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FaBclub review 27th September 2009 written by Clive Meggs It's still sunny and warm outside and we are close to October - must be some kind of Oriental Summer. Tables are in place and drinks have been purchased and we have a fine array of performers practising and tuning up their instruments. Margaret has volunteered to compere this afternoon having returned from her trip to Spain. She tells us she went to see Cliff Richard at the O2 arena, and needed a parachute when she looked down from her seat in the gallery - it was so high and steep. She starts with He's all Mouth and Trousers, a saucy number - what have you been doing in Spain, Margaret. After an amusing nautical tale Margaret follows with When You're Smiling, and we keep looking behind expecting to see Morecambe and Wise come through the door. Bernard and Maureen are next, and tell us of the steam rallies and other events they have been to over the last few weeks. They give us a couple of their instrumental sets to get the toes tapping. It's nice to see you back. We have a spillage in the middle, and its all hand to the deck to assist in the mopping up Norman is invited to the floor and informs us that there is now a George Formby Society in Afghanistan. Not many volunteers to go to that I suppose. He starts with an appropriate Formby song Our Sergeant Major. No need for cleaning windows out there though. He continues with the theme from Dad's Army - Who Do You Think You Are Kidding Mr Hitler. Added on to this are It's a Long Way to Tipperary, Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag, Goodbye Dolly Gray and Roll Out he Barrel, a medley of old wartime songs that get the audience joining in. Our sound engineer, Joe Migdal, is on next, with a conventional guitar today. He starts with a self-penned song - Chances. Joe has played this before but it is such a lovely song you just can't hear enough of it. His next song, he informs us, is shortened to 5 verses. It has been censored by Joe, who has cut all the sex out of it - spoilsport! Called The Weaver, a traditional rhythmic song excellently performed by Joe. Tone Deaf Leopard are next and Trevor says he does not know what they are going to do. They start with a self-penned song The Urban Fox. The words are clever and very humorous and there is a catching refrain, which the audience join in with enthusiastically. They continue with an allegorical song about a snake called The Snake. No alligators in this song. Bill Pardon is called upon and is not expecting it. His first song, he sang at The Hoy at Anchor on Tuesday, and he says it requires audience participation for the last verse. A parody of a well-known traditional song involving a list of names and a market where we all had to shout out our names for the chorus of the last verse. He followed with his Match of the Day song, again with a loud la la chorus. This is taking audience participation to the extreme - it could only happen at the FaBclub. Foxen are next, and it is great to see them back at the club. Margaret's instrument has dried out and it appears that John has been forgiven for spilling the drink. They start with a romantic ballad - The Night Song sweetly sung by Margaret. They follow with a Lawrence and Hart song - Blue Moon - again sung by Margaret with some great guitar by John. I have mentioned this in previous reviews, but I have not heard them sing these before and I must congratulate them on their extensive repertoire - Ooh Err Missus! We take a break and each do what we feel is necessary, but mostly, in some way, connected with liquid. The raffle is drawn and as usual there are winners. Margaret returns for the second session with Jamaica Farewell. Blimey, she has only just returned from Spain. She has really got the taste for the highlife as she continues with a Lonnie Donnegan song - Putting On The Style. Bernard and Maureen return to give us a couple of toe-tapping sets of tunes with a little laughter in the middle when one of them goes slightly wrong. We were all fearing a domestic but it didn't materialise. Norman is next and he says he is going to give us a break from Formby. He sings Save The Last Dance For Me- an old Drifters number and produces a mouth trumpet solo in the middle, because his granddaughter is not here to accompany him on her clarinet. His second song is heavily into kissing and contains all the sex Joe took out of a previous song - Who Keeps Score. Tired Joe returns and borrows Margaret's little ukulele banjo because his own guitar is too heavy. He starts with a song about flies crawling up windows - very funny - It is a new song for most of the audience that he borrowed from an old 78 record. Rip it up Joe is his next song a sensitive meaningful ballad with some exquisite guitar by Joe. Tone Deaf Leopard return as a trio with Ben, who is not feeling too well, assisting with accompaniment playing lead guitar. Trevor sings a song which he describes as very Woodstock. He sings in an alien voice (too many capos in his trousers) which both surprises and amuses the audience. It is his version of Going Up Country by Canned Heat - how do you do that voice, Trevor?. They follow with a glam folk song Ride A White Swan made famous by T Rex. Some great tambourine by Sue - Has she been having lessons? Bill Pardon tells us a spooky story that made the hairs on your neck stand on end. He sings a song connected with the story about Benjamin Batton who died at sea - very powerful. He then sings a pirate song from the Roy Mette collection which I think is called Sailing Away. Two serious songs on the trot by Bill - this must be a first. Great stuff, Bill!!! Foxen finish off the afternoon in style. There first song is traditional from the Cecil Sharp collection called Rue, which apparently is a herb. It has a chorus which we all take pleasure in joining in with. They follow with a song written by Margaret titled The Fox and the Vixen with a chorus controlled by puppets . They should adopt this as their theme song - or perhaps they have. Please come back again soon John and Margaret. We have another meeting next week in the function room so if you fancy a great afternoon's entertainment make sure you are there. |