Sandy’s Open Mic, Clutha Vaults 23 Jan 2008

A quieter evening than normal - probably due to the effect of the Celtic Connections Festival, which is held in Glasgow at this time of year.
Hosted by Brian McLachlan this evening, Brian sang two of his own compositions to start to evening off. “Taking a life” and “Gold-digger”


Then first up on stage was Charlie Glackin who sang a couple of really beautiful ballads which he had composed himself - “Let’s go dancing” and then “Different but the same”.
Next up was Derek Hart with a couple of songs “Get-up and go” and “Change your mind”

Jer McDade was next and he decided to sing an old Kinks song, which was not played much on the radio when it came out - because it was too long !! “Celluloid Heroes”, He then sang his own song “One day life got serious” - with some accompaniment on the chorus from audience members!

Gavin Watt was next on stage with an Alabama Free song “Too sick to pray” followed by a John Fogerty song “Have you ever seen the rain?”

Next up was the combo of Stuart, John and Jimmy on acoustic guitar, drums and Bass guitar. They performed a little reggae number “Easy skankin” which merged into their version of “Valerie”. They then performed their version of “What’s goin on?”

Next up was Elspeth Durkin with Bob Leslie on guitar, singing “Autumn Leaves” and “After the Goldrush” - her first songs since the New Year after getting over a ‘head cold’!

Jimmy McGovern was next on stage with a folk number “Jewel on her wings”.

Andy McGarvie was up next with a couple of covers including “All right now” (sorry Andy I didn't get a photo) and he was followed by Joe MacAtamany with a couple of traditional numbers including “Coorie doon”.

Bob Leslie then got up on stage and performed one of his own songs “The tune that was broken won’t mend” - written after watching a documentary on the life of Hank Williams. He then asked Elspeth up to do backing vocals for a motown number “You keep me hanging on”.

Stuart, John and Jimmy then got back up and did “I feel good” followed by the reggae number “Too much mix-up” for the finale.


There was a bit of a Jam session which followed, as the bar was open a little later than normal.

Bob's Open Mic Monday 10th January 2008

Many thanks and a Guid New Year to Elspeth for updating the blog every week! As she's down with the 'flu, here's what happened on Monday! Post New Year, the pub was fairly quiet but we did get some excellent singers in (I didn't catch everyone's surnames, sorry!). After a few opening numbers by me, Peter got up and sang a slow-rock version of Michael Jackson's "Beat it" and one of his own. Chris and Dee then did a few including an amazing fast, jazzy version of "House of the Rising Sun". Glen and Gary (I introduced them as "The Bunnets":))did acoustic versions of various metal songs which sounded abit like Beefheart in a folk club :) and Joe MacAtamany did "Haul Away" and "Coorie Doon". Finally, after a long absence, "Polo" (just back from a tour of Genoa and China:)) did John Prine's "Speed of Loneliness" and joined in with me on "The Joker" and "Goodnight, Irene". A good time was had by all!
Bob

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.!

19th December 2007 Sandy's Open Mic Night

Sandy started off with ‘Pilgrim on these Roads’, and ‘By the Mark’, followed by a Frankie Miller song ‘Drunken nights in the city’.

Aaron Hewit was first up with ‘The lakes of Pontchartrain’ and then ‘Knocking on Heaven’s door’

then Chris Grant - back from Orkney, gave us his own composition ‘Teenage Amnesia’ and then ‘Trouble’

Elspeth Durkin [ & Bob Leslie] then sang the Dolly Parton hit ‘Jolene’ followed by the Eartha Kitt styled version of ‘Santa Baby’.

Bob Leslie stayed on stage and performed his new song ‘Don’t listen to the Ghosts again’ followed by ‘It’ll last another day’.

Then Bob and Elspeth performed the Little Feat number ‘Dixie Chicken’.

Gavin Watt was up next, after a bit of an absence, with ‘Long may you run’ and then ‘Here comes your man’

John Fleming was then persuaded up and he performed a blues number [which I didn’t catch the title of] and what he calls ‘ The Transvestite song’ a little comedy number.
Aaron Hewit and Scott Workman then got up and performed ‘The root of all evil’ and then ‘Fulsom Prison Blues’ together.

Kirsty then gave us a couple of ballads ‘Bar-room girls’ and ‘Band of Gold’.

Andy Logan was then invited onto the stage where he performed ‘Blue Christmas’, Games people play’, and ‘Good-hearted woman’.

Jer McDade had arrived by this time and Sandy soon got him up on stage to sing his compositions ‘Further on down the road’ and then ‘Bob Treetop’.

Stuart Workman with a little help from Sandy on harmonies,

then sang ‘Christmas in Washington’ [ON THE SIDE: Congratulations to Stephanie on her baby. Granddad Stuart Workman is very proud!] Stuart , Scott and Jenni then all got on stage to perform ‘Erie Canal’

and ‘Sweet Home Alabama’( with a little help from Bob and Sandy on the last ones harmonies).
Kirsty and Gavin then got up together and performed ‘So F---king Special’.

Joe MacAtamany then sang ‘Broom of the Cowdenknowes’ and ‘Ride On’.

Chris Grant then performed again [ but I can’t read my writing for the song title - sorry].

Finally Ian Adie with Sandy on guitar, performed an Eagles hit ‘Take it Easy’ followed by the classic ‘Take the ribbons from your hair’.

An enjoyable evening, even if a little quiet in the run-up before Christmas!