3rd November 2008

Monday Night at the Clutha with Kate and George

I arrived in about halfway through the proceedings and Kate and George started to perform 'The Wait'. They then asked Elspeth Durkin up to perform with George and she sang 'Autumn Leaves'. She performed the next song accapella [unaccompanied] which was 'The Last Leviathan' about the end of the whales, and it was not until after she had left the stage she discovered that a tableful of tourists [ladies] were actually from Norway - a whaling nation!!oops!

Kate and George filled in with another song before getting Joe MacAtamany up to sing 'Lily of the West' followed by 'Broom of the Cowdenknowes'.

Kate and George once again took the stage and sang 'Valerie' with some participation by some of the audience. They then asked Elspeth up again , when she sang 'Fields of Gold' with George accompanying, and then two accapella songs 'Home is behind' from the film Lord of the Rings - Return of the King, and then a traditional ballad 'Our Wedding Day', all well recieved by the audience.

Kate and George then performed another couple of numbers 'The Cherry Tree' and then 'Love the one you're with' before getting Joe Macatamany back up again. He sang 'A powerful song' and then 'Haul away'. Kate and George then finished off the evening with 'Time after Time' and then 'Big Yellow Taxi'.

29th October 2008 Sandy’s Open Mic

Sandy started off the evening as usual with a couple of lovely ballads, ‘To live is to fly’ followed by ‘The Lark’.

First guest up of the evening was Bob Leslie who sang another couple of gentle songs ‘It’s all in the game’ which he had discovered that the tune had been written in 1914 by the vice president of the United States -- but the lyrics were added in the 1960’s. His second song was a new one of his own called ‘Her eyes’ a haunting little ballad.

Jer McDade was next up although he did say he was recovering from a hand injury [ which was why he had not attended the sessions for a while]. He did two of his relatively slow songs, ‘Mr Isbister’ and then a newer one ‘Moonbeams’.

Sandy then got back up to do a request ‘South Natural Blues’,

after which he asked Elspeth Durkin up to the stage, along with Bob Leslie on guitar.

She sang two of Bob’s favourites ‘Autumn Leaves’ and then ‘After the Goldrush’. Joe MacAtamany was next to the stage and he sang ‘Coorie Doon’ followed by ‘Fancy Free’.

Sean was next singing in an Oasis style, ‘Standing Strong’ and another which I did not get the title of.

Tony then got on stage to sing a Bob Dylan song ‘It ain’t me Babe’

Next up was Stevie Osbourne with Bob Leslie on guitar, to sing Eastender Blues.

Joe then sang ‘Sam Hall’.

Allan Stewart was there, and he got up on stage with his mandolin, and sang a Rory Gallagher song ‘Going to my Hometown’ and followed it up with a singalong version of The Who’s ‘Magic Bus’.

Dennis then got on stage and did ‘Another Saturday Night’ with some added vocals from Sandy. Graham then sat up to sing the Oasis tune ‘Wonderwall’ played by Sandy on guitar. Bob Leslie then got back up on stage to sing ‘How sweet it is to be loved by you’

and then was joined by Stevie O singing his song ‘Good to be Alive’.

Carl Bridgeman had arrived by this time and he sneaked in to join the on Bass guitar. Robert then got to the stage to sing ‘Killin’ the Blues’ joined by Carl.

Joe then got back up and sang ‘House of the Rising Sun’ joined in with by a large number of the audience!!!

Stuart Workman then took to the stage along with Bob Leslie and Carl Bridgeman and they performed ‘King of the Swingers’ to which a few people got up to dance! Andy Logan then played guitar for Izzy and Amanda who gave a beautiful harmonising duet.

George then gave an unusual version of ‘The Time Warp’.

Final performance of the evening came from Carl with two songs - his own ‘Fate and Circumstances’

followed by ‘Mustang Sally’ with good audience participation. A good evening all round.

Apology

Hi, sorry I haven't been along to any Open Mics for the past few weeks - My dog had a bad fall and required an operation and has been wandrering around with a bucket/lampshade collar on since then and I did not feel that I should leave him on his own for four-five hours !! However, his wound is healing up and he is now 'lampshade' free, so I hope to be back in at the Open Mics very soon!!
Bye for now.

Scotch Corner 25th September 2008 Bob's Open Mic

I arrived a little late but Bob was on the ‘new’ stage in Scotch Corner with Davie Martin who was singing ‘Handbags and Gladrags’.

Bob then sang a few more songs including ‘What in the world came over you’ and ‘Fell in love with the lady’.

He then got Duncan Adams up for a couple of tunes. Duncan sang ‘Lovely tonight’ and then ‘Keep it country tonight’.

Bob then asked Elspeth Durkin up to sing a Carol King song ‘Will you still love me tomorrow’ before duet ting with Bob on ‘Love Hurts’ and then she did some backup vocals when Bob sang ‘The weight’.
George was next up and there was a bit of friendly commenting about the length of the songs he sings - including comments such as ‘I think we’ll call you LP George from now on!’ He sang an Abba song ‘The day before you came’ followed by ‘Temporary like Achilles’.

