Wednesday 1st April 2009

- Sandy’s Open Mic at the Clutha Vaults

Sandy's new hairdo

- for April Fools Day!!
Sandy started the evening with a chorus of Happy Birthday to Elspeth who was celebrating yet another year on the planet.

He followed this with a few nice gentle ballads, ‘I will promise you anything’, ‘Mr Mud and Mr Gold’ and ‘Flying shoes’ before handing over to Elspeth, who was accompanied by Bob Leslie - on acoustic guitar, and Johnny T Miller - on Bass. They did a cover of the Eagles favourite ‘Lyin’ eyes’ followed by ‘Will you still love me tomorrow’.

Bob and Johnny stayed on stage and played one of Bob’s songs ‘It wasn’t down in Texas’ and then Bob sang another of his originals ‘Cordelia Jane’ by himself.

Next to the stage was Joe Kidd, also with Bob and Johnny, singing his own songs ‘Grass don’t pay no heed’ and then ‘Good Day’.

Ally and Maria had then arrived and got up to sing ‘You’ve got a friend’ followed by a Jazz version of ‘No regrets’, after which they left the bar.

Sandy then decided to follow them with an excellent rendition of the Walker Brothers version of ‘No Regrets’ with some help from the audience on the chorus.
Next up was Brendan who gave us his version of ‘Moon River’ which had quite a few people joining in.

Brian McGinty then got up to the sing ‘Love makes me feel blue’ and Bob & JT joined in along with Elspeth on the tambourine. It was very popular so he sang another somg in a similar vein ‘Nothin you can do’.

Johnny T stayed onstage to sing ‘Help me’ by Sunnyboy Williamson.

Stuart and Jenni through from Edinburgh then got up and sang ‘Sweet Home Alabahma’ followed by ‘I remember you’ and then ‘The Eirie Canal’.

Final singer of the evening was Ian Adie who had just arrived after being at the big football match at Hamden, [Scotland 2 - Iceland 1 I believe]. Sandy(acoustic), Bob(acoustic), JT(Bass) and Elspeth(tambourine) all joined in with Ian on ‘Go Bonnie Scotland, Go’.

The evening finished with a jam session at the birthday girls table!!

Patch, Elspeth's dog who has now been banned from the bar as the new owner does not like dogs!!!

- and all Patch ever did was sleep under the table and through most of the music !

14th January 2009

Sandy was just finishing as I arrived this evening [ I had been at a school production of 'Joseph and the amazing technicolour dreamcoat' at the Eastwood Theatre]. First up were Dede and Chris who were great - great voice for the songs 'House of the Rising Sun' and 'Highway to Hell', and excellent guitar playing.

Elspeth Durkin was next with accompanyment from Bob Leslie. She sang 'Autumn Leaves' and 'After the Goldrush' despite suffering from the tail end of a severe cold.

Scott Peden was up next with two songs 'No Doubt' and 'Who wants to be a millionaire?'

Next to perform was "Wee Jasper" who started with a Randy Newman song from Toy Story ' You got a friend in me' followed by 'Deep River Blues' and finishing with 'What a day for a daydream' [Sandy had been slow to get back to the stage area!]

Next up was Brian who did a little of 'Fulsom Prison Blues' and then 'Last thing on my mind' with Sandy.

Johnny T Miller and Bob Leslie took to the stage next with Johnny singing 'Barefooting' and then 'Red Dress'

Bob stayed up and sang a couple of his own Ballads - 'Her Eyes' and then 'It'll last another day'

Dave was next with a couple of songs written by his pal - but he never gave the titles.

Sandy then got Big Ron up to sing 'The Green Fields of France' beautifully.

Sandy then informed everyone that Andy the Candy Logan had arrived by this time - complete with his new BUS PASS - yes he has now turned 60 years of age - which was a surprise to many people [ who commented that they thought he was older!!!!] Sandy and the entire bar then sang 'Happy Birthday' to Andy! Andy sang a beauiful ballad 'He stopped loving her today' and then at special request sang 'Games people play'

[Andy and Duncan]
Stuart Workman, with Bob, then took to the stage and performed the Leonard Cohen song 'Manhatten' followed by 'Copperhead Road' especially for Andy.

