Post by ocarolan on Feb 7, 2015 11:04:48 GMT
Not having been to any concerts for a couple of months it was a bit weird (in a good way) going to two in one week.
Last night FC were at the wonderful Playhouse Theatre in Weston-super-Mud. Every winter they include this venue, which means I get to see them every year! I've been a huge fan right from the beginning and find it amazing that they have kept producing such great music over such a long period and through many significant personnel changes. The current line-up has been fairly stable for some time now, and works very well, playing music from (almost)the earliest days right up to the latest album.
Support was provided by Rosie Carson and Kevin Dempsey. She is a young, very tall US fiddler and he is, I think, a pal of Peggy's from way back and quite an old stager, having played with various Fairporters and loads of other folk over the years - very capable guitar player! Nice music - some lovely fiddle/guitar tunes and some great vocals from both. Almost spoiled by a dreadful guitar sound - very harsh, aggressive and thin - UST piezo obviously, but I'm sure it didn't have to sound that bad. Great playing though!
Fairport played lots from their latest CD, which I'd been listening to over the past week or so - some interesting and varied songs, often with Chris Leslie taking the vocal lead.
Chris also provides a lot of variety to the arrangements in that he plays mandolin, bouzouki, fiddle, 4 string banjo and high whistle all extremely well.
Ric Saunders did his usual fiddle fireworks, funny walks around the stage and gurning to great effect.
Gerry Conway keeps his head down and provides rock solid rhythm drumkit with some delightful twists and turns - fab drummist.
Dave Pegg is always a delight - no idea how he can play bass so fast with a plectrum; and he comes up with such gorgeous mellifluous (pretentious, moi?) basslines too. A Kala bass uke got an outing too - sounded good! He's a pretty nifty mandolin player too, as his duet with Chris proved.
And dear old Simon Nicol - I thought he seemed tired, and he fluffed a couple of verses vocally in one song which, despite "senior moment" comments, doesn't happen a lot. Even his usually very rich and mellow sounding guitar was a bit edgy sounding. I wanted to go and twiddle some knobs. ((On the desk, that is.) Despite it all he performed really well, continually changing between acoustic and electric guitars and giving a very strong vocal lead to many songs. Some lovely harmony moments with him, Chris and Dave.
Really enjoyed the evening, and shed the usual couple of tears during Meet on the Ledge at the end.
Looking forward to next year already.
Keith
Last night FC were at the wonderful Playhouse Theatre in Weston-super-Mud. Every winter they include this venue, which means I get to see them every year! I've been a huge fan right from the beginning and find it amazing that they have kept producing such great music over such a long period and through many significant personnel changes. The current line-up has been fairly stable for some time now, and works very well, playing music from (almost)the earliest days right up to the latest album.
Support was provided by Rosie Carson and Kevin Dempsey. She is a young, very tall US fiddler and he is, I think, a pal of Peggy's from way back and quite an old stager, having played with various Fairporters and loads of other folk over the years - very capable guitar player! Nice music - some lovely fiddle/guitar tunes and some great vocals from both. Almost spoiled by a dreadful guitar sound - very harsh, aggressive and thin - UST piezo obviously, but I'm sure it didn't have to sound that bad. Great playing though!
Fairport played lots from their latest CD, which I'd been listening to over the past week or so - some interesting and varied songs, often with Chris Leslie taking the vocal lead.
Chris also provides a lot of variety to the arrangements in that he plays mandolin, bouzouki, fiddle, 4 string banjo and high whistle all extremely well.
Ric Saunders did his usual fiddle fireworks, funny walks around the stage and gurning to great effect.
Gerry Conway keeps his head down and provides rock solid rhythm drumkit with some delightful twists and turns - fab drummist.
Dave Pegg is always a delight - no idea how he can play bass so fast with a plectrum; and he comes up with such gorgeous mellifluous (pretentious, moi?) basslines too. A Kala bass uke got an outing too - sounded good! He's a pretty nifty mandolin player too, as his duet with Chris proved.
And dear old Simon Nicol - I thought he seemed tired, and he fluffed a couple of verses vocally in one song which, despite "senior moment" comments, doesn't happen a lot. Even his usually very rich and mellow sounding guitar was a bit edgy sounding. I wanted to go and twiddle some knobs. ((On the desk, that is.) Despite it all he performed really well, continually changing between acoustic and electric guitars and giving a very strong vocal lead to many songs. Some lovely harmony moments with him, Chris and Dave.
Really enjoyed the evening, and shed the usual couple of tears during Meet on the Ledge at the end.
Looking forward to next year already.
Keith
Jo whoever he is.
