Closing the night at the great Mouth Music club in Kidderminster

Last Tuesday, I was invited to do a special-guest spot and close the night at Mouth & Music, at the Boar's Head Gallery in Kidderminster: a great monthly club where poets, musicians and writers come to display their talents in front of a live audience – co-run by talented musician and poet Heather Wastie.

I was feeling somewhat below par before the gig, thanks to an asthma attack keeping me up all the previous night. I seldom suffer with asthma (those of you who do, have my sympathies!), but it certainly got me that day!

As bad luck would have it, my percussionist's car had suddenly developed a problem too. So instead of being able to stay home and spend some quality time with my inhaler and get some sleep, I rushed out to pick her up, which of course stated my asthma off again.

Admittedly, I was disappointed that certain folks who knew the situation that day – and who supposedly support our musical endeavours – wouldn't help out and give Marie a lift to my house. But C'est la vie as they say! Fortunately, when I got to Marie's, she kindly volunteered to drive, leaving me free to concentrate on my beloved asthma inhaler! ;)

By the time we got to Mouth & Music, I felt a little better – concealing my coughing and spluttering beneath the moments of applause for the other performers! The standard, incidentally, was excellent: we were entertained by poets – who made up the majority – musicians and even a short story writer.

 

The adopted theme of the night was 'water': a theme which was imaginatively, and sometimes comically explored by the assembled wordsmiths and musicians. I'm glad the theme was well received as it was one I'd suggested!

It would have been a great night had I just sat in the audience and watched (indeed, I recommend Mouth & Music to musicians and poets around the Kidderminster area; non performers are very welcome too, though there is a small admission charge for those not wanting to brave the stage ;). But, of course, I was also there to play!

Considering how I felt, it would have been more sensible to perform sitting down. So, naturally, I stood up! Tactically this probably wasn't sensible, as I felt lightheaded and (hopefully unnoticed?) nearly collided with a tall lamp that was behind and slightly to the left of me -lol!

 

Marie did a fine job of backing me up on harmonies and percussion. I amused the audience with tales of how when I first started teaching her to play, she'd only have a tambourine and shaker, but now she's learned so many instruments we need help to get them all on-stage :)

As for my song choices: I stayed mostly with the 'water' theme by playing 'Watching The Waters' and 'Light Of Promise' (which has various nautical metaphors). I strayed somewhat with my hefty blues composition:  'Give Me Some Soul' – or 'Gimme Some Soul', as Marie writes it on set lists (since I haven't released the song yet, I've not had to settle on the title!). Though, to everyone's amusement, Marie pointed out that 'Sole' is a fish ... Clutching at straws, methinks!

 

The audience were truly appreciative, and though I wasn't feeling my usual energetic self, I still managed a spirited performance – despite being ill. A big thank-you to everyone who attended the event: for all the amazing comments about my songs, for the compliments about our performance, and for entertaining us brilliantly all evening in the run up to my guest-spot.

On the way home we stopped off for a Mc D. Milkshake. not sure it was the wisest choice after having asthma, but it certainly hit the spot! :)


Here are links to Mouth and Music's page on Facebook and to the poster of the event I played at:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=502445383176325&set=a.300139633406902.74663.217089308378602&type=1&theatre

https://www.facebook.com/mouthandmusic

Closing the night at the Chaos Acoustic Club/ 1956 Les Paul for sale: £20

Great to bump into local folk legends Billy and Lozz at the excellent Chaos Acoustic Club yesterday. They did a superb set, as always!

After my run of solo performances, it was also great fun to welcome Marie back on-stage to accompany me. She did a first-class job helping me finish off the night at the Chaos Club. Always such an appreciative crowd at the venue. My faith in the future of live music is always restored after a visit to Pete and Tony's aforementioned club.

Sadly we didn't see anyone demonstrating how the sponge-throw door on the back wall of the stage works though -lol! (PS I'll be hosting a whole night of live music down at the Chaos Club in November. I'll be inviting a few special guests to perform before finishing the night off with a set of my own music.

I'll announce the details a bit closer to the time. In the meantime for anyone wishing to support the club:

It runs every Sunday night at the Old Moseley Arms, 53 Tindal St  Birmingham, West Midlands, B12 9QU, (UK). Admission is free.

PS At the end of the night, whilst I was chatting with the sound engineer, he informed that his friend is now the proud owner of a vintage ('1956,' I think he said) Gibson Les Paul. Apparently it had lain in a loft for a decade and a half (where it was before that, I don't know), the current owner wasn't a guitarist, and was only too pleased to part with the instrument for the humble fee of £20. Yes, £20! It's the stuff of legend: an event seemingly too good to be true.

Indeed, during my days working in a guitar shop, such stories were 10-a-penny, and almost always turned out to be either 100% urban myths or vastly exaggerated stories (i.e. the supposedly vintage guitar someone had bought for a few pounds would turn out to be copy etc.). But, in this case, astonishingly, the tale appears to be true. So I guess miracles do happen after all  ... But certainly not very often, so don't get your hopes up. Still it wouldn't hurt to always have a carefully folded £20 note about your person at all times, just in case -lol!

If such an event has happened to anyone else, do please email and let me know!