June's Open Music Night at The Arnold Arms. (Another Stonking Good Un!)

Those that attended  May's Open Music Night could not have but noticed that the pub sound was hugely improved as the evening got under way. Shirley was sunning herself in The Balearics, and possibly on her back as well, and Craig kindly dusted off his knob twiddling fingers to look after the desk. Shirley will be back in July looking more relaxed if not much browner.

Opening proceedings as usual, though that is going to change, George (Me) supported on guitar and backing vocals by Steve, with Hedley improvising a fabulous violin accompaniment.
The first song was the title track of a very recently recorded first album, 'Under The Patio'. The second, 'Old Town Blues'.


While Steve had played George's songs before, ok, not at the same time, or in the same room, he had some idea. But when it came to Steve being supported by George on bass for Kansas' 'Dust in The Wind,', and a song of is own composition 'Picture on The Wall' it was completely unrehearsed, so I think we did rather well. Some of the success was without doubt down to Hedley and his magic violin.


The new venue is continues to expose us to some new talent. This was the first time we've seen Trevor Clarke at The Open Music Collective. His first song was Depeche Modes', 'Your Own Personal Jesus', in the style of Johnny Cash. His second was a bit of rock and roll. I didn't catch the title, but it sounded something like 'Shorty shorts'.



Ami & Kristy were next up.
Another debut, and the first time we've ever seen a keytar in action in the five or so years Shirley and I have been at the helm and we were instantly whisked to the nineteen eighties as they performed Kylie Minogue's 'Love at First Sight' (I know, 2001 isn't the eighties) and Dolly Parton's 'Jolene'.





The Cliftones, Pete, Marian and Neil delighted us with Kirsty MacColl's 'There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis' and then provided the first sing along song of the night, perhaps it is the post 9pm watershed, but whatever it was they brought the house down with Neil Diamond's 'Sweet Caroline'.

Pete also reminded us that on Tuesday 18th June there is an acoustic music night at The Bull, Clifton. His music night is a gentle, fun affair, that might find you a slot on the main stage at Clifton fete.

Dave Fisher and Mike Newhouse
are a recently formed partnership, though you might be forgiven for thinking that they've been playing together for years. First they rocked the house with The Who's  'Join Together' and then
Free's 'Wishing Well'
Things moved on, but Mike didn't, replacing his band with John (AKA 'Grandad Banjo' for reasons not yet apparent). John brought a change of pace and decades


Mike Newhouse and John Kemsley
Have been playing together for much longer and their repetoire contains a broad variety of contemporary covers, some of which have taken an amusing turn. Tonight their contributions were Credence Clearwater Revival's  'Lodi' and Gabriel's  'Rise'. Both delivered straight and true.

Amy was back for her second appearance at The Arnold Arms, and this evening she had brought some supporting audience. Sticking to Greenday material; and why not? Amy added two more pieces to her set list, Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) and Holiday.

Bob Deluce was back with Tennessee Ernie Ford's
'16 Tons'; a delightful song about back-breaking manual labour and the power of debt over the working man. His second was a Credence Clearwater Revival classic, always popular at open mics because of its easily picked up chorus, 'Midnight Special'
Tonight he had an analogue drum machine and an harmonica with him to provide his own accompaniment.

We haven't seen Alex for a while, and it was good to have him here at The Arnold Arms. His first song was from the nineteen seventies, ELO's 'Telephone Line'. This was followed by another great crowd pleaser, The
Monkees' 'Cheer Up Sleepy Jean'

Watch this, you'll never sing this song in the same way again. Keep watching, it takes a while to get going

Dangerous Derrick Meyer and The Mothership struck next.
The Boy Band in a Black Box was channeling Gary Barlow all the way as he delivered their anthemic 'Back For Good' His second was Mike and The Mechanics She Pours Herself Another Cup of Coffee

He was pleased to tell me that he was close to sorting an open mic night nearby, so watch this space for the launch details.

Matt and Pete, with Edith and Richard
Matt was complaining that his throat was not quite up to singing this evening so he would do one to see how he got on and leave Edith to sing the rest. So they started with Matt singing The Fratelis' 'A Girl Like You' and then Edith sang Snow Patrol's 'Chasing Cars and 4 Non Blondes 'What's Up?' If Matt never sings again and we have to settle for listening to Edith I won't be sorry; what a voice.

Richard was much in demand, staying perched on his cajon as Matt, Pete and Edith left the stage and Ian replaced them. Ian and Richard are two thirds of Rugby's Vague Brothers and it is great to see them playing together again.
I was so enjoying their performance that I forgot to write down what they did.
The first was something along the lines of 'Long Time XXXX You'. I'm not redacting a swearword, but missed it when they announced it ans was just filling in the blanks hoping to achieve some sort of recognition; not this time though. Their second was a very lively Primal Scream's 'Country Girls'.

MDF were short of Tracey and Tea Chest Brian, and because I was on stage we don't have a photo. After Ross made it very clear who was the mouthpiece of MDF we made a good fist of Bob Dylan's half finished song 'Rock Me Mamma' aka Old Crow Medicine Show's 'Wagon Wheel', Steve Earle's 'Galway Girl' and the closing song of the night was The Pogues' '500 Miles'.

Thanks again to Tina and Matt for making us so very welcome, and to Craig for standing in on the mixer, we look forward to doing it again on the first Friday of July.