Live in 2014: Fairport Convention at the Pontardawe Arts Centre - 2nd March 2014

It was another excellent night of music in the Pontardawe Arts Centre when Fairport Convention made what seemed like their annual pilgrimage to Wales. They more often than not come to Pontadawe. It was packed to the rafters again last night when Fairport 2014 rolled into town.

The first question was, Where's Peggy? And who was the young buck playing the bass?

It turned out that bass icon Dave Pegg had damaged his hand in a domestic accident three weeks before the tour started which ruled him out of the squad. But, as Simon Nicoll explained, Peggy had a contingency plan for an event such as this. And 42 years ago he had produced his son Matthew to take over. So it came to pass that Matthew, who proved to be an accomplished bass player himself, (and why not, as he was taught by one of the best), took over bass duties for this tour. But you can't keep a National Treasure down and Peggy was on hand(?), with hand in sling, to provide vocals for much of the second half of the set.

The show kicked off with support from the rather good Edwina Haynes who played a good set of her own songs and ended with the band coming on stage to join her for her final number, a version of John Prine's Speed Of The Sound Of Loneliness.

The show was a set two gig and it kicked off with the title track from 1995's Jewel In The Crown.

The band chose songs from right throughout their extensive career. A personal favourite for me was their reinterpretation of  Richard Thompson's Farewell, Farewell from the 1969 classic Leige & Leif

The boys have been playing together for a while now and with such a vast amount of material to choose from the show was always going to be a crowd pleaser.

The first half closed with a superb Mercy Bay

Part Two opened up with a rousing Festival Bell with Peggy on vocals

The band even managed to slip in a few new songs that are in the process of being recorded for a new album later in the year, Myths & Heroes. And multi-instrumentalist Chris Leslie also played one of the songs from his latest solo album Origins called Theodore's Song. And it was very good too.

Edwina Hayne's joined the band again for a lovely version of the Sandy Denny/Fairport classic, Who Knows Where The Time Goes

They closed the show with the classic Matty Groves

But as every Fairport Convention fan knows - the show is ALWAYS closed with the now legendary Richard Thompson song Meet On The Ledge

Thanks to all the youtube heroes who have managed to get video of this years tour. My thanks to you all.

                    

http://www.fairportconvention.com/

Live in 2014: Mike Peters - The Alarm Declaration 30th Anniversary Tour - The Gwyn Hall, Neath

Well, it came to pass that on February 28th 2014, a Welsh musical legend came to play in my tiny hometown theatre. And I was there.

I have seen Mike Peters with and without The Alarm on many, many occasions both in Wales and England, I was even there for his debut solo gig back in the day but nothing is as special as Mike playing in your hometown. especially as he's Welsh and the day before St David's Day too.

It is 30 years since the release of the debut Alarm album, Declaration back in 1984 and Mike has devised a tour to celebrate the occasion. For those who who are not aware, Mike was the principal songwriter and was responsible for most of  The Alarm's output.

The show was a game of two halves. The first half comprised of some of Mike's best known songs. The second half, a complete run through of The Declaration album.

It was Mike, his guitar, effects board  & 3 microphones! Staring off with his earliest tunes such as Unsafe Building, Mike took time to explain the stories behind the songs and some selected anecdotes about his life both with The Alarm & solo.

Among the excellent songs Mike played in the first half of the show were the classic A New South Wales, in which everyone started to sing. A nice surprise was his interpretation of Pete Seeger's Bells Of Rhymney, in which most South Wales towns are mentioned - with Neath getting the obviously biggest cheer. It was the second time in 3 days that I'd heard this song played live, as Oysterband had played it in their Hereford gig a couple of nights before.

He had a great cheer for Rain In The Summertime and another song that I hadn't heard live for a while was the excellent In The Presence Of Love.

The second half of the show was Mike playing ALL of the songs on the Declaration album together with tales of how the songs came into being.

It was great to hear all these old songs again. Some are classics which Mike plays regularly but some I haven't live in years. 

