We made
a very promising start last week – not surprisingly given the quality of the
performers who played – and naturally Tracy and Pete were as pleased as
Punch. Of course one swallow doesn’t make a spring but with Andrea as
captain we stand a more than half decent chance of being a winning side.
So how is our much loved cherub
tonight? Hm, looks like it’s been another S day at the office but no doubt a
little sweet music should be just what the doctor ordered.
Well you can’t fault people here
for enthusiasm. Andrea even manages to receive a round of applause for a
sound check of “I Go To Sleep” and “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” Don’t
you just wish that she would incorporate those two songs into one of her
sets?
So, what’s on the menu tonight?
Andrea’s providing the sweet hors d’oeuvre of course, and for the main dish
there’s none other than Mr. Bob “Easy” Reid, Rob Day, John Pape & Steve,
Richard Bircumshaw, Ian Good – whom, if you happen to be of a certain age,
you will remember from the Casuals - and last but by no means least Aidan
Marshall. And if that doesn’t make your mouth water, Andrea has promised us
a surprise dessert. And she’s not talking about the strawberry version!
As we approach
nine o’ clock there’s a buzz of expectation once again, so Andrea gets us
under way with her own evergreen “Destiny Calling” and a perky “Dangerous
Woman”. Lesson to be learnt here; when travelling home on the train from
Manchester, keep your head in the newspaper!
Rob begins his
spot with his classic “Wasted” and then follows with a recently written gem,
“Radio”, before being joined by Easy for a terrific version of his country
song, “Telling The Truth”. Our harmonica maestro then continues solo with
Fleetwood Mac’s “Looking For Someone” and Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Help Me”,
before being joined by Ian on electric guitar and Aidan on acoustic guitar.
Of course, Ian and Easy “did time” together in the prison service but still
you could be forgiven for thinking that this trio played together every
night as they enthral a foot-tapping, hand-clapping audience with “Stormy
Monday”.
Richard’s made the journey all
the way over from Retford to play here tonight and now he’s going to have to
follow that! As usual though, the affable Richard, who’s developing an
excellent finger-picking guitar style, just takes it all in his stride and
treats us to two original instrumentals, “Taylor’s Revenge” and “Rod’s Rag”.
He finishes off his set with Bessie Smith’s “Nobody Knows You When You’re
Down And Out” and John Martyn’s “Sweet Little Mystery” before Andrea blows
the whistle for half-time.
So time for a break. Our darling
landlady has really done us proud tonight as we tuck in to a large plate of
scrumptious sandwiches and a bottomless bowl of tasty chips, while a perusal
of the blackboard will tell you there’s seven real ales to savour, including
Bishop’s Finger (be careful!), Castle Rock’s SWALK and Oakham’s White
Dwarf wheat beer.
After being well fed and
watered, John and Steve kick off the second half with a steel guitar and bodhran instrumental before following with a sea shanty. The Eagle is
renowned for being a biker’s pub and of course John is well tuned in to
that, so they wow Tracy and the bar regulars with a spoofed-up “Wild Rover”
entitled “Hell’s Angels”. To finish off John gives Cheryl a lesson in how
not to play the mandolin.
Although Aidan performs
regularly at the Drill Hall, it’s very rare to see him playing in a pub
these days and there are no prizes for guessing who instigated this little
visit. Aidan opens with the old blues classic, “Sitting On Top Of The
World”, with Easy on harmonica. He follows up with John Martyn’s “One Day
Without You” and another number before finishing with the Doors’ classic,
“People Are Strange”.
Time now for the surprise
dessert. Just how many musicians do you imagine can be squeezed under the
Eagle dartboard. Andrea reckons seven. She must be crazy! While the ensemble
gathers, she treats us to a cracking a cappella cover of Bruce Springsteen’s
“I Ain’t Got You”. So a quick head count. Andrea, Aidan, Rob and Richard on
guitars, Easy on harmonica, John on bodhran and Steve on sticks. Well you
never win an argument with a woman even if Steve nearly is paying a visit to
the Ladies. So with a wave of her baton, Andrea conducts the ensemble
through a rip-roaring “Rock Me Baby/Crossroads”. Just time for the grand
finale. With a shake of her beloved egg, and herself, Easy, Rob and Aidan
sharing the vocals, Andrea leads the boys into “I Got My Mojo Working”.
Increasingly she urges them to turn up the heat until they finally bring the
house down in a barn-storming crescendo! There’s uproar in the bar,
rapturous applause and beaming faces all round. As Tracy puts it, how
awesome was that!!
Many thanks to everybody who played tonight, Paul for a super job on the
sound and of course Tracy and Pete for their wonderful hospitality. See you
all in a fortnight!
