Keeping It Live.

Taking Things For Granted!

 I have recently returned from 4 days in a bothy in the Hebrides. The bothy comprises one room with no electricity or running water, no phone signal, no internet and of course no television. Toilet facilities is a short walk over common grazing land to find a secluded spot from the prying eyes of sheep and cows with a bunch of dock leaves and if you’re really lucky a handful of sheep’s wool from the barbed wire fence. The view from your chosen spot is tremendous, Loch Linnhe where dolphins swim, Ben Nevis and the Isle of Mull. Peace and tranquillity and certainly far from the madding crowd. With no taps to turn or lights to switch on it wasn’t until I got back in the car on the mainland and switched on the engine to embark on the 7 hour drive back to Shropshire and suddenly Planet Rock came across the airwaves that I realised I had not heard any music for several days. I hadn’t missed it really....the sounds on a remote island are those of skylarks and sheep but it was nice to hear Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd on the radio.
 

Tuesday night at Open Mic at the Navy Club was certainly joy to my ears and a crowd of around 50 were treated to an evening of splendid and varied music. Jobe Spencer and Robbie Pilgrim played an electric set and were joined by Ben Garrott on saxophone and Olly Flavell on bass. 

Photographer for the night, Laurence Gale, was persuaded to put his camera to one side and borrowing Olly’s Taylor did a great set which included a Harry Chapin number (his favourite singer songwriter I believe) “Cats in the Cradle”. Olly was up next and with his own distinctive style of dress as well as playing he captivated the audience. Minnie Ripperton’s “Loving You” was my favourite tonight.

It’s been a while since 17 year old Remynie-Kiah has been heard at Open Mic but what a delight to hear her playing keyboard and singing once again. Christine Aguilera’s “Bound to You” was simply haunting and songs by Lady Gaga and Imagine Dragons completed a long awaited comeback from Remynie.

It’s also been a while since we have seen Steve Hammond from Shrewsbury. A great guitarist and together with his assembled scratch band for the evening which was Alex Ash on vocals, Matt Miles on drums and Olly Flavell on bass the band ripped through a soul inspired set of numbers by Stevie Wonder, Wilson Pickett, Curtis Mayfield and Al Green.

A new name on the board and the final band of the evening was Under the Cocktail Bar. Astonishingly this is a 9 piece band although only 8 could make it tonight with Josh Finzi, the keyboard player, missing. The three piece brass section was Ashley Marston on trumpet, Ryan Richards on trombone and Emma Byrne on saxophone, Karl Wilson and John Cooper on guitars, Sean Caldicott on bass and brother Daryl Caldicott on drums with Ash Tranter on vocals. The senior member of Under the Cocktail Bar is John Cooper, fast approaching 60 and all the other band members were between 18 and 21 years old. As a retired IT teacher John has taught them all and he confessed that the highlight of his teaching career was when these talented youngsters asked him to join the band. Never before have we had eight on stage but what an absolute delight and a wonderful end to the evening. Songs by Bruno Mars, Pharrell Williams, Plan B were not only an unusual choice but with the addition of a brass section were simply amazing. “Superstition” (for the second time tonight) and “Chasing Cars” were more familiar to the audience and once again were outstanding. Still a fair few in the audience as the evening drew to a close but they were up on their feet shouting for more. The choice of Maroon 5’s “Shoot for the Stars” by this wonderful collaboration of musicians left us spellbound. What a night of live music, friendship, song and laughter.

Good to be back.

Don't forget it all happens net Tuesday evening from around 8pm.

Keeping it Live.

Words: Jude Paton