Wednesday 21st March 2007

Arrived late this evening, and the Open Mic had already started. Jenny and Stuart Workman were already up singing “The Erie Canal”. As we were then finding seats and getting drinks I’m afraid I missed the name of the next man up or the title of the song, but after him came Willie Mathews with Fraser Lindsay and Johnny T Miller who had also just arrived. They gave us “Everyday Blues”.

JT stayed up and was joined by JK [Joe Kidd] who gave us one of his songs “Simplicity”.

Then Gavin Watt & JT did the song ‘As long as I can see the light” by Creedence Clearwater.

Bob Leslie was next along with JT and , as Sandy was just back from Texas, decided to perform his song “ It wasn’t down in Texas..!” To keep with the ‘cowboy’ theme, Elspeth Durkin, Bob and JT then did the Hank Williams song “Your Cheatin’ Heart”.

The next performer was Jer McDade with his composition “Further on down the road” and he was also accompanied by JT.

Sandy decided to keep the theme going and sang a beautiful slow version of “The Green Green Grass of Home” with JT on Bass again.

Fraser Lindsay and JT then gave us Fraser’s version of a Cream song “Late at night” and Willie Mathews joined them on Tambourine.

Stevie McCafferty then and gave us his version of the Scissors Sisters hit “Take your Mama out all night”.

Stewart Workman came back up then and changed the mood by performing an old hit by Marmalade - “All my sorrows” with JT and Fraser joining in on Bass and extra acoustic.

Jer McDade’s second song was his composition “Vicki”, and he was followed by Gavin and Fraser who gave us the old hippy song “Stop. Listen. What’s that sound?”

Ian Adie then performed “Aurora Borealis”

followed by his hit single “Scotland be Good” accompanied by Michael and JT.

Sandy then got Bob and Elspeth back up and they were joined by Fraser and JT to do the Little Feat number “Dixie Chicken”, and then the duet “Love Hurts”.

The grandfather of the Open Mic, Joe MacAtamy, then performed “Haul Away” and Broom of the CowdenKnowes”

and the Open Mic was finished off by Willie Mathews and the gang performing the Bob Dylan song “Rolling Stone”.

Whilst the electrical equipment was then put away, there was a short acoustic Jam Session, before the bar closed and everyone headed home!

As most of the pictures only show Johnny T Miller's back - here is one of his face!

Wednesday 14th March 2007

The bar was very quiet this evening, possibly because there was a fire further round the access road, and the normal 'parking area' was closed off by the police for quite a while however it did fill up later on when the police and fire brigade had moved away!
Sandy is off on holiday in Texas - yeeha! so this evening was hosted by Brian McLachlan,

lead guitarist for the Vagabonds.

He started off the evening with one of his own compositions - 'To be Someone' followed by a Marc Ford number 'Change your mind'
and then 'Take another look'. First up to perform was Willie 'jukebox' Mathews who decided to give us his version of 'The girl from Ipanema'.

Davie was next up with 'Stormy Monday' followed by Michael with 'Half the world away'.
Bob Leslie then gave us one of his new songs 'Fading into the night'.
Next we had a little combo of Richie, Fraser and Marek who gave us 'Outside Woman Blues' and then 'Red House'.
Jer McDade was up next with 'Singsong', another of his remarkable story ballads.
After Jer came Gavin Watt with 'Old laughing lady' and he was followed by Andy Lindsay who gave us the Bob Dylan song 'Masters of War'.

Joe MacAtamy then gave us a classic scots ballad 'Haul Away'.

Vivian, accompanied by Gavin, gave us 'Songbird'

and then Davie got back up to give us his version of 'Hey Joe'.
Elspeth Durkin , accompanied by Bob Leslie
then gave us two songs [ as Brian said - she was at the cusp of the evening i.e. halfway through!]' Your Cheatin' Heart' followed by 'Autumn Leaves'.
Bob then stayed up to accompany Michael on his second song.'Aint no sunshine'

He was followed by the
combo ofWillie, Fraser and Andy with 'Blow wind blow'.

Jer then gave us 'The New James Bond' followed by Joe Mac with 'Fancy free'.

Eddie then got a chance to play and gave us a blues noodle followed by Andy Lindsay who gave us 'Summertime Blues' which everybody joined in with the chorus line!

Gavin gave the penultimate song 'My baby she wrote me a letter'.
Brian decided that Bob Leslie should end the night with one of Brian's favourites of Bob's compositions, 'Different Worlds'. [Elspeth joined Bob with harmonies for the song].
There was then the usual jam session before the final closing shout!



[I am sorry there is no review of the 7th March, as I was unable to attend that evening.]

Clutha Vaults 28th February 2007

This evening began as usual with Sandy Watson starting off the evening with a couple of songs including 'What in the world's come over you'. Unfortunately, the 'front row' was occupied by some people who had obviously been drinking for a long time and who were extremely noisy and argumentative, and who just got louder when the music started. However they eventually decided to leave after a few comments were made to them by other people and some by the performers.

First up after Sandy was Stevie McCafferty, who sang a Paul Weller song 'Above the Clouds' and then a Queen song 'This thing called Love'.

Next up was Scott on guitar, and his friend Jerry who sang an excellent version of the T-bone Walker song 'Stormy Monday' followed by 'Sweet Home Chicago'.

Sandy got Catriona up next and she gave us the Who song 'Substitute'.

Stuart Workman was next up with two songs including the Neil Young song 'Harvest Moon'.

Gavin Watt then gave us 'Here comes your man' and 'Love in Vain'

Bob Leslie was up next with a new composition - a slow 'love' ballad called 'Fading into the night' followed by his excellent song 'Adios to Rock and Roll' - from the CD 'Songs from the Mine' by Bob's band The Outfit.

Jer McDade was the next performer and he gave us 'Victoria' and another of his compositions [ I didn't catch the title as someone was speaking to me at the time!]

Dennis followed Jer with 'Another Saturday Night' and then 'The Wild side of Life'.

Duncan Adams then took us to the Country side and gave us 'I don't know why I love you' and Where am I gonna live'.

Alan Stewart,and his friend [ Adrian Withers from Bournmouth band Lemonrock- www.lemonrock.com/sabre -"he loved the open mic night "] then got up and performed 'Fore you accuse me' and 'Steppin out'.

Joe Kidd and Johnny T Miller had arrived by this time [from their band practise]and they got up and gave us 'Simplicity' and then, joined by Bob Leslie, 'Good Day'.

James was next with the Leonard Cohen song 'First we take Manhatten'.

Then Jerry McCue gave us an excellent 'Rockabye my baby'.

Andy and Izzy were called up next, and were suddenly joined by Lucille when they started to sing 'Will the Circle be unbroken'. Izzy didn't manage to get very close to the mic but everyone was singing along by this time!

They then went into one of Andy's favourites 'The games people Play'.

The penultimate performance was from Elspeth Durkin, with Bob Leslie on accoustic and Johnny Miller on Bass giving us their first performance of 'Your Cheatin' heart' which seemed to go down very well with the audience, despite it being the first time the three of them had ever performed it together!

The final performer was the Grandaddy of the Clutha Vaults Joe Macatamy who gave us the australian ballad about Gallipoli with the chorus of Waltzin' Matilda.
Another excellent evening with everybody having a good time.

As usual there was a very short jam session whilst the equipment was being put away, and prior to everybody being asked to leave the establishment!