Report: Jude Paton
Photographs: Matthew Thomas

A 200 foot rollercoaster had drummer Tommy Lee making 360 degree rotations 60 feet above the audience and 30 foot flames leapt from Nikki Sixx's fire spitting bass at Motley Crue's 16,000 sell out concert at Birmingham's Genting Arena last week as part of their final tour which ends their career in Los Angeles on 31st December billed as the Crue Year's Eve Show.

Support was from 67 year old Vincent Furnier and a boa constrictor weighing in at around 28lbs. If you are puzzling as to who this might have been, the hit songs "Poison", "Elected", School's Out" and "No More Mr Nice Guy" may give you a clue. It was indeed Alice Cooper spanning 40 years of rock music mayhem.
On Saturday there was more music mayhem in Newport Indoor Market with our very own Newport band Lost the Plot cavorting around with a variety of hats and flying plastic ducks with an audience on a slightly lesser scale but with no less enthusiasm.

Two contrasting  yet outstanding one man shows have taken place in and around Newport in the last few days, the first one being a moving and tense piece of theatre from Wolverhampton born actor and musician Tony Barrett performing in The Life and Times of the Tatman at the Royal Naval Association in Newport last Friday. Director Glen Buglass said "In the 18 months the show has been running it is the first time I have heard people openly sobbing during the performance." An intimate crowd of around 30 certainly seemed to enjoy Tony's remarkable emotional portrayal of The Tat Man.

A similar number on Monday night were to be found at the Wheatsheaf in Chetwynd Aston to hear Little Toby Walker from New Jersey, blues guitarist, singer/songwriter and raconteur extraordinaire. Looking around the room there were many local musicians of the highest calibre who listened in awe to Toby's two hour concert. He certainly held us all captivated and from start to finish had a flawless rapport with the audience. Many thanks to Tosh and Sarah for hosting this as well as Two Faced Tom and the Bootleg Boys who appeared at the Wheatsheaf's Bonfire Night party on Saturday.

And so on to Tuesday's Open Mic at the Royal Naval Association and it looked as if we were all gigged out with only a few regulars in the audience and a definite absence of musicians and the question was asked, "What if nobody turns up to play?". By way of reply however the door opens and in walked Rob Bryon, Laurence Gail, Rich Thomas and Alex Ash. Relief all round and the evening got under way with Rob and Laurence first up with openers "Wonderful Tonight" and Norwegian Wood". "Up the Junction" by Squeeze is always a favourite with the crowd but I particularly liked Rob's version of Alan Jackson's "It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere" a great country song and very reminiscent of John Prine.

Rich Thomas never fails to please with an ever changing repertoire of songs from his vast catalogue moving effortlessly from one to the other to include Jimmy Dean's "Big Bad John", Neil Sedaka's "Oh Carol" then Boris Pickett and the Cryptkickers "Monster Mash" from 1962! followed by "Woodstock". A great set as ever from Rich T.
Alex Ash on his own tonight with no Vinyl Tappers behind him but happy to sing a cappella, well almost, as Paul Crewe drew up alongside him on cahon to provide percussive accompaniment to Meat Loaf's "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" followed by "Rock DJ", two great songs to show off Alex's vocal capabilities.

Graham Weir has been coming down to Open Mic more regularly recently to perform and it was good to see him back again this week with a  splendid version of Dylan's "Simple Twist of Fate" and Hazel O'Connor's beautiful love song "Will You" from probably her best known album and the film soundtrack "Breaking Glass". Graham's nephew Dave was in the audience and a little gentle persuasion from his uncle had him up on stage to sing "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes", a wonderful song written by Paul Simon when he was in South Africa. Graham then accompanied Alex Ash singing "Your Song" to complete a lovely set.

It looked as if we might be in for an early night but Laurence was keen to do a couple more, this time without his sidekick Rob, and surprised us with his excellent version of Chris Rea's "Road to Hell" which I have not heard him perform before.

 It was gone 10pm and I had an inkling that we might have a late arrival and surprise guest on the way. And so it was that who should walk through the door but Little Toby Walker, the very same man who blew us away at the Wheatsheaf just 24 hours earlier. Once more a captivated audience were held spellbound by this exceptional talent in our midst. Straight in to Freddie King's "Hideaway" and NO-ONE was heading off for an early night! Toby is a terrific singer/songriter as well as guitarist and his own song "She's Shakin Her Bacon" demonstrates his great sense of humour before sliding off in to "Texas Tornado"....slow, sultry, blues to quote Toby followed by the Allman Brothers "Whipping Post".  Tosh Murase and blues harp player Ed Sullivan were in the audience and were invited up to accompany Toby, with Tosh on cahon and a song entitled "She's Just Crazy About an Automobile". Probably the loudest applause and cheering I have ever heard at an Open Mic and Little Toby Walker brought the evening to a close with an instrumental version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow".

I think it fair to say that everyone felt privileged to be present at yet another memorable Tuesday night at the Royal Naval Association. What a great evening and thanks to you all for playing your part in KEEPING MUSIC LIVE here in Newport.



See you all next week, same time same place.