Open Mic review, May 7^th 2013. Words by John Heath

I have not been able to go to the Navy Open Mic for over a year while living abroad as a tax exile (NOT), so it was with a great deal of anticipation that I made my way down Bellman’s Yard at 7pm on Tuesday night.

Nathan Davies and his friend, Brendon, were already there helping to get the equipment out of the loft and ensure that the people who were eager to play were not kept waiting.

Nathan also did the sound check and even performed his own set later in the evening. It is really good to see that he is coming regularly to the Navy, and getting really involved not just with the Open Mic night, but with his music.

By the time that the sound check was completed, the room was already quite full and waiting to listen to the first of several “scratch bands” who played during the evening. 

First up, Mark ‘Superman’ Langford added his choppy rhythms to accompany Dave “Bluez” who was in superb form tonight. ‘Red House’ was performed with a degree of mellowness that reflects Dave’s new interest in adding a jazzy feel to his guitar playing.

Richard Evans, this week playing a real instrument, exchanged friendly banter with the audience while singing some Irish ballads. I think that Rich has finally gone over to the dark side – folk! (Come on, it was almost May The Fourth be with you, so I should be able to get away with at least one Star Wars reference!)

There are always surprises waiting for you at the Navy. I had become familiar with Rymnie’s splendid singing, keyboard-, drum-, and guitar-playing and this week’s surprise was that she had encouraged Ben Garret to join her on “Beat Box”: imitating the sound of a funky drum kit using only his voice and controlled breathing. This technique is something that will become very useful to the pair of them while they pursue their latest project of performing ‘Metal’ songs with a smooth jazzy feel to them.

The second surprise (for me, at least) was Darcy using a loop machine to build up layers of beat-box rhythms and finally sing with these rhythms as a backing track. Amazing stuff.

And all the way from snow-bound High Offley, the boss himself, Mervyn Wiliams, popped in to give us an enthralling set of rock covers with his band. Bang To Rights had had a really exciting gig at the Hen And Chickens in Bridgnorth over the weekend and they had called into the Navy to get their breath back. With a some new recordings in the pipeline and gigs piling up this classic rock band are kept busy. Long Live Rock!

Many other people contributed to a very successful night of good music, but I missed their performances while either being bitten by a rogue insect, or deep in conversation with one of the many friends that I have made at the Navy through the medium of music.

The Navy: a great Open Mic evening that is now celebrating 10years in it's present location and format. Great "Live" music and good friends and good beer – a combination that repeats itself each week on Tuesday night from about 8pm. Helpers are always welcome to give a hand to bring the equipment down from the loft from 7pm.

See you all next week at The Royal Naval Association Club in Bellmans Yard Newport Shropshire TF10.