Tony then got up to sing ‘It ain’t me babe which segued into the Eagles song ‘Take it easy’ [ however he did not want his photo put onto the blog so you will have to imagine what he looks like!]. Bob went back up and sang a Steve Earle song ‘Can’t remember if I said goodbye’ followed by ‘Me and Bobby McGee’. Duncan then got back up and sang a Travelling Wilbury song ‘End of the line’ with backing from Elspeth & Bob. Bob then finished off the evening with a little medley with Elspeth on backing vocals [whilst seated!] finishing with ‘You’re as Drunk as me’.

Clutha Vaults Wednesday 24th September 2008 Sandy's Open Mic

Sandy started the evening off with a song 'ClayPigeons' by Blaze Folley followed by 'Out in the fields' by Kate Rusby.

First to the stage was Bob Leslie who sang his own compositions 'Smell the Roses' and 'It'll last another day'.

Sandy then asked Donny up to the stage and he performed a Steve Earle song 'Nothin brings you down like your home town' followed by a Doobie Brothers song 'Without Love' .

Sandy then got back on stage and sang an Elvis song 'Latest Flame' followed by 'Colorado'. He then asked Stuart Workman up to preform. [Stuart asked Bob to give him some accompanyment on his guitar] Stuart then sang the Leonard Cohen song 'Manhatten' and followed it with 'Changes'.

Sandy then asked Elspeth Durkin to the stage, with Bob, and she sang 'Summertime' followed by the Carole King song 'Will you still love me tomorrow'.


Jer McDade then took to the stage and sang his own song 'One day life got serious' and then a brand new song 'On that day' which could easily become another open mic classic which people can sing along to!

Sandy then sang 'Three kings'

before getting Donny back up - singing 'Rollin & Tumblin'.

Stuart Workman and Jenny then got up and sang 'I'll remember you' and then Jenny sang 'Moon River'.

George then got to sing a Dylan song 'Tangled up and Blue' followed by 'Halleluia.

Next on stage was a visitor from Virginia, America - Aaron Lewis. He started off with a pickin tune 'Freight train' and followed on with a pretty ballad 'Your beautiful place'.

Duncan Adams then performed 'Lay down Sally' and a Travelling Wilberry song 'End of the Line'.

George Campbell the sang Down to the River' and his classic 'Cod liver oil and the orange juice'.

Finishing off the stage performances were Johnny T Miller and Martin who performed an excellent version of 'Red Dress' finishing with 'Shame,shame,shame'.

A short jam session ended the evening whilst Sandy cleared up the equipment, with Aaron getting out a fiddle and playing some bluegrass style music with Bob Leslie and friends.

Sandy’s Open Mic 17th September 2008 Clutha Vaults

Sandy started the evening with a nice ballad ‘You still need me’. First performer invited to the stage was Gavin Watt who performed a Neil Young song ‘Harvest Moon’ followed by a John Fogarty classic ‘Have you ever seen the rain..’.

Next up was Sean who sang two songs (of his own I think) in the style of Oasis.

Sandy then got back to sing a request ,

then asked Elspeth Durkin and Bob Leslie up to the stage. Elspeth sang ‘Will you still love me tomorrow’

and Bob then performed ‘My Baby she wrote me a letter’.

Andy Logan was present and Sandy got him up to do a couple of songs - ‘Games people play’ and then ‘St James’ Infirmary Blues’.

Next up was Bert who was a fabulous blues player using a glass slide. He did a couple of Robert Johnson tunes and had everybody listening intently. (Reminded me of Joe Durkin)

Sandy then got Tm onstage and he did a couple of his own songs.
Stuart Workman was over from the East Coast and he then gave us ‘I ain’t never satisfied’

and then with some help from Bob Leslie and Carl Bridgeman, performed the Steve Earle song ‘Copperhead Road’.

Joe MacAtamany then took to the stage to perform ‘Broom of the Cowdenknowes’ and then his version of the John Denver tune ‘Annie’s song’.

Bob Leslie then got back on stage to sing ‘The thrill has gone’, then with Elspeth Durkin a duet of his song ‘Different World’.

Duncan Adams then sang ‘The one I love’ followed by ‘Where am I gonna Live when I get home’ with much participation from the audience!

George then got up and gave us a Bob Dylan song ‘The story of The Hurricane’ .

Johnny T Miller had arrived by this time and got up with Bob Leslie accompanying him to sing ‘Sick and Tired’ a Boz Skaggs song.

Penultimate performers were Stuart, Bob, Carl and Jenni who sang ‘Pharaoh’s army.

Final performance was Carl Bridgeman on his Bass singing a couple of his own songs ‘Depend on you’ and ‘The things I’ve seen’. A good evening with plenty of variety of styles.

There were some visitors from Spain in the audience, and Andy Logan even had a couple of them up dancing to some of the songs, plus a few other people got up to dance to some of the faster numbers. A very short jam session followed whilst Sandy cleared up the stage equipment.