When the irresistable force meets the imoveable object FATO and The Darts Team.
Baggy put us in the snug, to the side of the main bar. To be fair, with the furniture rearranged it did make for quite a cozy night but, with a few spilling out into the main bar, there was room. To make sure that those on the fringe could hear Paddy asked if I could provide the PA that we use at The George, Kilsby. So at 7pm I started setting up, and by the time John, who was in the power seat, arrived we were ready to go.
There was only time for three pieces each, two in the first half and one in the second, which to satisfy any pedants among you means that strictly speaking means that they weren't halves.
The Weasels opened Nowhere Man and Streets of London. Their finale was a very pleasing 'Sound of Silence'. No that didn't mean they made no noise for a few minutes, that is a different piece.
Derek, introduced the new love of his life and sang Jeff Lynne's 'When I was A Boy' and one of his regular contributions Four Non-Blondes. His new love sounded fabulous and there was just a little suggestion of guitar envy in the air; mostly mine.
No Strings were back and on good form as they performed a seemless medley of reels. The sheets spread wide across the music stands. 'Burns', 'Waterloo' and 'Fishers'. Their second half, 'The Robber's Retreat' had everyone singing along.
I benefitted from having Ross playing his Cajun, we even stuck a mic in it to give it more bottom, though when Ross sat on it, it probably had plenty already. I had the sweetest of first parts with a song about the amount of sugar
in a high street coffee seller's most popular drinks, called 'Twenty Spoons of Sugar' follwed by the song inspired by the website 'sugardaddy.com' after learning all about it listening to Woman's Hour on Radio 4. My last song was a bit more serious. With a reported 11% of the adult population on antidepressants, my song about being stuck in a metaphorical hole, probably to be called 'Spade' or 'In a Hole' is quite topical.
Highlight of the night for me was one of Paddy's absolute gems. His song inspired by the presidential hopeful Donald Trump to the tune of Nellie The Elephant (Trump, Trump, Trump) was hilarious and so very clever. I am only sorry that the election will be over in only a few more months. His other first half song was the beautiful Gordon Lightfoot 'If You Could Read My Mind Love'. And he finished on 'The Doghouse Blues'.
We had to wait for the second half of the evening to hear Jim and Jan. 'Ladies Go Dancing At Whitsun' and 'Wheel Your Perambulator John'
One of my Dad's favourite songs that we were subject to in the car, before he had one with a radio in was 'Home On The Range, but I never heard the full version until this evening, when it was performed by Graham and Theresa with John. They follwed that up with another childhood favourite, this time one of my Mum's, 'You Are My Sunshine'
They were joined for the second part of the evening by Andy, for the instrumental 'Cluck old Hen'.
Andy brings a diverse range of material to FATO often with a good slice of Rock and Blues. Tonight he finished with Lynyrd Skynyrd's, 'Ballard of Curtis Lowe'. First half was much more folky, Ralph McTell's 'Hiring Fair' and to bring some cheer to the assemblage of older men with their guitars, Terrence Blacker's 'Sad Old Bastards With Guitars'
Some SOBWG
MDF with Ross on vocals, Dave on guitar, Mark on accordion and Brian on the tea-chest base. 'Sea of Heartbreak', and 'Dirty Old Town' Their final performance was Violent Femmes, 'Fat'.
Tony, helpfully passed printed copies of the chorus, sang again about the life of those on the canal, 'Here Come The Navvies' and 'Hard Life of The Bargee'. Then wet his whistle for the second half, playing 'The Irish Washerwoman'.
Bruce was in somber mood for the first part, singing about incarceration and injustice with songs 'Birmingham Jail' and 'Twenty One Years' his last song of the evening was much more jolly. 'Bob, The Pedigree Sheepdog.' The song about a Dalesbred sheepdog that was always on the lookout for an ankle.
We should be back in the big room at the back for next month's gathering, but this evening's fun atmosphere will take some beating.
