Bob's Open Mic at Avante Garde Wednesday 15th January 2014

Well this evening started quietly enough with host Bob Leslie starting the night off with the songs "My old friend the blues", "No Regrets",  "Norwegian Wood", " Heatwave", "Mr Beaujangles" and finally one of his own "Me & Kenny".
First guest of the evening was John Morrison with his mandolin.  He sang his usual satirical balance - "Dead Horse", then a Flanders and Swann song "Twas on a Monday morning!" and then another of his own "The Banker's" song. 
Next up was John's brother Bob Morrison, [all the way from near Falkirk] who played an electric guitar  and sang "Jumping at shadows", "Before you accuse me" and "Midnight Blues".
Bob then got Elspeth Durkin up to sing "Autumn Leaves", "After the Goldrush" and then a duet with Bob of "Love Hurts". 
Next to the stage was Gerry 'Stringology' McHugh - He started off with a moving rendition of "Brother can you spare a dime", followed by "Gingerbread and Dynamite" with audience participation, and finally, as it is nearing Burns Night "My love is like a Red Red Rose."
Next up was Laura Hamilton.  She played a great rock & roll medley including "That's alright" and "Blue Suede Shoes".  Bob couldn't help but join in with "twiddly bits"!  Laura then asked her friend Shennara up to sing a couple of songs - "She's got a ticket" by Tracy Chapman, then "Sitting on the dock of the bay" and then finally "This is a man's world". 
Bob then returned to the stage to sing "Tracks of my Tears", "Baby please don't go" and a Burns song "Green grow the Rashes Oh"
Next up was Dougie Strong who was all the way from Edinburgh!  He gave us "Back to Black", a Kinks song "Set me free little girl" and finally a Billy Joel song "Piano Man".
Gerry had left by this time so Bob got Laura back up for "Get a little bit closer", "Love minus zero" and finally "Reaper Man".
Alastair Halcrow had arrived by this time and Bob got him up on stage.  He sang his own songs "Glasgow, Glasgow" [without microphone or guitar amp!] then "Turn of the blind side" and finally "Holiest of never-ending songs",
Bob then got Shennara back up, with Laura obviously [in fact they joked about changing that to her stage name Laura Obviously!!]  They sang "Stay together" and then another Tracy Chapman song "Gimme a reason". 
The session was out of time then which meant that Elspeth never got her 'second'  songs or her final duet with Bob!
We look forward to return visits from everyone as it was a very enjoyable evening!

Unfortunately I forgot to take my camera so no photos of tonight's session!

Bob Leslie's Open Mic night, Avante Garde, Wednesday 11/12/13 !!!

Bob started the night with a good variety of songs.  His first guest was Elspeth Durkin whom he accompanied. when she sang, 'Autumn Leaves', 'After the Goldrush' and then dueted with on 'Love Hurts'. 
Next up were Marie and Alan Sinclair who gave some excellent renditions of some old songs. 
 


Gerry McHugh with a change of style - beautiful guitar playing and ballads.









 John Morrison was then asked up and he gave us a few of his topical ditties!! 


They were followed by New face Ken Wilkins [visiting from Exeter] then came up to the stage with a mandocello [ I think that is how it is spelt] and he sang a few of his own songs which were very well received. It was halfway through the evening by this time, so it was time for a second rounds! 




Ken had left before he had a second chance, but another singer, Alastair Halcrow had arrived and came onstage to sing a couple of his own songs, using an electric guitar.  He gave a nice rendition of Amazing Grace which quite a few folk joined in on [ and Gerry & Bob got up on the second mic to harmonise with him!]

He had written a song called Glasgow, and, I think, was quite surprised when some of the audience started to harmonise with his chorus even although they had never heard it before!  Then Bob joined in to harmonise with his acoustic guitar!  A good night was had by all!

Hogmanay at Glasgow's Clutha Vaults/Scotch Corner

31st December 2007

The evenings festivities at the Clutha started with Bob Leslie

running an Open Mic night from 5.30 until 9.30 pm, Bob did a sterling job keeping the people entertained as they arrived and settled in for the evening.

This meant that Bob was on stage for nearly three hours with only a couple of very short breaks.

He sang 'It wasn't down in Texas';'Love the one you're with';'the thrill has gone';'Tracks of my tears';'Heatwave'. He then got Elspeth Durkin up to sing harmony on 'Dixie Chicken' and 'Love hurts'. Then he sang'Don't listen to the ghosts again';'Hallelulia';'Seeds and stems';'HandJive';'Moondance';'Caledonia' and 'I love you more than ice cream'.

