Ralph McTell; Ben Smith and Jimmy Brewer. Taunton.
Oct 4, 2018 23:23:44 GMT
Akquarius, leoroberts, and 4 more like this
Post by ocarolan on Oct 4, 2018 23:23:44 GMT
A grand evening out with Mrs O'C plus 'nuffsed and Mrs Nuffsed to see Ralphie for the umpteenth time.
An unadvertised stunning opening support set from Ben and Jimmy - sort of English duo meets Americana - superb vocal harmonies (all through every word of every song) and stunning guitar playing.
Unlike the vid above, they used a single condenser mike for everything, maintaining sound balance with the sort of choreography that bluegrass bands often use. Lovely to watch, and superbly done. The sound was so natural - just like real guitars with no suggestion of brittleness or overblown bass. The guitars interlocked really well, with the pair trading solos as well as harmony playing, each supporting the other perfectly. The voices blended well, and were so in sync on every syllable. Excellent - catch them if you can . Could have listened to them all night.
Then Ralph. He looked tired all evening and totally knackered by the end. Guitar playing was a bit shaky at the very beginning (Nanna's Song
) but settled as things went on, albeit with some hastily corrected near-goofs and some fluffed fingerings here and there - unnoticed by Mrs O'C and Mrs Nuffsed.
However, it mattered little - the magic of the songs and relaxed delivery worked their wonders and I just floated blissfully through his set of memory after memory. Highlights for me were Nanna's Song, England, First Song, Gypsy, After Rain and Ghost of Robert Johnson.
He forgot the words of After Rain at one point, disguised it with an instrumental interlude and did some other bits in a different order - didn't spoil it one bit, and a relief to know that after over 50 years on the road it still happens to him from time to time.
Something of a magical evening for me in spite of him seeming a little under par now and again.
scorpiodog - will you be seeing him in Wimborne tomorrow? Ah, later today I mean!
Keith
An unadvertised stunning opening support set from Ben and Jimmy - sort of English duo meets Americana - superb vocal harmonies (all through every word of every song) and stunning guitar playing.
Unlike the vid above, they used a single condenser mike for everything, maintaining sound balance with the sort of choreography that bluegrass bands often use. Lovely to watch, and superbly done. The sound was so natural - just like real guitars with no suggestion of brittleness or overblown bass. The guitars interlocked really well, with the pair trading solos as well as harmony playing, each supporting the other perfectly. The voices blended well, and were so in sync on every syllable. Excellent - catch them if you can . Could have listened to them all night.
Then Ralph. He looked tired all evening and totally knackered by the end. Guitar playing was a bit shaky at the very beginning (Nanna's Song
) but settled as things went on, albeit with some hastily corrected near-goofs and some fluffed fingerings here and there - unnoticed by Mrs O'C and Mrs Nuffsed.
However, it mattered little - the magic of the songs and relaxed delivery worked their wonders and I just floated blissfully through his set of memory after memory. Highlights for me were Nanna's Song, England, First Song, Gypsy, After Rain and Ghost of Robert Johnson.
He forgot the words of After Rain at one point, disguised it with an instrumental interlude and did some other bits in a different order - didn't spoil it one bit, and a relief to know that after over 50 years on the road it still happens to him from time to time.
Something of a magical evening for me in spite of him seeming a little under par now and again.
scorpiodog - will you be seeing him in Wimborne tomorrow? Ah, later today I mean!
Keith
