Open Mic Shock!!

I got a shock last night to find that Sandy Watson has given up the Clutha Vaults Wednesday night Open Mic sessions.

I did know that the Vagabonds had dis-banded on the 9th April, but I had thought Sandy would continue with the Open Mic, as it was 'his' session.

I had been late arriving, without Bob Leslie as he is still recovering from a Gall Bladder infection which had him in hospital over the 11th/12th April, and someone called Martin was caretaking last night, but I have never seen him at the regular nights before, and he didn't know some of the more regular people.

He was a good singer, but I had arrived late, and the first person I saw up was a decidedly drunken Dennis - who stumbled through several first verses of songs without getting to second verses, and there was now sign of Martin. Suzie got up with Dennis to sing Peaceful Easy Feeling, and did well to continue singing when Dennis dropped his pick and stopped playing. When she had finished, Dennis stood up and fell over, and was grabbed at the last minute by Suzie, which stopped him from crashing to the floor, with the guitar in his hand!!

Martin arrived back at this point and sang an extremely sad Irish song, during which Andy 'the Candy' Logan arrived with Alec, so Martin got Andy up immediately for a couple of songs [Games people play and Good-hearted Woman] and then Alec joined him on his clarinet - (unfortunately the clarinet and guitar were in slightly different keys which made it slightly grating on the ears). Then Andy finished off with a request for 'St. James Infirmary'.

I had forgotten to pick up my camera on my way out the door this evening, so there are no photos, and I have to admit I left early, for the first time in years, not feeling as if I had been out for the evening at all.

Apology - 14th April 2010

Didn't make it in to the Clutha this evening.
Got news that Bob Leslie had been in hospital over the weekend after a severe problem with his Gall Bladder which could have been fatal - we wish Bob all the best and a very speedy recovery, and hope to see him back at the Clutha on Wednesday the 21st April!

Clutha Open Mic - 7th April 2010

Sandy was away this week and had asked Big Bob Leslie to take the Open Mic session for him.
Bob started the evening off along with Bernadette, singing 'My old friend the Blues' then Bernadette sang 'I am an Orphan Girl', followed by
Bob with 'My Girl' and then
Bernadette again with 'Tougher than the rest' and then Bob with 'Tears of a Clown. First guest to the stage was
Eddie with a couple of his own songs....The first was called 'West Highland Way' but although he was singing no-one could make out any words.... and his song went on for about fifteen minutes. Bob had told him he had two songs, so when he had finished the first, he started again - and to be honest the second song sounded exactly like the first, and was just as long..............!
Stevie Osbourne was back at the Clutha and Bob got hime up to sing 'East End Blues' which was well received.
Andy Lindsay then took the stage and gave us a couple of ausing little ditties - the first a Peter Nardini song 'A dog called Billy, a cat called Pat', and then 'Sam the skull' - aka the Glasgow Cat!! - which had audience participation during the choruses.
Joe MacAtamany then got up and sang 'Fancy Free' and then 'Eldorado'.
Elspeth Durkin was next and sang accapello for the first song - 'Our wedding day' and followed that with a duet with Bob of 'Love Hurts'.
Chris McLean then got on stage and sang 'The town of Kiandra'.
Next up was Brian McDade singing 'Burk' and then 'The night you lit up the Blues'.
Jerry MacAtamany then followed with an Eagles song 'Peaceful, Easy feeling' and then 'What made Milwaukee famous'.
Stevie O got back up for a second time and sang 'Good to be alive' and then 'Don't take any more away from me'.
George then got on stage and performed 'LA woman' and then the U2 song 'Heroes' [most of it in German!!].
Bob then asked Elspeth back up to duet with him on 'Dixie Chicken' and then with Bernadette too on 'Take another piece of my heart'.
Brian got back up and sang 'Songs from the port' and was followed by
Stevie O again with an Elvis song 'Hound-dog'.
Joe MacAtamany then sang 'Coorie Doon' before Bob and Bernie finished the evening with 'Sloop John B' with lots of audience participation.
A good evening enjoyed by all.

31st March 2010 - Clutha Vaults

Quiet evening thanks to the cold weather.
Sandy started with three lovely ballads, Everything Flows; Blackwaterside and a Billy Connelly song 'Oh No

'

Couple of songs from a young lassie - Where Oh Where, and Pharoh's Army, followed by
Pat singing 'Man of the World' accapella.

Sandy then gave us a Townes Van Zandt song

before getting Elspeth Durkin up to sing Autumn Leaves and After the Goldrush, accompanied on guitar by Bob Leslie

.

Stewart Workman then sang a couple of songs with Bob accompanying on electric guitar.
Bernadette had come in with Bob and she sang a couple of songs, also with Bob on electric guitar - 'Caledonia' and then 'The dimming of the Day'.

Sandy then joined them for a version of 'Our Town'.

Bob and Elspeth then got back on stage to sing 'Dixie Chicken' and then 'Love Hurts'
Sandy then sang 'Its only love' before getting

George up for a couple of songs including a Rolling Stones number 'Sister Morphine'.

Stewart, and Bob, then performed 'Manhatten' and then 'Reflections'
Bob then sang a couple of his own songs 'The Devil ain't a friend of mine' and 'It'll last another day'

Bernadette then sang 'Dance me to the end of love' and then 'Devil's right hand'

Jean Paul then came out from behind the bar to sing us all a reggae number

before Bernadette, Bob, Sandy and Bob gave an ensemble performance with Pat singing 'Your Baby tonight'
Final performers were Stewart and Jenny [with Bob on electric guitar again] singing Eirie Canal and then Moon River.

A slow start but an enjoyable evening.
Sandy will be out of the country for a short break next week, but Bob Leslie will be running the Open Mic as usual.