So the biggest spectacle in world football kicks off in Brazil with wall to wall media coverage and the usual mix of national pride and inevitable pessimism. A disappointing start for England against Italy, Portugal demolished by Germany and Brazil, shock horror, held to a draw by lowly Mexico. I must admit, I love my football so there will be bags under my eyes for the next month with all the late night viewing. Not everyone is as passionate, however, and with nearly every pub in town showing the World Cup if you don’t like the game, where do you find a football free zone? Die hard music fans head for The Navy in Bellman’s Yard for the usual feast of home grown live music talent, and Tuesday night didn’t disappoint.
The ever dependable Adam Brown gave the thumbs up from the desk, and first up Gaz Giles assembled a great Scratch House band for the sound check. With Dave Sandford, AKA Dave Blue on guitar, an increasingly confident Andy Clarke on bass and the talented Remynie Faith on drums, they rattled through a great set covering songs from Creedence Clearwater Revival and T Rex. They even managed a slow blues jam that sounded suspiciously like ‘Digging my Potatoes’….where is Harry Wooley when you need him?
Whenever I hear an electric 12 string guitar being played, the jangly sound always reminds me of the iconic 60’s band The Byrds. Next up Graham Dabbs didn’t play any of their stuff, but he did give us a master class in understated, economical playing. We don’t see Graham too often but when we do he always manages to give us something different, this time a couple of belters from Tom Paxton and Midlands legend, Raymond Froggatt.
When I was around fifteen, I vividly remember my family screaming at me to ‘give it a rest’ or words to that effect, whilst practicing my guitar at two in the morning. I can only think that young Jobe Spencer has been doing something similar for quite a while now as he has developed into a terrific player. With his stand up hair and downcast gaze, he reminds me of someone like Jeff Buckley but it is his playing style that really grabs your attention. I have been trying for decades to play the Bert Jansch classic ‘Angie’ and he made it look easy. What a talent.
Dave Blue has, like me, been playing for years but he looked across and said ‘Do I have to follow that?’ but follow he did, with a lovely acoustic set. He is normally found bending the strings of his electric Fender Strat and playing bottle neck blues, but his set was much simpler, just lovely picking and soulful voice. Brilliant stuff.
Resident snapper Laurence Gale was then persuaded to put down his camera and pick up a borrowed guitar before treating the enthusiastic audience to a fabulous instrumental Beatles medley. A man of many talents is Laurence!
Just time for a final Scratch House band to finish off the evening. Dave Blue back on his trusty Strat, Jobe Spencer this time on drums, Jude Paton on bass and yours truly on vocals busked through a series of classic rock to send the audience home happy.
No tantrums, no goal line technology, just a real live music treat that required no red cards and no understanding of the offside rule. If you are sick of the World Cup already, head for the Navy club next Tuesday, when we should have classic rockers Bang To Rights on stage around 9pm, ….whoever is on the box!
Finally a reminder about Newport’s premier music event NEWFEST, which takes place at the Rugby Club on Saturday 28th June. Most of the dozen or so entertainers cut their musical teeth at the Newport Open Mic, so come along, give them your support and help raise funds for the chosen charity Green Fields Africa.
Till next time, keep it live!
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