Martin
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Post by Martin on Oct 24, 2017 19:19:57 GMT
I went to see Ralph for the second time last weekend (my first was a year or so ago) and it was one of the best gigs I've been to. As good or better than last year, the set list was much changed, but every song he chose was a cracker. Such passion and emotion in both his songwriting and performance, it was just inspiring to be in the audience, and forunately much closer to the front than we managed previously. This year, Ralph had support. On this tour he is giving some young unknown acts the opportunity to open for him with a few songs each. I saw the first of these (Robin Adams) and the third (Avocet), but missed the second one as I was at the bar    Both support acts were really impressive, and as Ralph said later on, even though the 'great' generation of folk performers are gone or getting on, there is a whole current scene happening right now, and it was great to be reminded of it with these excellent support acts. Robin Adams was a real breath or fresh air, with an impressive guitar style and delicate vocals delivering three superb songs. I spoke to him during the interval and bought his album The Garden, which is fabulous. Avocet were just guitar, harp and vocals (their double bassist couldn't manage), but a really lovely sound from both of them. The guitarist (Sam) had some chops (I told him so on the way back from the toilet - rock n roll!!), and the harpist (harper?) (Iona) was a lovely player with a beautiful voice. After a short interval (during which more beer, whisky and CDs were purchased - got the 'Songs for Six Strings' set), Ralph came on.  He was relaxed and in great form. He mainly played his Gibson, but got his Martin RM50 out for a few songs. Pity really, as I thought it sounded better than his Gibson!   We managed to record a few sneaky clips for anyone interested in what it was like, so will upload these asap. |
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Oct 24, 2017 20:22:16 GMT
Here he is doing 'Streets of London'. I think he's contractually obliged to perform it all the time, but I don't care 'cos it's bloody brilliant  Sorry the start is missing....I need to sack my camera-person  This one is 'Fear of Flying' with an interesting spoken introduction. There is a 'blip' halfway through when the recording stopped then started again. Pity I can't sack her twice  The Ghost of Robert Johnson (I think he did a spooky one 'cos it's nearly Halloween  ) |
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Post by ocarolan on Oct 24, 2017 23:28:04 GMT
Sounds lovely Martin - glad you enjoyed it. The vids are a great bonus for us here - thanks for posting those! I agree re his signature Martin - I thought it sounded brilliant last year when I saw him, and yes, as you said, better than his Gibbo! Keith |
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Oct 24, 2017 23:33:10 GMT
I've one more vid to upload, Keith. A very nice recording of his final (encore) performance, West 4th Street & Jones, with a really cool 4m30s spoken intro where he name-checks all the good and great of folkdom and goes on to discuss His Bob-ness, while boasting he (RMcT) was a better guitarist |
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Oct 25, 2017 8:06:49 GMT
Last vid/song here:
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Post by ocarolan on Oct 25, 2017 10:32:59 GMT
Great stuff! Looks like he had pretty much all the songwords on the side of his guitar....  I was never great at that - could never see them! Keith |
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Oct 25, 2017 11:06:29 GMT
He certainly had a setlist and perhaps notes on there, as he did refer a bit to them, but to be fair, he does has quite a few songs in his repertoire Just been listening to some of the 'Songs for Six Strings' discs, and really enjoying them. Why did he have to write one about an old brown dog, though? Crying while driving isn't ideal, and I don't even have a dog   |
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Oct 25, 2017 12:23:41 GMT
He certainly had a setlist and perhaps notes on there, as he did refer a bit to them, but to be fair, he does has quite a few songs in his repertoire Just been listening to some of the 'Songs for Six Strings' discs, and really enjoying them. Why did he have to write one about an old brown dog, though? Crying while driving isn't ideal, and I don't even have a dog
When I saw him a few years back in Newark he did Old Brown Dog and accompanied himself on piano (which I've not seen him do before). And I swear it had more than 6 strings!
J
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Oct 25, 2017 12:52:42 GMT
He certainly had a setlist and perhaps notes on there, as he did refer a bit to them, but to be fair, he does has quite a few songs in his repertoire Just been listening to some of the 'Songs for Six Strings' discs, and really enjoying them. Why did he have to write one about an old brown dog, though? Crying while driving isn't ideal, and I don't even have a dog
When I saw him a few years back in Newark he did Old Brown Dog and accompanied himself on piano (which I've not seen him do before). And I swear it had more than 6 strings!
J
That's what I was thinking while listening Naomi is on there as well  |
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Post by Andy P on Oct 26, 2017 6:45:58 GMT
Thanks Martin, enjoyed all those  Great quality on those vids! I have to admit that, although I met him once, I've never seen him live |
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Post by Cams on Oct 26, 2017 11:22:30 GMT
Man, I was in Glasgow that night and knew nothing about this. I saw Bladerunner instead. Thanks for filming and posting these videos Martin. They were great.
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Post by robmc on Oct 26, 2017 18:44:59 GMT
Great videos Martin, thanks!
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Post by dobro on Oct 27, 2017 0:06:01 GMT
Great videos. Thanks for posting. Saw him in Derry last year, and it was a moving experience. The Girl on the Jersey Ferry, to be honest, brought a bit of moisture to my eyes (must be getting old and silly). I love the sound of both the old Gibby and the Martin, the latter obviously used for open tunings, and yes, it sounded better than most Martins I've heard.
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Post by vikingblues on Oct 27, 2017 7:27:42 GMT
Why did he have to write one about an old brown dog, though? Crying while driving isn't ideal, and I don't even have a dog I can see why he would include it in a set list out of all those songs in his repertoire. A very powerful song and for me, one of his best - maybe influenced by having spent over a half of my life living in a household with canine feet pattering around it always hits me hard. I find it almost impossible to play and sing it without it falling apart through my starting to cry, especially when it gets to the line about the skylarks singing overhead as the dog dies - I've getting teary just typing that - pull yourself together Mark! Thanks for posting those videos of him Martin. It's great to see that his skills have not deserted him. There's something so musically satisfying about his runs of notes and his chord voicing on the guitar.  Mark |
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Post by dobro on Oct 27, 2017 11:00:27 GMT
I will add that the other time I saw him, was in Bergen in 1976, on a tour with Bert Jansch.They were both brilliant, Bert a bit drunk,Ralph apparently sober..
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Great quality on those vids! I have to admit that, although I met him once, I've never seen him live 
Jo whoever he is.
