Cramphorn Theatre, Chelmsford

[Slim Shaney]

A big up, thanks and kudos to our friends at Nettle Records for inviting us to play at their lovely new monthly acoustic showcase in Chelmsford. It's always hard getting these things off the ground, building support and doing the background stuff that nobody notices and it's good to see. That they gave us a massive dressing room, free bottled water, a great stage crew, sound and lights and a roomy yet intimate cabaret-style auditorium to play to (and a cheque afterwards) is all to their credit. And so to the gig - missing Russ on all manner of stringed frippery meant that the were more holes to fill than normal, but percussionist Dave filled in on bouzouki (at one rehearsals notice) for one vital riff, I depped a hastily improvised mandolin solo and La Mulley, as well as contributing her impeccable Big Dipper turn on the zouk, was in exceedingly fine voice. We mixed the set up again, debuting a new song destined for 'Tree' as well as airing some old (and new) faves and generally had a ball, with our lovely audience being very kind and appreciative throughout. Parters was able, after many months of knee-inspired hobblededom, to roam the stage with grace and aplomb, and made the most of it. A nice evening out. Kudos also to our venerable opening turn, the considered and acoustic Graham Good, a man with three Martin guitars and a lot of Neil Young albums.

[Slim Shaney]

The very nice David Stevenson, who has an album of his own out, you know, contributed this to Talkawhile, which I've stolen in case it disappears.

All I had previously heard was the excellent second album and some very positive word of mouth on this board. Well, let me tell you that live they are an absolute revelation. It's great to see a band who combine tight and solid professionalism in their music with such warm and relaxed intimacy amongst themselves, and totally involve their audience. The band for last night's gig comprised a total of seven members, drifting in and out, swapping instruments and providing a beautifully textured backcloth for the songs with the central unit of James, Shane and Gibbon laying down the core. I know how hard it is to manage one or even (wow!) two people playing together, so my respect for the discipline and balance involved in getting so many things consistently right knows no bounds.

The songs themselves were tremendous, each one well-crafted and displaying considerable wit and dexterity in both lyrics and the musical mix. Helen's Waste of Angels is a heartrending showstopper, and the rest of the band generously and sympathetically allowed her to shine with one of the best songs I've heard in recent years. Bike, Anti-Bike, the glorious Big Dipper, Fragments and Not that Kind of Girl, Lets Do It Country all featured from the first two albums, plus Special Kind of Love which Shane introduced as the first in a new genre of Country Transvestite Death Murder Ballads. They also previewed some great new numbers which will all feature on the forthcoming third album. I particularly enjoyed Don't Fear the Reaper, slightly reminiscent of All Along the Watchtower and available as a single - go buy it folks, Twinkling Lights, a left-field play on Dickens' Christmas Carol, and a James epic about nationalism whose title I didn't quite catch.

It was also good to discover that they are just as nice in person as the people I've got to know one at a time on the board. I drove home singing and am still humming Waste of Angels as I type this.

In an over-hyped musical world where glamour passes for talent, it would be nice to think that a band this good would somehow, some day, get the kind of recognition that their ability deserves. We can live in hope.

You can read more, of course, contribute and chat about all sorts of things musical at www.talkawhile.co.uk
and there's more about David, and you can listen to his stuff here;
www.myspace.com/davidalstevenson

[James SftBH]

That was a good one, that was. I tell you what though, my blimmin' knee hurts after all that boppin' about.