The hottest June night since 1976!

It's a busy week music wise, band practice Thursday and gigs Saturday and Sunday, so I was tempted to give Jason's music night a miss.
To say it was a hot evening was an understatement; the BBC reported the highest June temperatures since nineteen seventy six, so I was pleasantly surprised by the turn out for Jason's music night.

When I arrived at The Victory Club only Jason and Rachael were present, and because they were warming up (as if it wasn't hot enough already) I got to hear them twice.

I was all on my own this evening, no #1 roadie and no MDF band mates, so I took advantage to sing a couple of songs from the MDF repertoire, but in my own style, and at my own speed, and gave the first performance of a new song. 

Other regulars in attendance included Gordon, Andy and Frank, who for technical reasons, was minus his electric axe; and Kate was back with her ukulele, which probably qualifies her as a regular now. Kate sang Eurasia's, 'A Little Respect' and then sang it again at the end of the evening, with Jason providing accompaniment. She also made a first attempt at 'Here Comes The Sun', but wasn't happy with it, describing the intro as quite tricky and in need of practice. Just to prove the point, she played it, and nailed it, demonstrating conclusively the power of paradoxical advertising.

There were a few Beatles or Beatlish songs, as is often the way in Napton. Gordon gave us a few of his favourites and Andy made a fine go of a song about a woman who went to The Isle of Wight.
Frank gave a medley of well known tunes including Danny Boy

Despite the heat it was an enjoyable evening, and Barry did a roaring trade in shandy. For me, the highlight of this evening's performances had to be Jason and Harriet singing Johnny Cash and June Carter's 'Jackson'.

"Spring in the air!" said Gordon. "Spring in the air yourself!" came the reply.

Gordon set the pace

Gordon's Spring Special

There were two mics and a PA, with Jason on sound, and Barry had turned the spotlights around  so that we could see the performers, and what a lot of us there were for Gordon's Spring Special at The Victory Hall Napton. Barry's legendary supper sustained the acts through the second half.

Soul Sisters 

Gordon's Napton music nights are gentle and good humored affairs, not always to schedule, but that's part of their appeal. The regular Napton faces were in evidence, giving a familiar feel to proceedings. Along with Gordon and Andy were Alan, wielding a new axe, and Jason, Racael and Harriet were on particularly good form.

There were a couple of highlights for me

Jason with Harriet or Harriet with Jason

tonight, one of which was Soul Sisters (or possibly now El Diva) who went from The Carpenters to Hazel O'connor in the first half of the evening, with a superb saxaphone solo from Deb, and finished with some beautiful harmonising in the second half.

Paddy Wex always delights. Those of us that were at The George, Kilsby, on the first Friday of March were familiar with Paddy's set for this evening. His Brexit analogy of turkeys voting for Christmas was bitingly witty, but also slightly uncomfortable to listen to. Let's not forget the inspiration that Donald Trump's election has afforded, though I suspect Paddy would be slightly offended if I suggested that he'd be inspired by Donald Trump.

There was an unexpected performance from Keith, supported on guitar and backing vocals by Andy, singing the famous Rupert Murdoch song, 'Won't let the sun go down on me'.

Acoustic Roots

Andy isn't afraid of the dark

Finally, the band to lead us into the chip break and to end the evening were Acoustic Roots with a range of music from Paxton to The Police with Dougie MacLean's Caledonia, a bit of Bob Dylan, and even a bit of The Searchers

Shhh!

It is usually a quite night with just a select few performers and a regular audience but unusually there was a little tension this evening.


Jason was in charge this and he had his PA arranged as usual. However, Gordon remains determinedly unplugged. Jason and Rachael were on good form,and Harriet and Jason have reached a very high standard of prformance together making it a joy to listen to them.

MDF was a bit short of members so I was seconded to stand in as first guitar. I think I was at the bottom of quite a long list, but circumstances conspired to make everyone else unavailable. Jason thought I was only with MDF but as I protested loudly as the chips came out I got to perform and watched hungrily from the music stand while everyone else tucked in.

Other regulars such as Howard added to the mix.


I did get volunteered to provide some accompaniment, but when I saw that there was no chord notation on the music sheet I declined.

 Madonna tells fans to shut up during her sound check

It is always tricky just how much background noise is acceptable at an open mic night, and what kind of behaviour is appropriate amongst an audience, particularly an incidental audience that hasn't come specifically to listen to the music.

I hope that the minor fracas at the bar didn't put Frank off too much. As a member of the audience at the time, I was far more distracted from the performance by the prospect of a fight at the bar than the murmer of voices in the background. That Frank kept going, apparently unaffected, is testimony to the concentration being applied as he followed the score and kept the tune going. If he noticed, he didn't say.


I had the privilege of closing the evening, with a little bit of help from Ross.

The March open mic night was a quiet affair with only a handful of performers, though it did mean we got to do a few extra songs. Jason was particularly busy, looking after Rachael, Harriet and performing a few on his own, as well as tweaking the knobs on the PA.

The evening ended with a lovely duet from Gordon and Harriet, 'What did you do before you loved me?'

The regular crowd were as supportive as ever and the chips (thank you Barry) were plentiful. It was nice to see Ross and Jan, who dropped in for a visit as they were passing. Sadley, I'll miss the April meeting as I'll be floating down The Thames.

February's night at Victory Hall, Napton was a quiet affair. Gordon was in charge and the awful wet weather deterred all but a select band so Gordon opened at 8.30 after Jason provided some subtle amplification to proceedings

Gordon's opening offering were The Beatles -"What you see is me", and a couple of songs he aired at Kilsby, earlier in the month, 'I'm just here to help' and 'The Love Bug'.

