Posted by Gareth - and I remembered the songs, they have a fantastic "attack" in their songs - it's not just the volume, it's not just the drama in their chord changes, it's not just the staccato bits - it's the way they all play TOGETHER really hard and clipped - it's as if they've been playing the songs for donkeys years....cracking stuff - and, if any of the band are reading this, I am curious to know if there was some extra harmony vocals in this session - or if my memory failed on that count. Anyway, really strong, powerful performance with distinctive songs that are a sign of 4 guys working TOGETHER - great stuff - thanks for a great hour - and thanks loads for doing the encore as that was my favourite one from the set in February - so it was great to hear it yesterday. That song where they repeatedly sing "you - can't - hold - on - for much longer!" - all building up - into a chaotic surge of wire and drum - brilliant. Their set was preceeded by the man himself....Conrad (Rory). Rory, as every Barn regular will know, is a law unto himself, and for a young guy to have such cool, idiosyncratic taste is fantastic - and this hour proved he was happy to cover such songs as "Jesus was a crossmaker", "Dumb all over" (to be seen to be believed), "Titties and Beer" (read that again, yeah Rory sang Titties and Beer!), As Rory loves his work so much (as I do) we were treated to 5 Warren Zevon songs - and in that, the whole of the audience sang the chorus of "Werewolves" with huge enthusiasm, Rory REALLY got into "Piano Fighter", I joined him (and had a thoroughly excellent time) for the chorus of "Mr Bad Example" - and we all mentally paid our respects to the great songwriter when Rory covered his "Keep me in your heart" at the end. RIP Warren. Terry Shulman at one stage said to me "whatever he's smoking, I want some" LOL - and to be fair, Rory did say "now we're gonna do a couple of lines of Cocaine"... Other great quotes from Rory's set are "here comes the icepick in the forehead" (don't ask) and "I thought I had loads of time left but my watch has stopped!" LOL - classic. In all seriousnessness though, Rory may not realise that "Metal Heart" a song he wrote himself, is a REALLY good serious song. There's a talented songwriter in there waiting to show his face through the covers maybe.... So then there was the open mic bit.... I gotta say the atmosphere last night was amazing - truly feel-good vibe through the whole thing - Nick spent the whole night grinning and I started the first hour of the night knocking down 2 pints of coke off the table! (luckily I had 5 people helping me pick up and put down glasses from then on - thanks guys) Keisha and Shawnee (sp???) from the Pompey Birds did an arranged version of the "wish I was a punkrocker" track - then followed with an encore of "Unfaithful" which had everyone in rapturous applause. James was there again (yay) doing No Rain and Nutshell (Alice in Chains). Jon this week was accompanied by Brad on bass for his tribute to the Barn and a cover of "Knocking on heaven's door" which was good to hear. Laurie returned having had a shirt donated to him - he'd avoided the wildlife in Portsmouth but soaked himself in Eddie Cochran's holy water it seems - a bizarre way of singing the words "Something else" (sounded like Sumumuuueeurrr) - bloody good though. Nick handed around swiss roll and told us not to (my my my, don't) tell lies - which we will remember for the future - thanks Dr Courtney. He was actually distracted during Swiss Roll by the CD tower being created on my table of my new CD (an odd parlour game but still....) - oh, and he played like Jimi Hendrix (alright Nick?) This week saw the trimphant return of Delta Elemental (Helen and Steve of Doom and Terrorness) - and I think the 2nd one they did was the best track they have performed at the Barn since i've been going! Nice one. Lee - who sings like a bloody good singer (someone said mongoose, but he meant it in a good way - I think that guy was actually drunk - well I say that, he didn't drink any alcohol that night, but was very drunk the night before.....not sure why he shouted mongoose though....I know he loves Lee's voice though.....I can only guess he loves mongooses.) Mongooses? Mongii? - Lee was brilliant as usual, bringing Bic Runga into the room (not literally) and showing a bit of soul. I want to hear him sing "Respect" or "Me and Mrs Jones". (well anything really) - oh and Nick wanted me to write "lovely voice" for Lee - but then I already had. Del, Dirty Hippy got up and got the crowd shouting "Gordon is a moron" - which was fantastic - then made me go crazy again over "One Way" - thanks for that, I love that song! Next up was me and Ritchie - with my new gold jack for the acoustic! We started with a song I hadn't played in years, because it works better as a duo, called "Adjusting", which is about friendships changing shape - enjoyed that - but then I (and I think Ritchie too) really got stuck into Tracy Chapman's "Across the Lines", it felt good singing the song, and I kind of played around with the mic stand a bit, as I sometimes do when I get going LOL - Ritchie finished the song at a place where we hadn't rehearsed it - and the fact that I knew exactly what he was doing, suggests that we have the kind of mind-reading that is ideal for duetting! Thanks Rich! Andy Muscat followed with another chance for us to enjoy "Valerie" from the Zutons and then he bravely went for "My Generation" - which despite the simplicity of the song is not an easy one to cover I think! Excellent stuff. Rich (not the one i've mentioned already) came up to try and better his superb rendition of the Sugababes "Push the Button" - and I have to say I was totally gobsmacked - for 2 very different reasons - 1st i'll say that Rich doing Whigfield's "Saturday Night" on an acoustic was not EXPECTED!! lol - GENIUS! - and they was much mirth around the room on that one! - but the way he sang (and played) Justin Timberlake's "Cry me a River" !!! - it was completely brilliant! - really showed off his range too!! People are gonna think you have dodgy taste Rich! LOL - they've forgotten about your Bright Eyes cover, or your Damien Rice covers , or your Bruce Cockburn cover (in my dreams) LOL Sam was next - and he was still Irish - except when he spoke or did his second song - that second song was a feisty number about beating up gypsies (apparently his Grandad did this) - a strong performance again that fortunately was not harmed by the horror of Rachel from my table sitting on Terry's drumkit (you should have seen the panic on our faces) Skies returned to the Barn - first time for ages - and as it was late and they were last in had to just give us one song - and it was excellent - the new (to us) addition of the female drummer was especially good as you don't often see female drummers (especially good ones) - and it's worth mentioning what a good voice the singer of Skies has got too. Jay finished the night with a headbutt to the mic stand and 2 soul classics: "Thinking of You" (and the things you do to me) and "Ain't no sunshine" which I subtely provided a harmony for at the end (which you could only hear either at the bar or on the video he was making of the performance LOL) All in all - a fantastic night again - starting with an odd mix of Zappa, Nursery Rhymes (????), Zevon and a huge piece of cardboard; then continuing with a tight, hard edged, powerful meaty rock band in One Life Left - then ending in some classic open mic moments. And on a personal note, it somehow felt more permanent performing with Ritchie that night - not sure what it was....thanks mate! Loved it. Gareth p.s. hope it doesn't rain at the beach tomorrow!!!! ; )
on July 14, 2006, 9:54 pm
80.3.160.12
One Life Left is kickstarted by a heart of metal....
Current mood: thirsty
This week's Barn saw the return of the band I saw there in February - ONE LIFE LEFT! - the first time I saw them I thought they were brilliant - this time I thought they were brilliant.
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