Launch Gig

[Slim Shaney]

Awesome, truly awesome. And not because I was on the stage. Very happy with everyone who was there, sound, lights, band, Mawkin, and most of all, our lovely audience. We'd like to take you home with us, we'd like to take you home..... ;D ;D ;D

[Mix]

skirky said:

Awesome, truly awesome. And not because I was on the stage. Very happy with everyone who was there, sound, lights, band, Mawkin, and most of all, our lovely audience. We'd like to take you home with us, we'd like to take you home..... ;D ;D ;D

Err? you did Shane, remember? ;D
My Thoughts on the Launch Gig: (sorry peeps, I haven't re-worded it )

I got home at about 2.30 Sunday morning, and it was raining here in sunny backofbeyond.
First, big, big, big thank you to Shane and Hannah for putting me up and being so nice (that Hannah's an angel you know!!!)
Also, big thanks to Helen, for having me around for the afternoon....what a spread you put out!!! and that was one mean guacamole

Saturday night at The High Barn and there is a buzz of excitement in the air, and not just from the band!! At last the house lights dimmed and Mawkin took the stage... a fiddle, a melodeon, a bass guitar and a six string acoustic guitar (and that's as technical as I get and I probably got that wrong) I wasn't at all sure what to expect (they looked awfully young to me) but, fr4om the first note it was clear that this was going to be high quality folk. From plaintive Scottish airs to rip roaring fast paced tunes, the guys were excellent!!! If you haven't come across them before I recommend that you don't miss out on the opportunity to hear/see them at the first chance you get.
Outside during the following interval the guys from Mawkin proved to be every bit as friendly as they were talented, happily chatting with all like old mates, all in all a great band!!!

The main event...once again the house lights dimmed, figures stepped out onto the stage in the gloom......lots of figures, tonight Songs from the Blue House were Songs from the Full House!!
The stage lights came on and Shane stepped up to the mic, the air of expectancy could have been cut with a guitar string, "We are Songs from the Blue House... and this is what we do" (hmm? didn't Shane go to see REM quite recently?) into the first number and the crowd was gripped, and the band didn't let them go from that moment on.
The on stage banter was lively and full of fun, and every time Shane or James said "this is from the new album", what could have sounded scripted from another band, came across as exactly what it was, genuine excitement!!!! and that excitement was infectious and the whole audience caught the bug Grin
The whole set was crammed full of hi-lights, but I too have to make a special mention of Waste of Angels, written and sung by Helen, beautifully supported by Ali Byrne (a lady with a truly lovely voice). This haunting song, which also came in for a particular mention from the review on folking.com, is full of feeling, emotion and hope. Yes it is a sad song, but right there at the end the hope comes through... "..but the scars on her shoulders will heal, and she will fly away and leave you...". Judging by the reactions all around the room it resonated with many people there, I know it does with me.
Songs from the New Album, classics from the first album, and a little tempter thrown in for good measure.... a song for the 'third' album!!!!!!........Please SftBH don't keep us waiting Too long Smiley
There were three encores, and if the audience had their way we would all still be there now, with a somewhat exhausted band 'tis true, nobody watching/listening wanted it to end.
A fantastic evening, launching a wonderful album, made by one of the genuinely nicest bands around.

Good luck with Too, it deserves great things and I for one reckon it will achieve them Grin

Mix - 'twas well worth every mile travelled

[James SftBH]

It's taken me two days to write this because I've been so exhausted, so exhilarated and so knackered since 22/07.

Combining the launch gig and its attendant importance (to us at least, not least the fact that until we arrived at 4pm, we didn't think we even had any blimmin' CDs to sell!) with the usual workaday bringing-up-of-twins was hard work for Helen and me, and I know that other SftBHers had their own workaday stresses and strains too, all of which makes the eventual result such a testament to everyone's hard work.

