A Great Night of Live Music

Looking back over the last 50 years there have been some iconic albums in the charts but who would imagine back then that songs from those albums are still sung and played regularly at Open Mic sessions today.  Paul Weller's album "Stanley Road" released 20 years ago included the song "You Do Something to Me" a favourite 90s ballad for people who "don't do ballads and definitely don't  cry" and from the Modfather himself. 1985 and Dire Straits' "Brothers in Arms" was the first album released on to the CD market selling over 1,000,000 copies in this format. We all remember Mark Knopfler's National style O resonator on the front cover and of course the track "Walk of Life". Skin tingling songs from singer/songwriter Kate Bush too had "Hounds of Love" in the charts in the same year and Kate was the first woman to have a self penned number one hit "Wuthering Heights" seven years earlier at the age of 19. 1980 brought  AC/DC's Back in Black soaring into the charts following the death of Bon Scott to be replaced by Geordie, Brian Johnson. 2015 sees the 40th Anniversary of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" which included the 13 minute long "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" a tribute to Syd Barrett who had left the band following a mental breakdown. The Beatles last album "Let It Be" released in 1970 with "Two Of Us", "Get Back" and of course the title track often heard at Open Mic sessions. Astonishingly a sealed boxed copy of that album sold on ebay in 2009 for just over £6,500!! Might be worth checking if there is a boxed copy in your loft at home. 

 

Tuesday's Open Mic at the Royal Naval Association in Newport promised to be a busy night with a large contingent coming over from Gnosall and Staffordshire, many of whom are heard regularly at The Oak Open Mic on a Thursday night. An early start had the first scratch band of the evening getting us under way with Dave Sanford, Olly Flavell, Andy Clark and Matt Miles delivering a lovely blues set and Dave's self penned "Black Country Boy" which he played superbly with Olly setting the standard for the evening.

 

Matt Miles and Rob Brown are proving ever more popular as an acoustic duo and once again their set list really complimented their beautiful harmonies with Stereophonics, The Beatles, Foo Fighters and Crowded House being an excellent choice and what strong lead vocals from Matt.  

Dream Ticket are a 4 piece band and what a treat we had in store with Andy Appleby on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, Aaron Beardsmore on lead guitar, Nick Wells on upright bass and Martin Jacks on cahon and backing vocals. The Beatles "Come Together" and the line "he come groovin' up slowly" pretty much summed up a terrific chilled, laid back set with the intro to 7 Nation Army perfect for the bass and a wonderful rendition of Adele's Skyfall from the 23rd and most recent James Bond film completing a fine performance from Dream Ticket. I hope they will pay us another visit before too long.

 

 

Soundman Jon Newton is always happy to leave his station to play drums and together with Dave "Blu", Olly and Jude drove the 2nd scratch house band of the evening along with "Crossroads" from the Delta Bluesman Robert Johnson, the laid back boogie feel of JJ Cale's "After Midnight" and classic 12 bar blues with Chuck Berry's "Johnny B Goode. Always great fun for those getting together unrehearsed on stage and likewise for the audience.

 

It's been too long since The Magpies have played at Newport Open Mic so a warm reception awaited Tony Rodberg, who turned 60 at the beginning of the week, and Martin Jacks both on guitars and vocals aided and abetted by Matt Miles and Nick Wells on drums and bass. BB King's "Thrill is Gone" and the R&B standard "Route 66" are always crowd pleasers but The Who's "Substitute" and Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb"  had the audience singing along word for word and demonstrates the staying power of these classic songs for those who remember them first time round and for those who are perhaps hearing them for the first time decades later.

 

Remynie-Kiah  and Gaz Giles have been rehearsing for a few weeks and last Tuesday we finally saw them together on stage  and immediately we knew we were in for something special from this talented young pair. The audience were spellbound from the start and with Jose Gonzalez' "Heartbeat" as their opening song there was a hush around the busy room. Remynie's vocals are hauntingly stunning. Gaz's accompaniment on guitar perfectly complimented her vocals and Cher's song "Bang Bang" written almost 50 years ago by her then husband Sonny Bono would have had the panellists in The Voice spinning in their chairs. "Girl With One Eye" by Florence and the Machine brought an all too short set to a close but judging by the response Rem and Gaz will be back soon.

 

Laurence Gale and Rob Bryon were joined tonight by Dave Sanford on mandolin for their set, perfect for Ronnie Lane's "How Come" and "Up the Junction" by Squeeze. Great to see Laurence and Rob performing more regularly at the Navy Club stage. Talking of squeeze, time left for a few songs from Andy Appleby alongside Magpies, Tony and Martin and Nick Wells on bass. Stray Cats, Soft Cell and Pink Floyd with a great version of "Money" were a good choice and with a bit of gentle persuasion Matt Miles and Rob Brown brought a splendid evening of live and varied music to a close with "Mrs Robinson".

 

So in celebration of the anniversaries of some of the greatest albums going back 20, 30, 40 and 50 years those appearing on Open Mic stages across the country continue to play tribute to some great musicians as well as bringing a wealth of original material to the live music stage. A splendid night of musical entertainment on a Tuesday night in Newport.

 

 A reminder that there is an Open Mic session every Thursday at the Royal Oak in Gnosall and recently started there is Open Mic at the Bell Inn Ham and Eggery on the A5 every other Monday, the next one being on 9th March.

 

Till next time KEEP IT LIVE.