There were plenty of Alarm fans in the crowd who were singing every song and every word.

Mike told some great anecdotes of his time with the band in America and supporting U2 over in the states. 

He also explained the story behind 68 Guns and played the elongated version of the song.

With a fantastic performance of Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke, he had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand, singing their hearts out and more importantly, ON THEIR FEET!! He even acknowledged the crowd by throwing the packs of cards into the audience. (All cards are marked) :)

I managed to catch the Ace

All Alarm fans know that the last song is always Blaze Of Glory and Mike didn't disappoint. With the whole crowd now singing Blaze Of Glory, Mike left the stage to rapturous applause.

After a rousing standing ovation, the crowd stayed on their feet for the encore which included blistering versions of Absolute Reality, Spirit of 76, Rescue Me, 45rpm and Walk Forever By My Side.

He came back on for the final One Guitar to thunderous applause and a final refrain of Blaze Of Glory from the crowd. 

You couldn't really have asked more from the man. A great show with great songs played with passion and integrity and I went home with a sore throat from singing too much :)

Oh, and how many people noticed The Cult's Billy Duffy in the front row?

For The Archivist - Breathe - click on the link below

http://macwoodfleet.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-archivist-mike-peters-breathe.html

Twitter - @thealarm

http://www.thealarm.com/

Live in 2014: Oysterband at The Courtyard, Hereford

A long trip up the A465 led us over the border to Hereford and The Courtyard Theatre.

It is set in a new purpose built entertainment complex with gallery and cinema area. 

The Courtyard was the setting for the first gig in the tour by Oysterband, who are currently promoting their new album Diamonds On The Water.

It is the first album without long serving member Ray 'Chopper' Cooper, who left the band last year to concentrate on his solo career. A few months ago I managed to catch Oysterband who now have their producer Al Scott on bass and mandolin and at that gig had Adrian Oxall on Cello. Adrian could not make this gig so we saw Ian Telfer compliment his violin with a Korg keyboard from which he conjures a lot of the  cello sounds found on various songs.

I have to say from the off that Diamonds On The Water, in my humble opinion, is the best album the band have ever produced. The loss of Ray seems have re-energised the band both in songwriting and performance and I'm sure we will see the same when Ray releases his second solo album Palace of Tears in May. The loss of a key member always forces the band to revisit the older material for reinterpretation and sound.

I have been to many Oysterband gigs over the years and I've seen them at their boisterous best and their gigs of delicate thunder. The new album sees the band in a more reflective mood and it is one of their quietest but also more considered offerings. 

From the opening acapella vocals of A Clown's Heart, the band give us a show of beauty and joy. 

They play a lot of songs from the new album, obviously and they sound excellent in the company of the Oysterband standards.

Highlights of the new material included the opening A Clown's Heart, the title track Diamonds On The Water and The Wilderness.

The beautiful surprise for me was the addition of female vocalist Rowan Godel, who produced some sublime backing vocals and contributed lead vocals in the gorgeous versions of Street Of Dreams and a totally stripped down Oxford Girl. She appears on the new album on several songs and the band played a particularly uplifting version of No Ordinary Girl with Rowan proving how good a vocalist she is and a lovely version of Lay Your Dreams Down Gently, in which she duets with John Jones and is one of the best songs on Diamonds...

Rowan Godel photo courtesy of Paul Chandler

Let me say a bit about the venue. It is a lovely new building with a smallish tiered theatre. The sound was excellent but it did seem a little soulless. 

The show was literally a show of two halves with a 20 minute interval. A bit of advice - order your interval drinks before the gig as the bar area was very busy due to the cinema crowds that were also in the building.

The merch stall at the interval was VERY busy with people buying their discs ready for the band to sign after the gig. The Oysters have always been approachable and will happily talk to their supporters after gigs.

One more thing, they don't like you taking photos here. I could have had some beautiful photos from my seat but was stopped taking them. Even though my phone has no flash. But as you can see I did manage to get a couple before the light shone on me and the photo police stepped in.