George gave the first performance of a new song about being in a hole. It doesn't have a title yet. Second song was 'Simple Life' and then that Justin Beiber Classic -'Love Yourself'. At least one member of the audience knew who Justin Beiber was, apparently his daughter is a fan.

Jason and Rachael- Califoria Dreaming though the parts were swapped. Natali Imbruglia's Torn.

Allen had his resonator and it kepthis fingers busy as e tried to keep pace with Keith Richards on Paint it Black. Follwed by the blues Ain't gonna worry my life no more.

Harriet and Jason Kilsby award winning song Amazed By You Love Like Mine, Writing's on the wall

Regular Napton performer Frank was accompaied by Betty and they , Willie Nelson's 'You Are My Sunshine', which was one of the songs my Mum used to sing to me when I was little, so it always brings fond memories whenever I hear it. Their next was Hank Williams' I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry'
, a capella duet Merl Haggard song 'Somewhere Between'

And and Roger Peaceful easy feeling (eagles), black magic woman the two acoustic guitars giving a very jaz bluse feel, upping he tempo, Come on Everybody.

Rejects playing on Saturday 27^th at Victory Hall.

Martin, usually anonymous wthin a larger choir sang a cappela warmed us up with a joke about the trouble you can get into wrongly identifying a snake before singing the Pixar classic, Let it Snow, Simon and Garfunkles challenging Bridge Over Troubled Water and a slightly Christianised version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujia.

Gordon played us through the chip break with a couple of standards, 'Stand by me and Let it be me, well it's all me, me, me, but it is going to take more than forgoing a few chips if he's going to get into that skirt. Jason stepped in to sing moon River

Gordon then played his Kilsby competition number, Just the way I feel, which we reminded him, didn't win.

George was Knocking on heaven's door again

These boots were definitely made for walking.

Jason and Rachael Nancy Sinatra These Boots were made for walking, and thre was a real sense of menace in her voice. Watch out Jason.

Allen's resonator added a real blues sound to Emeli Sande's 'Suitcase'.

Harriet Black Velvet Band and Jar of Hearts Christina Perry

Frank acoustic medley 'A world of our own', 'The Skyboat Song' and 'Farewell'. Andy and Roger got us rocking with a cracking performance of Stevie Ray Vaughn's 'She's My Sweet Little Lady and I'm Her Little Lover Boy'. So much so that it had Frank and Betty up on the dancefloor jiving. More rocking came in the form of The Beatles song 'I Feel Fine' and Van Morrison's 'Brown Eyed Girl'. The two acoustics sounded great together and really complemented Andy's vocals.

Martin's end to the evening was a nautical affair, a sea shanty followed by Rod Stewart's Sailing.

The evening was ended by Gordon, Andy and Roger, 'Til There Was You. The Rejects are playing on Saturday 27^th at Victory Hall.

Jason in charge again!

Victory Hall, Napton. Wednesday 17^th January

It was a very chilly night in Napton, but a few determined characters, no doubt reflecting the lurgy that seems to have spread across the county, made up for the lack of bodies with enormous amounts of enthusiasm. Jason was in charge this evening and he opened the evening with Space Odity and Lying Eyes, acknowledging the recent loss of two great musical talents.

Jason's Lying Eyes.

Because I was second to arrive I was second up. There were two firsts for 

me on this evening. I made a joke about needing to have some songs for younger members of the audience. Justin Beiber's, 'You should Go And 

Love Yourself' seemed to suit me, though I still don't know what 'you still 

hit my phone up' means. Harriet suggested that it meant someone called 

you on the phone. I now feel quite old. I might see if I can squeeze in a harmonica instrumental for the 2^nd Night of Lurve at Kilsby. My second

was Eagle Eyed Cherry's Save Tonight.

Jason and Rachael covered Beautiful South's Don't Marry Her, but with a slightly sanitised version as they had a small person with them and then 

proved that you can't beat a bit of Blondie with Heart of Glass.

George is loving himself.

A much reduced MDF (Ross, Dave and John) were in folky mood with their first offerings, Whiskey in The Jar, Leaving of Liverpool.

Harriet's cajon was in great demand.

Andy Rogers James Taylor's Close Your Eyes and

Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars

Harriet, accompanied by Jason on guitar sang Kings of Leon 'Somebody' and Doris Stokes' favourite Adele song, 'Hello (from the other side)'

Fortified by the complimentary chips, the second half got under way and Jason opened with The Beatles' 'See it My Way' and Paul Weller's 'You do something to me'.

My next three were own compositions, 'End is Nigh', 'Sugar Love' and I couldn't come to Napton and not sing 'Under The Patio'.

Dan's debute

There was a debute performance from Daniel who played the open mic favourite, Oasis' 'Wonderwall', before being joined by Andy Rogers who took on the guitar and supported the vocals for a couple of classic sixties Beatles, 'Saw Her Standing There' and 'Twist and Shout'.

MDF were joined by Harriet who provided percussion on the Cajon for their cover of The Strawbs' 'Part of The Union' and then Dire Straights Walk of Life.

Andy Rogers spanned the decades with David Gray's, Babylon, an early Fleetwood Mac, Need your Love so Bad and The Beatles, Close Your Eyes (And I'll Kiss You).

Again, Harriet performed with Jason on guitar while she sang and beat a rhythm on cahon Sam Smith's Sty With Me and Go Down With This Ship and Black Velvet Band.

Johnny has left the building.

There was still a bit of time left, so there was time for one more each. I drew on memory for one of my own compositions 'In The Woods (Like Bear Grylls)' but managed to forget one of the verses. Andy Rogers Waterloo Sunset, I joined an even more reduced MDF, as Johnny had gone, for Go Johnny Go. Finally, Jason and Harriet closed proceedings with Jolene. Gordon should be back from his holiday for the next night, Wednesday, February 17^th.