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