen.....Richard a punk? Never!!Still a good bit to get through as singer guitarist Darcy Crawford (left) came on, performing songs from Florida Georgia Line and The Script before a great version of Brad Paisley's I'm still a guy, showed a country & western string to his bow.
Malcolm Purvis is always welcome, appearing as he does when working in the area. His self penned 'life stories' always entertain" A19 about his favourite road and a touching song about love from a distance, The girl On Line 14.
Fresh from performing in front of 3000 people in Birmingham, Mellissa Walford came back to her roots with a brilliant vocal set. Iris from The Goo Goo Dolls was followed by her latest self penned song, Stuck Like Glue, before she made a touching personal tribute. Pete Walford was her music mad cousin who tragically died just a year ago and Mellissa credits him with encouraging her musical interest. Her rendition of one of Pete's favourite songs, Knocking on Heaven's Door had many reaching for the tissues.
Neil McPherson is usually found in the various folk clubs around Newport, and having waited patiently all evening to play he delighted the remaining audience with a mixed set of classics beautifully played on his 12 string Ovation guitar. Sounds of Silence and If I were a Carpenter were both excellent, but his haunting version of Christie Moore's Ride On was truly superb.
So yet another brilliant evening of live local music comes to an end. Every Tues from 8pm, but please remember if you would like to play, get there early as the board fills up very quickly.
Just time to tell you about a very special birthday party in a couple of weeks. Local band Lost the Plot are just one year old and they will be celebrating in their own unique style with a gig at Cosy Hall on the 23rd Feb. Fancy dress will be much in evidence and, as at any birthday party, jelly and cake will be served.
See you all next week. Same time same place, The Navy Club Bellmans Yard Newport Shropshire TF10....Ta-Ra.
No comments:
Post a Comment