FaBclub review
20th September 2009
written by
Sue Tuckey

It's a very warm day, and many of our regulars are obviously
still on hols or gardening. Tone Deaf Leopard are your hosts .
We start off with "Playing Footie" as there is a match on. We
follow with" No Baguettes." Trevor then introduces Mike. We
have not met him before. He gives us "Lord of the Dance"
written by Sydney Carter. This brought back memories, as I met
Sydney some years ago now. Mike follows with "Juice of the
Barley". There is only one more floor singer to put on before
the guest. Bill gives us "The Dry Cardrona", and a new
composition about football with a Match of the Day chorus of
la-la's.

Trev then introduces our guest, Doug Hudson. Thankfully, it's
a better intro than the one he gave him on Friday night. He
gives us a German a football story before introducing his
German translation of "The Wild Rover"," Das Weild
Dachsund"
He reveals that Chatham Dock Yard was actually in Gillingham.
This brought forth a football song called "Come on the Fleet"
after a football cry he heard at a Gills match. (Doug is the
commentator for the Gills.) There were some funny stories
about his visits to Australia and New Zealand. It is a preamble
to an Australian song "Broken Down Squatter." One of my
favourite routines next, " Serbo Croat Phrasebook." He reads
some "useful phrases". Then comes readings from the classic
"Gillingham, a great day out.. It's nearly all charity shops and
international restaurants like chicken, pizza and kebabs! A
song about the ghostly lady of Rochester castle is next. She is
said to appear on the turrets at night. A story next, about being
engaged to call for a Devon Ceilidh Band. The gig is in Russia.
There's no fee paid, but there's lots of food, and drinking . He
gets arrested by men with Kalaznikov's, "for having a
moustache". The bribe to release him was 2 super kings.
Bizarre and unbelievable as these tales are, they are usually
true! Doug sings the song he wrote for Mira, who he stayed
with during his visit. Mira is an anglophile but is too poor to
visit the U.K.
One more song before the break, "Dark Eyes", which is a
Russian song, preceded by two great Russian jokes.

Time for a break We in the bar win two out of seven of the
raffle prizes. TDL then perform "Nudist". Thankfully, we are
clothed, as is Joe Migdal who is next up.
Joe's first song is a shortened version of "The Weaver and The
Factory Maid." This is a traditional song that I have not heard
from Joe. His performance, as ever,is first class. He checks his
tuning for the next number, which is, " Nature's Wonderland",
a song written by Joe about The Scilly Isles. Beautiful !
Bill is on again, and plugs Joe's gig at The Hoy at Anchor" His
song just has to be "Fifteen Times A Night". This isn't
boasting folks, it's what we do now and then, an incontinence
song! His second offering is the classic??? "Cakehole Presley
Is My Friend." Mike concludes the spots. It's refreshing to have
an accordion player here. First song from Mike is "The Water Is
Wide." Ah, Mike also plays guitar. His second song is "Whiskey
in the Jar."

It's time for Doug's second set, and he welcomes up…. R. Doug
Hudson…. Is he any relation to R Dean Taylor? Of course not.
Don't be silly… Doug's first song was Kipling's "Danny Diva."
Doug's been singing this one for years, but believes he has
traced it to an incident at Chatham Barracks. A squaddie was
hanged for murdering a comrade. Some years ago Douggie was
asked to go on a council junket to Japan. A town there is
twinned with Gillingham. Will Adams was the first Samurai,
and came from Gillingham. It is called simply, "Will Adams." A
story about how he came to play in German Forces Folk Clubs
precedes another Barrack Room Ballad , "Cells." Doug then
reads out some funnies. Firstly his genuine invitation to a
composting toilet opening, then some very strange book titles.
I know that "Knitting With Dog Hair" is real because I heard the
author's interview on both radio and television.Another of
Doug's songs, "Billy", about an autistic boy who can play
classical concertos on piano after one listen. How do they do
that? Joe asks "Do You do any Dylan?", it's a request. He gives
us, Eric Bogle's "Do You Sing Any Dylan." Doug's last song is
his classic, "Twelve Drinks Of Christmas." This elicits shouts
for more. His finale combines his love of football combined
with his love of opera.He sings "Nissan Dormobile", as
Luciano Pavarotti. Shouts of "Bravo"
Shame that you missed it!