Joe MacAtamanay was next up singing 'I'll lay ye doon love' followed by 'Up the Northern Water'!

George then sang 'Rock and Roll suicide' followed by 'the night they drove old Dixie down'

Penultimate performer was Duncan Adams who sang 'Lay down Sally' encouraging everyone else to join in with him.

Final performance of the evening was from Ian Adie singing a Neil Young song 'Lonely Man' followed by 'Stand by Me', with a little accompanyment from Bob Leslie.

Not so sure about the seating position Ian!!

Final announcement of the evening was that Bob Leslie would be resuming the Monday night Open Mics at the Clutha Vaults commencing on the 19th January 2009 - and that all would be welcome!

There is also going to be a BURNS SUPPER to be held in the Clutha Vaults on thursday the 22 January costing £10 per ticket. SHould be well worth it!

Sandy’s Open Mic 17th December 2008

Sandy started the ball rolling with a couple of songs - ‘Dollar Bill Blues’ and then ‘Snow on Route one’

First up to the stage this evening was Bert with his dobro guitar with a blues song ‘Fallin’ off a rock’ followed by a slide blues song ‘Walkin’ blues’.

Davy was next on stage with the Beatles song 'Hide your love away’.
Sandy then asked Elspeth Durkin up to the stage with Bob Leslie on acoustic and Johnny T Miller on Bass. Not having had any practise together at all she sang ‘Santa Baby’ [slightly marred by Bob and Johnny missing the Bridge and key change!!] followed by ‘Have a Merry little Christmas’ which none of them had done before either!! Still it was definitely in the spirit of the evening, especially with Elspeth dressed in red and white!

Bob and JT then performed Bob’s song ‘It wasn’t down in Texas’ then a Leapy Lee song ‘Don’t’ let me go’ merging into ‘Run,Hide’.

Jo then took to the stage singing ‘2 more measures’ and then ‘Love cats’ along with Bob and JT.
Alexander White then came to the stage and sang ‘Whisky Town’ and then ‘Come pick me up’ with some backing vocals from Sandy.

Martin was next with a couple of songs including ‘Someone like me’.

Joe Kidd was in the house and he performed ‘Good Day’ with Bob, JT and Sandy on harmonies. Joe MacAtamany then got on stage to sing ‘A Powerful Song’ and then ‘Lily of the west’ in his own inimitable style. Stevie Osbourne along with Bob on acoustic, Carl Bridgeman on Bass, Pam on small drum, Elspeth on Tambourine and Sandy on harmonies then sang ‘Eastender Blues’ and then his own song ‘Good to be Alive’. Jer McDade was present and he decided to sing his songs ‘Bob Treetop’ which had everyone singing along on the chorus, and ‘On that Day’.







LP George then got to the stage to sing his own unique version of ‘Sunday, Bloody Sunday’ followed by ‘Oh, oh when I’m dead and gone’

Duncan Adams had joined the throng by this time and was invited up to sing his anthem ‘Where am I gonna Live?’.

Carl Bridgeman then took to the stage with his friend Miguel on tom toms singing his own songs ‘Things I’ve Seen’ and then ‘This could never happen’.

Willie Mathews then joined them on stage along with Bob and performed ‘Everyday I’ve got the Blues’ and a Bob Marley classic ‘No woman no cry’.

Final act of the evening was Ian Adie (the landlord) who, after giving a little speech about good the Open Mic evenings are [ I think the term he used was “the best in Glasgow” ] and how Sandy made the evenings so good and what a fine job he did, he invited everyone to the Christmas Eve and Hogmany evenings with JT and his band, at which there may be a few Open Mic performers invited up to the stage during the evening. He then performed an Eagles song ‘Take it easy’ along with Sandy, Bob and Carl to finish the late night off [ It was a 1.00 a.m. licence].