November 17th Singers’ Night

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It was one of those times when a distinct lack of ‘early doors’ suggested we might be faced with an evening filled with nowt but the sound of silence. Or at least with the prospect of Joe and I singing to each other all night.

We needn’t have worried though, because within ten minutes of the time we’d normally be starting the music, several rank and file regulars had reported for duty, numb from the cold but determined to have a great evening in the warm and cosy back room of The Feathers.

Very soon we had thirteen on the performers list and it was Robin Wynne Jones who broke the “Sound of Silence” by singing that very song. He followed up with “Goodbye Marian”, both songs in tribute to Leonard Cohen who, we’d just learned, had passed away last week.

More Leonard Cohen tributes came from myself “Everybody Knows” and “Suzanne” and from Enid Toft who sang Hallelujah. Enid was accompanied by Neil on guitar and followed up with what they announced was a ‘risky’ first outing of “Bohemian Rhapsody”. The risk was well worth it and the performance note perfect.

Of Rain and Rivers
Lynda Degney declared in song that she was “No Stranger to the Rain” and followed that, aptly enough, with “Boat on the River”. The set was completed with a nice instrumental from Tom.

It’s been good to follow Glyn’s progress over recent weeks, under the tutoring of Skeet Williams, both on ukulele and the guitar, which she used this week to accompany herself on Donovan’s “Yellow is the Colour”. The gal done good!

Making his second appearance at the club, David Reese, got us feeling all nostalgic with his cover of “Diary” by David Gates (Bread).

Richard Davies gave us the traditional murder ballad, “Duncan and Brady” and Kris Kristofferson’s “Me and Bobby McGee”; Joe Lyon sang “The Folk Singer” and “Matchstick Men”; and duetting with Penni, Bob Neale sang about the cowboy legend, “Ghost Riders in the Sky” and John Prine’s “Clay Pigeons”.

Penni Neale’s set included Steve Earle’s “Tecumseh Valley” and a lovely version of “Vincent” by Don McLean.

The Axe Factor
Because of the late start, just 25 minutes remained after the ‘mid evening’ break, and there was no way we’d fit in all thirteen performers for a second spot. So I had the unenviable task of choosing half a dozen. I felt like a ruthless Simon Cowell!

All of the people can’t be pleased all of the time, of course. Bob Neale has gone on hunger strike as a result. I do hope he survives until next Thursday to come back and sing a protest song! 😉

Rolling Down That River

In the finale spot this week was Tom Goodall. We had already heard two of his own songs “Change”, and the first public performance of a brand new song “Secondhand Rings”.

But it was a cover he sent us home with – and what a rip-roaring song it was, with the whole room joining in on “Rolling Down the River”.

See you all (nice and early) next week