He then got Elspeth Durkin back up to sing 'Autumn Leaves' and 'After the Goldrush'.

Bob then contiunued with 'What in the world has come over you'; 'It ain't me babe' and then 'Frankenstein' before taking a short break. However he was soon back on stage again with 'It'll last another day' before getting Elspeth back up for harmonies on 'You keep me hanging on' and 'Willin'.

He then sang 'You're just as drunk as me'; 'Who knows where the time goes'; and 'Who do you love'. He then got Elspeth back up and they sang 'Different world'.

Bob then continued with 'Bringit on home to me' and then 'Fire and rain'

Andy Logan had arrived by this time and performed a few numbers [- which gave Bob a little rest!] 'Time slips away'; Good-hearted woman' and 'Crossroads'.

Bob then got back up and performed 'The mighty Quin';'Take another piece of my heart' [ with Elspeth Durkin and Geoff Allan on backing vocals];and then 'Summertime'. At this point someone volunteered their friend Karen Mitchell

to get up and sing -

so they did Summertime again.

Andy Logan got back up and sang 'Ramona' and then 'Games people play'. He was followed by Dennis who sang 'Careless love' and 'Sunshine day'

Then Bob got back up and performed 'Rolling Stone'; Goodnight Irene'; ' Last thing on my mind'; 'Mountain Thyme' and 'Help'.

Then Karen got back up and sang 'I've got you under my skin'. And then Bob finished off with 'One more for the road' and 'Substitute'.
Ammy Bell had arrived by this time to do her set from 9.40 to 10.15pm when she finished and then went through to Scotch Corner to do another set.

Gerry McHugh had performed in the sister bar,Scotch Corner [through the beer garden] at the same time, and was due to swap over to come to the Clutha Vaults. {Unfortunately a lot of the usual Open Mic performers did not arrive until nearly 10pm, as they had thought the Open Mic was at the regular time, so they missed the chance to perform in the Clutha as Amy was already on stage, however a lot of them went through to Scotch Corner}. Gerry McHugh came in at 11.30pm { after a short impromptu Open Mic session in Scotch Corner using his equipment} and did a set which covered the ringing in of the New Year 2008, and beyond!

THREE, TWO ,ONE..........

"A Guid New Year tae yin an ae, and many mae ye see"

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008

Gerry kept playing after 'the bells' after a short break, and the festivities continued even after the bar closed at 2.00 a.m.!

Bob's Open Mic; 17th December 2007

Bob started the evening off with a Little Feat song 'Willin' followed by a new song of his own 'Don't listen to the Ghosts again' and then 'Caledonia' and 'Hand Jive' and then another of his own songs 'It'll last another day'

First up for the evening was Chris Grant, who was back in Glasgow from Orkney, and he gave us 'Back round again' followed by 'Stay tonight'

Andy Lindsay was next with a Lindisfarne song 'Winter Song' and then a Lonnie Johnson blues song 'Tomorrow Night'.

Elspeth Durkin was next up with a seasonal song - complete with santa hat - 'Santa Baby' followed by 'Autumn Leaves' and then a Dolly Parton song 'Jolene'.

Then Kirsty got up and gave us a couple of beautiful ballads 'Old time memory' and 'Dirty Pennies'.

Denise McLaughlan then gave us some poetry 'Get tae bed', 'Bleedin love and bleedin Lust' and then 'The ba's burst (Bleedin Lust part 2)'

Joe MacAtamany was next with 'Broom of the Cowdenknowes' and 'Ride on'

He was followed by poet John McGarrigal with 'Sexist - wha me?', 'Write nice things', and ' Rent arrears'.

Chris then got back up with 'Teenage Amnesia' his own composition,

and then Andy Lindsay got back up with 'Summertime Blues'. Michael Fagin and Gerry McHugh had appeared then and they got onstage and performed 'Russian Lullaby', 'Buckfast blues' and 'America'.

Bob then got back onstage to perform 'Love the one you're with'

and then got Elspeth up to duet with him on 'You keep me hanging on' and 'Dixie Chicken'.

Finally Ian Adie with Michael Fagin performed 'Southern Man'

-

with Ian wearing a type of wobbly hat which made him look a little like an Ewok!! Great laughs all evening - in all a good night!