The band also played some of the brilliant standards for which they are well known including The Road To Santiago & When I'm Up I Can't Get Down

And for this Welshman and his colleague, it was a brilliant surprise to hear the Oysters version of the Bells Of Rhymney.

By now, there were quite a few Oyster fans, especially up the front area with me, who would have loved to have got up and danced about but this was the most polite Oysterband show I have ever attended. Polite applause was the order of the day in Hereford.

The band came back for the encore with the great (and topical - in title) Here Comes The Flood and  John Jones did manage to get the crowd up for this one song. They closed the show with the totally, and I mean totally acoustic (no mics) version of the new album closer Like A Swimmer In The Ocean. Just beguling. I'm even sure I saw a tear in John Jones' eye at the end.

So overall, a triumphant Oysterband performance enhanced by the new interpretations of some of the classics, the brilliant new songs and the sublime addition of Rowan Godel. May they continue to grace us.

And come back to Wales before the end of the year please.

Here is a video of Rowan Godel with Al Scott - they revelation of the show for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfGPfy2vGvY

Twitter - @oysterband1 

http://www.oysterband.co.uk/

Live in 2014: Chris Mills & The Distant Stars at The Chattery, Swansea

It was down to the 'Greatest Music Cafe In The World', The Chattery in Swansea, yet again, to see Chicago musician Chris Mills with his band The Distant Stars.

Now officially my favourite Swansea venue with lovely welcoming people and a friendly, homely vibe, The Chattery continues to attract some great musicians to this great little venue.

The evening kicked off with some able support from Welsh band Rugfire - minus their lead guitarist, they played some music from their current album - The Difficult Second Album. They had plenty of support in the room and played music that reminded me of early Crowded House (no bad thing).

It was then time for Chris Mills and The Distant Stars. Introduced to me by a friend who also likes to seek out new music, Rob Hurley, Chris has been around for quite some time. From the Mid 1990s, Chris has produced some lovely LPs with a sort of folk, country & Americana sound.

Chris and the band are on tour supporting their latest album 

When I listen to Chris, I hear the influences of The Replacements, Tom Petty & even Jonathan Richman but his music is not really derivative of any of those great artists - he has cut his own path.

Looking mean and lean and ably supported by his tight band, Chris performed songs from throughout his career and varied the pace to great effect.Chris has played The Chattery before and was obviously at ease in the venue and this showed in the performance. He was among friends tonight.

Chris has been getting some great reviews for the new album Alexandria and the songs take on another dimension live.

Chris brought the gig to a close with a cover of the Big Star song, Thank You Friend.

The end to another great evening of music at The Chattery.

So take my advice, if you get a chance to see Chris play live, GO. You'll be glad you did.

Twitter - @chrismillsmusic

http://www.chris-mills.com/

The Archivist: Gary Wright - The Light Of Smiles

During the mid 70s - I was given a mixtape which contained a track called The Dreamweaver by Gary Wright. It was a HUGE hit in the USA and the album of the same name went on to sell millions.

I did invest in Dreamweaver but Gary's next album, The Light Of Smiles, is my favourite Gary Wright album.

Relatively unknown here in the UK, Gary is a keyboard player who first came to the attention of the masses when in 1967, he joined the British band Spooky Tooth. But since 1971, he has recorded his own albums.

He also features on the classic George Harrison solo album All Things Must Pass.

The Light Of Smiles is a phrase from the Yogi, Paramahansa Yogananda. Gary was given his book, 'The Autobiography of a Yogi', by George Harrison on a trip to India which they both took in 1972.

http://www.yogananda-srf.org/Paramahansa_Yogananda.aspx#.UvkxOvl_uSo

Mainly keyboard based, the album features various moods from very reflective to very uplifting upbeat songs.

Gary stills plays and has recently been a part of Ringo Starr's touring band. He continues to release albums to this day.

Twitter - @GaryxWright

http://www.thedreamweaver.com/