Golden Eagle Open Mic Review 13/03/2007

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Hors d’oeuvres: Andrea Ferguson

Main Course: Mike Steele, Richard Bircumshaw, Dick Kelly,

John Brightman, Steve Jackson, Gary Rudd,

Bob “Easy” Reid, John Pape & Steve

Desert: Karl Svarc, Sean South, Nick Svarc & Ralph

Tonight is our fourth GEOM and, thanks to the super efforts of all concerned, things are going better than anyone could have expected. Accordingly, there’s an impressive array of performers here tonight so Andrea gets us under way with “Who’s That Girl?”, “Star Of The County Down” and her own “Destiny Calling”.

Our first artist tonight is Mike Steele. Mike doesn’t write his own material but he certainly comes up with a most interesting assortment of covers, be it some long forgotten rock n’ roll or blues number or a little curio that really makes you scratch your head. So, what’s Mike got in store for us tonight? He starts off with a bopping Carl Perkins’s number, “Restless”, before following up with a much lesser known Dave Edmunds/Nick Lowe composition, “What Looks Best On You”. To round off a varied but well balanced set, Mike chooses Joe and Audrey Allison’s country classic, “He’ll Have To Go”.

That’s got us off to a good start, so Richard, whose back seems an awful lot better tonight, follows with two of his own guitar instrumentals, “Sisters” and “Rod’s Rag”. To polish off his little set, Richard has a good bash at Bob Dylan’s classic, “One More Cup Of Coffee”.

Change of tack now. Dick Kelly’s a veteran pure traditional folk artist (and why not indeed?) who doesn’t “do” PA’s. He kicks off with Alex Glasgow’s “Keep You Hand On Your Ha’penny” (i.e., for the younger folk amongst us, don’t let anyone into your knickers) and follows with an assumably self-penned number “Dog Licence”. Good man! It’s nice to have a bit of variety.

Back to instrumentals now as the accomplished guitarist, John Brightman, comes to the fore. John treats us to his own “He Said, She Said”, “Trivial Pursuit” and two superb Harry Sacksioni compositions, “Thee Bij Tante Josephine” and “Nonna’s Nachtmerrie”.

Tracy’s just putting the final touches to the spread so Andrea fills in the gap with   “Fever” before the sandwiches and chips are served and ravenously devoured by performers and punters alike. Once again there’s a super choice of eight real ales to wash it all down with.

It’s a pleasure to welcome Steve Jackson and his duelling strummers down here. Despite his fairly recent retirement, Steve seems to be busier than ever these days. He treats us to three of his own compositions tonight. He chooses the strummer for the sing-along “Dan Tucker” and his ever popular “I Lost My Hat” before he switches to guitar for his recently written, beautiful country ballad “You”.

Next up is Gary Rudd who had a spell as bass player in a later version of the Walter Harpman Band but is probably better known for the time he spent with Andrea as a member of Blazing Saddles. Gary’s not quite ready so Andrea fills in the gap with “Mercedes Benz”. Gary’s languid, chatty style suggests that he’s more accustomed to an intimate, laid-back club gig than the time restrictions that a performer-packed OM necessitates. Gary performs mostly original material stamped with his own personal and topical lyrics. Armed with a 12-string guitar and harmonica he entertains us with “What’s The Difference Between You And Me?” and “Friends Reunited” before finishing with a solid cover of the English adaptation of Jacques Brel’s classic “Amsterdam”.

Time’s getting a bit tight now so Andrea asks Easy if he can step on the gas a bit. Step on the gas? Bob puts the accelerator to the floor with whirlwind versions of his own compositions, “Blues Man” and “Fear Of Flying” and an equally frenetic “What’s On Your Mind?” Pass the oxygen mask, please!

For our next act we have the popular regulars, John Pape and Steve. They start with an instrumental featuring John on accordion and Steve on bodrhan, follow with a sea shanty before finishing with a rousing “We Roll The Old Chariot Along”.