Normal play resumes at The Navy

Words: Dave Whiteman, Pictures: Matt Thomas

This is the time of year when I always find myself saying ‘where did the summer go?’ Here we are almost in the middle of September and I can still vividly remember last Christmas….in fact I think we are still paying for it. We have just got back from a holiday in Spain, very unusual for us. Not going on holiday of course, we are retired after all, but going at this time of year when the beaches are crowded and campsites are full. One highlight was playing a couple of gigs at a bar in L’Estartit, where the locals and holiday makers are starved of ‘live’ music; more used to singers with backing tapes. Just one voice and a guitar can seem a little underwhelming, but the audience seemed to like it…perhaps it was the San Miguel at £1 a pint!

The same pound will get you entrance to the most popular live music venue in the area; the Newport Open Mic at the Navy Club in Bellman’s Yard, still going from strength to strength after more than ten years. Richie Evans has been a regular for most of that time and his lively set is always guaranteed to get the evening off to a great start. Somehow he manages to mix Lady Gaga with Men at Work and make it sound as if it was written that way…highly original and always entertaining.

I haven’t seen Scripted Youth at the club before, but brothers Keith and Mike Hatton along with Craig Cooper, all from Telford, have fashioned a nice full sound of mainly original compositions, and even though a well-received ‘Basket Case’ by Green Day was very popular, to me it didn’t sound any better that their own stuff, ‘Train’s Rolling On’ and ‘Nasty Habits’…….aren’t they great titles as well?

Graham Weir has become an Open Mic regular and it is clear to see how much his confidence has grown over the last year or so. Dylan’s ‘Simple Twist of Fate’ was excellent, and he then managed to inject variety into his act by first inviting saxophonist Ben Garrott to join him on stage and then Remynie Faith to sing the classic Dolly Parton number ‘Jolene’….really good stuff.

It takes a lot of courage to get up on stage in front of a large audience, but next up Jay Harris looks as if he has been doing it for years…even though he is only eleven. It is a fact that lots of Open Mic performers will stay within their sphere of comfort, playing familiar tunes every performance, but Jay always seems to bring something new to the table. This week a tribute to the Gallagher brothers, with songs from both Beady Eye and High Flying Birds, showed a remarkable stage presence for someone so young.

Telford’s Claire Shaw is someone I am always pleased to see at The Navy, and yet another talent who is never afraid to take a chance. Kacey Musgrave’s ‘Merry go Round’ was quite mesmerising, but it was her own composition ‘None of my Business’ that caught my attention. Singer songwriters Mellisa Severn and Melissa Walford have both gone on to bigger stages, with T in The Park and Britain’s Got Talent respectively and I really see no reason why Claire could not follow the same path.

Any Open Mic evening would not be complete without a set from a Scratch House band. These are usually likeminded musicians who although they may never have met, get up on stage to play together and busk through a few rock classics. This week I was delighted to join Rich Evans on bass, Steve Hammond on lead guitar and newcomer drummer, Steve Price who had travelled all the way from Derby. Rule of thumb is keep it simple….three or four chords are normally more than enough….it suited Lennon & McCartney! A short set of rock anthems from Steve Miller, T Rex and Rod Stewart closed the evening and sent the audience home happily humming the tunes. A grateful thanks to the small army of volunteers who helped replace the kit in the loft and indeed to all the ones who do the same at the beginning and end of every Open Mic….we couldn’t do it without you.

So…..good to be back? You betcha! Spain may have the sun, the sea and the cheap beer….but give me Newport anytime!

Till next week…..keep it live!