Report: Jude Paton

Photographs: Matt Thomas

The past 18 months has seen a massive increase in sales of vinyl records and last Sunday I took myself off to my favourite live music venue (apart from our very own here in Newport at the Royal Naval Association) which is The Robin 2, the Midlands' premiere 700 capacity venue. Not to listen to live music this time however but for a Record and CD Fair. Only a few weeks ago I went to see Glorious Fools supported by blues singer/songwriter Matt Woosey who paid a surprise visit to our Open Mic in Newport recently. At the Robin on that night there were 14 people in the audience. The Record Fair when I arrived at midday on Sunday was PACKED with people still coming in when I left a couple of hours later with a few records to add to my already large vinyl collection. One of the records I picked up was by the 7 piece Birmingham based country/folk/rock band Quill whose bass player Ben Brain died suddenly in 2013. The disc in question dates back to 1986 with Ben sitting centre stage and bearing a passing resemblance to Robert Plant. There was a tap on my shoulder and a voice behind me said, "He was my uncle" pointing to Ben.....one of those wierd but delightful moments of serendipity.

On to Tuesday night in Newport and the regular Open Session at the Royal Naval Association which promised to be a busy night for Jon Newton on the sound desk and photographer Matt Thomas with a full board early doors and a sizable audience of around 50.

Kieran Cahill was paying his third visit to Open Mic as a visitor to Newport and currently on a 6 week stay at Combat Stress and true to his word he had brought along Allan Morgan also on a short stay at Combat Stress but resident of (don't ask me how to promounce it) Yotradgynlais in the Swansea valley and a member of Cor Dathlu Cwmtawe Male Voice Choir.  Allan and Keiron hushed the room with a beautiful rendition of a song I can't say I have ever heard performed at an Open Mic session, the hymn "Abide With Me" which has been sung prior to the kick-off at every Rugby League Challenge Cup final since 1929. A poignant song from Keiran to follow was "Hero of War" by Rise Against and written by a US Marine in Afghanistan. Recruitment from the audience brought up bassist Alan Middleton and lead guitarist Roger Clark and young Lauren Hughes on drums to finish a fine set by Keiran which included a diversity of songs by Guns 'n' Roses, The Clash and Elvis!

 

Mike Collins from Perton is becoming quite a regular performer on the Newport stage and together with his son, Mike, on bass and Lauren once again on drums they performed under the band name "I Don't Mind" as that was the response from the two youngsters when Mike asked them what they should call themselves! Once again a great choice of songs when it comes to contrast with "Teenage Kicks", "I Wanna Be Like You" from Jungle Book and a to finish, especially for the Scots amongst us following St Andrew's Day and Andy Murray clinching the Davis Cup win in the most spectacular style, the Proclaimers "500 Miles"

 

Hard to believe that it was only the second outing for John Reynolds looking like a seasened pro and certainly no apparent nerves together with Andy Clarke on bass and Rich Thomas on drums. A very creditable performance indeed with some great golden oldies from the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly and The Mavericks.

It has certainly been a long time since we last heard Nathan Davis at Newport Open Mic. I remember well his very first outing performing alongside his father singer/songwriter Martyn at the age of 9. Martyn tragically passed away when he was only 40 but how proud he would be if he were to hear  young Nathan not quite 10 years on and on Tuesday night following in his father's footsteps with 2 self penned songs "I Don't Want to Hold" and" Four More Chords". Nathan's vocals have matured well beyond his years and have that gravelly Tom Waits edge to them.  "Comin' Home" by the band City and Colour was new to me but a great song nonetheless. Welcome back Nathan!

A night of metamorphosis with Nathan being joined by Andy Clarke, Jon Newton and for the first time on stage Martin Katon on lead guitar playing "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" originally written and performed by Bob Dylan for the 1973 film Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. Well done Martin with some difficult instrumental breaks in that one and I am sure that now he has taken the plunge so to speak we shall hear a lot more from him.

A real seasoned pro up next as well as regular supporter of Open Mic was Rich Thomas bringing his own brand of songs from his vast repertoire which on Tuesday included Abba, Elvis Costello and The Clash. Only Rich could pull off such a mix of songs and as always is very popular with the crowd.

Rob Bryon and Laurence Gale were due on next but with a surprise band sitting at the back of the room they scrubbed their names off the board to make way for what turned out to be the last performance by fantastic local band One Nation. A superb frontman in Roger Clarke, together with drummer Spencer Pollard, Carl Pope-Terry on bass and, the reason for this being their final gig, Jon Davis on lead guitar who is moving to London and pastures new on Thursday. A few opening bars had the dancers up on the floor for the rest of the night. Funk, ska, soul, you name it ........it was all there from Roger and the lads who had everyone in real party mood.

Good luck Jon. We will miss the band but who knows? I am sure we will see them again soon.

All this on a Tuesday night in Newport and more next week with a special extended set from Telford band Old's Cool. Not to be missed.