We seem to have
come an awful long way in a very short time since that day, a couple of
months ago, when our darling landlady, Tracy, first mooted the idea of
having a Golden Eagle OM night. But of course, fortune favours the brave, so
when a talented singer/songwriter, namely Andrea Ferguson, just happens to
pop in and volunteer to oversee the opening night, the battle is more than
half won. As an event organiser Andrea’s already got plenty of “previous”;
the most distinguished probably being her superlative compering of the
fabulous Brewerfest last summer. Her organisational skills and infectious
enthusiasm are renown. However, be warned! When Andrea grasps a clipboard in
her hand, she tends to buzz around like some manic pollen-intoxicated bee!
The sound system
is hardly state-of-the art but hell this is the Golden Eagle not the Royal
Albert Hall and Paul does a super job at twiddling the knobs. There’s just a
handful of brave souls who have enlisted their selves as performers tonight
but never mind the quantity, feel the quality; local musical “heavyweights”
in Andrea, Rob Day and John Pape, regular Eagle Sunday night performers XO
(Rick & Laura) and T-Shirt Suntan (Kev & Daz) and last but not least, pub
regular Mike Steele who impressed a few learned ears when he played at his
own birthday bash in the Eagle marquee last year.
It’s 5 to 9,
there’s an air of expectation and Andrea’s already straining at the leash.
So away we go. Andrea’s a past master at putting people at ease, so from the
very start there’s an intimate, friendly and relaxed ambiance. With a warm
smile and a large dollop of Irish blarney, she kick-starts the evening with
her theme song “Star Of The County Down” and an a cappella “Fever”.
Stalwart John Pape
is up next with a big steel guitar for a big man. A couple of numbers from
John which immediately give the night a little buzz. Well someone’s got to
follow that and Mike looks a wee bit apprehensive but he’s not short of
talent either as a singer or a guitarist and nerves are soon forgotten
though as he treats us to three numbers; “Living With The Blues”, Frankie
Ford’s “Sea Cruise” and Slim Harpo’s “She’s Tough”. Nice one, Mike!
Rick and Laura
follow with three impressive originals featuring some lovely harmony vocals
which certainly get a few hands clapping and many a foot tapping. That takes
us to songwriter par excellence Rob Day. Rob without Guinness seems a bit
like strawberries without cream but he’s in fine fettle tonight as he belts
out his country song “Telling The Truth” and his two latest compositions, a
tentatively entitled “Radio” and “Can’t Live Around Here Anymore”.
Andrea returns
with an intense and fiery “Jolene” before she takes us to the break with her
own “Destiny Calling” despite breaking a G-string (Don’t worry darling, it
happens to men as well!)
So we take a
deserved break for a little chat and another frothing pint of the golden
nectar.
Kev and Daz,
better known as T-Shirt Suntan, kick off the second half. Daz has
unfortunately broken his arm but the show must go on so these brave hearts
still manage to masterfully perform four covers including “Mr. Bo jangles”,
“Chasing Cars” and “Town Called Malice”.
Steve’s turned up
with his bodhran to accompany John for a slide number on lap steel guitar
and then with Steve in fine voice tonight, they belt out two rousing sea
shanties which certainly go down well with the bar regulars.
Rob’s back up with
his own “Who You Really Want” and a cover of the Beatles’ “Blackbird”.
Following a special request from Tracy, Andrea then joins Rob for a simply
stunning duet of “1.55” before Rob finishes the evening off with “This
Town”.
It’s been an
understandably low-key but highly promising debut OM at the Eagle tonight
received with some warm applause – punctuated with some characteristic
whoops of encouragement from Andrea! – from a small but appreciative
audience. Many thanks to all the performers who played tonight and always
remember what dear Julie Ellison sings, “Trees can grow from the smallest of
seeds!”