So many thrills for me, but a few that stand out: -

Mulley's 'Waste Of Angels' - just the best;
Kirk's 'Another Happy Day' - his finest hour, so far;
The Horn Section - tear-inducing icing on an already fully-laden cake;
The return of 'Radar Pete' - happy trails amigo!;
A stonking all-rounder performance by Barnes - often the butt, but not this night;
Some achingly beautiful Fiddly Richard stuff - 'nuff said;
TT holding it all together, and goddamit, thanking us when we should be thanking him...;
That Nice David Booth tippety-tapping and shaking away at the back and providing what in some ways we have always missed live;
Solid solid Gibb - just getting on with at the back and never wanting any attention;
Tony Winn, for just being Tony and adding some sparkle;
Alie Byrne for providing some serious duetage and making it soar;
Phoebe Partridge for breaking my heart and simultaneously fulfilling a dream I once had about 'Let's Do It Country';
Stephen Constable for the CD artwork under great duress AND the final additional-guitar-monster-thrash on 'Then There Was Sunshine'.
Paula and Bob - for selling CDs for us for no reward.

Sadly missed: - Chris Jarvis (accordian on the CD) and Matt White (all-round good guy, percussionist and 'Happy Day' coda). We missed you buddy.
Paul Read (hell, we couldn't suddenly have had TWO drummers!).

Thanks to the wonder of email, I've seen a few video clips from the night, and you know what - I forgot some words here and there, loads of us popped up with bum notes from time to time, but wtf, it was a brilliant night.

Thanks to all of you that were a part of it; the rest of you - see you soon I hope!

James.

[peluche]

Well done everyone - sounds like it was a great gig.

admin said:

not least the fact that until we arrived at 4pm, we didn't think we even had any blimmin' CDs to sell!

So, this means that you have cd's ??

This means that you'll soon be shoving my copy in a Jiffy bag for Bulgaria then ? ;D

[James SftBH]

peluche said:

So, this means that you have cd's ??

This means that you'll soon be shoving my copy in a Jiffy bag for Bulgaria then ? ;D

Dunnit this AM.

[James SftBH]

I'm just going to plop The Horkesley Stalker's review in here as well...because.....well because I can and it seems like a good place for it. ;D

This promised to be a rather splendid affair being at the High Barn an' all, and a sell-out to boot. The evening's proceedings where kicked off by 'Mawkin', who at first glance appeared more like a boy band than a folk group; not having heard them before I was not sure what to expect but they were superb - traditional folk played with energy and enthusiasm by four young lads who must have bright futures on the folk scene.See them at a festival near you…………SOON!

After a short interval, SftBH took to the stage; tonight they where mob-handed with a grand total of 12 musicians on the stage at times. The set started with three quick songs in succession, with the changes smooth and seamless...I thought "What’s happened? Have the boys and girls been abducted by aliens? Where is the fine and funny stage banter that we have come to know and love?" After these first three songs, nature took its course and the good natured byplay between the chaps surfaced and things took on a more normal course for a 'Songs' gig, with a running joke about “Here’s a song from our new album” continuing through the set.

Most of “Too” was played and with so many Blue Housers on stage, a studio-like quality became apparent in the music; Alie Byrne joining Helen Mulley for some wonderful harmonies on “Not That Kind Of Girl” and “Antibike”, and the harmonica of Radar Pete Pawsey making a welcome return to the mix.

One really good thing about the High Barn is the quality of the sound, allowing every instrument and voice to be heard clearly and bringing a realization of how each individual in this band is a great musician in their own right. Some older songs were played including my favourite transvestite murder ballad “Special Kind Of Love”, which was dedicated to yours truly by a grinning Shane Kirk...cheers pal!!!

The band also played their single, a cover of “Don’t Fear The Reaper”, a 70s rock classic, with fiddle and banjo deputizing for the guitars and keyboards of the original. The set was followed by two encores and had time allowed the crowd would have demanded more. My fifteen year old daughter's similarly-aged friend summed up the evening as we got up to leave…"That was awesome!!"

Thanks Guys.

[peluche]

Cool Well Cool

Now I can't wait for my 'too' to drop in the mailbox !!

[Mix]

I can guarantee you that it'll be worth the wait Chris ;D ;D

Mix

[aislinn]

I want a CD!!! That gig was awesome!!! *drools* Must...have...CD...

[Slim Shaney]

There are some pixtures on the folking.com site, in their photos section for those who didn't know/weren't there/would like to relive it all.
Skirky