Review060408

FaBclub Review
6th April 2008
Written by Dennis Homes

April, the height of spring and the start of apple blossom time and what
did we wake up to this morning? Snow, snow and more bloody snow. I
was therefore quite surprised to arrive at the club to find the room
absolutely packed. It may be lousy weather outside but inside the
atmosphere was definitely Fine And Bright. It was also Margaret (Lady
Formby's) birthday so there was much celebration in the air.

Clive was our genial host for this afternoon and first up was good old
Rocking Bob who opened up with Your Cheating Heart sung in his usual
cheery style. He followed this with the old Hoagy Charmichael favourite
Georgia which soon had everyone humming along and forgetting the
lousy weather outside.

Next up was Ron with his fabulous Gibson jumbo guitar. His first song
was Singing the Blues, a song recently recorded by Alison Kraus and
Robert Plant. He has a really nice relaxed style when performing country
and western songs of which he is quite a master. His second song was the
old Hank Williams classic Honky Tonk Angels. John Stafford who had
only just arrived provided quite a nice accompaniment on mouth organ.

Bernard and Maureen were then introduced by Clive as the FaB Club's
answer to Relate! And as usual they provided us with a medley of most
melodic instrumentals including Swiss Boy, Swedens Anden Fyloo and
Lord OF the Dance.

Clive kept us all well entertained with his jokes before bringing on the
infamous Tone Deaf Leopards who opened up with Time to Check the
Freezer. This was the first time that I'd heard this song and as to be
expected was a most amusing song with song great lyrics from Trevor. I
love the way he rhymes "Keys are" with "freezer". Next was another
classic from this mad duo called Saga Louts!

It was my turn next and I dug out a couple of old songs of mine that I've
never previously sung at the club, "Battered Old Guitar" and "Pull Your
Trousers Up".

Simon Vogel who is quite well known around the local folk clubs
entertained us with a number of his highly amusing and very clever
poems. Simon is a FaB Club virgin and I really hope that he makes many
more visits here at the club.

Mike Parrott made a most welcome return to the club, his first this year.
His first song was The Girls of Amsterdam sung in a really nice relaxed
style. He followed this up with one of his own songs which a great
favourite with the regulars here "It's a Girl I'm Searching For" which is
more commonly known as "Have a Banana". A great way to end the
first half as Mike got everyone joining in.

After the break in which everyone enjoyed the great spread of food that
was brought along to celebrate Margaret's birthday we were treated to
some great music from a marvellous duo called Rosa's Daughters. The
first song featured a citeria which is something like a dulcimer. Their
second song was called It's Only Love that was sung in a most emotional
and beautiful way. Everyone was most touched by their wonderful
rendition as you called almost hear a pin drop, that is until the song
ended when there was a very loud applause.
If you would like to see and hear Rosa's Daughters please click on their
photo to the right.

Joe Midgal was the next performer who as usual gave an excellent
performance of two of his owner numbers. The first was called Star trails
and featured some really nice guitar phrasing, Joe is an absolute master
when it comes to playing guitar in DADGAD tuning. I really do admire
his guitar playing, his phrasing is so sensitive to the feeling of the song.
The next number was School Days was about his own childhood with
mention of Eagle Pond, a place that I know very well and have in fact
written a song about that pond myself.

The birthday girl Margaret came on next and sang one of my songs
which I wrote for Margaret. (Thanks and Happy Birthday, Mags).

Bill Pardon gave us one of his great rousing songs which had everyone
joining on the Na na na na na na na chorus and John Stafford
improvising away on the mouth harp. He followed this with his famous
Fifteen Times A Night which as usual aroused a great deal of laughter
and a rousing applause.

Liz (our second poet of the afternoon) gave us a rendition of her very
original and cleverly written poem about shoes. The second poem was
Growing Old Disgracefully which was so very apt for Margaret's
birthday.

Trevor 'Bloke in a Hat' Bareham was\the next performer. And indeed
with a new Burberry style hat. You Really Make my Day was his first
number, which like so many of his songs has a really great sing along
chorus which is so infectious and soon has\ everyone joining in. And as
to be expected he had even more people joining in when he sung his next
song "Breath" which has become a bit of an anthem here at the FaB
Club.

We were so pleased to welcome Claudine back to the club from San
Francisco. She gave us a lengthy chat on what she has been up to over
the last three months in the States. She then sang a delightful song, one
which she had only recently written and sang in her native French. Even
though I didn't understand the lyrics (I don't speak French) the sheer
emotion and sensitivity shone through. A most beautiful rendition.

John Stafford performed just one song, the old classic blues number
"aint nobody seen the trouble I've seen", and as usual his rendition
contains long conversations between each verse, including placing a
drink order with Claudine while still singing the song. It was great to
hear loads of people playing various percussion instruments and shakers
etc.

It was great to see Rosa' Daughters come back for one final song Sky
Dancers which had everyone joining in. A really nice performance with
some lovely harmonies and sung with great feeling. I really hope that it's
not too long before this lovely duo returns to the club. A truly lovely way
to round off the afternoon and bring the spirit of spring back into what
started off as a wet, cold day.

Finally, a big thank you to Clive who did an excellent job as compere
with loads of jokes that kept everyone well entertained.