more reviews of off.

Robin Slater, 30th November2007. This is to see if Robin is paying his normal attention, and has noticed that I've started a new page! Having been warned by Robin that he was bringing p.a. I was expecting the full Marshall/Peve setup,just a larger cab and microphone + stand were all that arrived. Ralph was the host for this one, relaxing us into the gig with a couple of crackers, one of which was Richard Thompson's "Galway to Gracelands". He then made way for Robin. There were comments: "Oh, he's got a set list !" was one I remember well. We were treated to a wide variety of songs,effortlessly performed with no sign of nerves on this, his first "proper gig". He's obviously done them before somewhere. During his two sets we were regaled with the story of his wife's enquiring after the price of CDs.. Robin is a keen purchaser. She suggested that he put out one himself. So he plugged his own cd...... 74 minutes of silence! We had floorspots from Peter and Tone Deaf Leopard.

December 7th. Singers Night. The bad news was that Chris and Mo weren't here, Mo has Flu, so hope she's better soon. TDL ran the evening. Taking the floor tonight were, Andy Smythe, giving an excellent rendition of "Yesterday", never performed in public by him,.Robin, continuing the Beatles theme with "Maxwell's Silver Hammer", Peter, Sid Madicot,(furthest travelled award), all the way from Cameroon.Two new members, who sat out this time, Tammy and James, Dick, Keith, Ben, and James. James is now into accoustic guitar, and writing his own songs, two of which he sang . All in all, an excellent night.

December 14th Christmas Party and Ghosts CD Launch. Paul and Ron have been hard at work recording a new cd. It was a bit of a rush, but they managed to launch it at their home club. The evening was well attended and the cd sold well. It's called "Two Gentlemen of The Road".There were a good number of old favourites and several new songs in both sets, and it was like they'd never been away. They brought with them our friends from Romney Marsh. Kerry and Mandy joined the boys for a few numbers, and performed "Fairytale Of New York", for their own floor spot. Stuart, sang his own composition all about St Mary in the Marsh. There were floorspots from residents, TDL, Ralph, Doug, Robin, Chris, and Rosa's Daughters, who are now 3 in number. Welcome Julia.Don't forget that we are back next Friday for a singaround with a Christmas flavour perchance.

Friday December 21st- Reviewed by Trevor;       not very many in tonight - lost in the fog perhaps, or frozen stiff?  Madam W. is sat at home with cat-flu, so theres only me and the boys,Robin, Andy, and a handful of regulars - still, it gave us all time to do a lot of songs, not necessarily in a Christmassy vein. John L. even favoured us with a couple of songs, once his lubrication had reached the right level, also Dick, Peter, Keith, and a lady whose name I unfortunately forget,(its me age!) but who hasn't been to the club for a few years. The proverbial good time was had by all!

Friday December 28th. Wet, and cold, not many expected, but we arrived to find Woodsie and Andy Cakebread propping up the bar. David, a member of Ravensbourne Morris had come to promote the Wassail (see other pages.) I warned him that we'd be requiring some songs, as Andy doesn't perform, and Woodsie needs encouraging (perhaps with a few pints of Fosters). We were soon joined by our host, Robin who'd been in bed for two days with someone called Flo, but he sounded as though he had flu to me. Soon we were joined by Paul Steele and the lovely Helen, Peter , and the lovely Marion, and the lovely Doug. As you can imagine, it was a very varied evening, and we got through a fair few songs! The last one being "Auld Lang Syne" performed in the traditional manner. Thanks to all who turned out, see you for more of the same next Friday.

Friday January 4th - Another chilly and wet night - someone's got it in for us!  Chris was back from his sick bed, Mo was back from Cornwall, and she took charge of the small band of die-hards thus assembled. Woodsie had brought his guitar - hooray ! Ben seemed to need no encouragement tonight, Paul Steele risked a Dylan song, Chris sang "Blowin' in The Wind"  with the verses right way round. Robin turned up senza voce, and crept out at half time. Keith arrived and borrowed Trevor's guitar.TDL needed to limber up for the forthcoming wassailing. See you next week for Drohne.

Friday January 11th - Drohne. We arrived to find the room laid out beautifully by Micky woods - thanks mate. It was a half reasonable attendance, which was good for the Ckub and guests alike. We were low on floor singers, which meant Geoff and Phil got a really long first set. Andy was busy recording so TDL opened the evening, Trevor in his new glam folk disco ball hat. Two floorspots from Doug, and Sue Rule, and a somewhat shorter second set for Drohne. They were very entertaining, playing a selection of medieval instruments and hurdy gurdys. They sold a few cds too, their latest being on offer for the very first time. See you next week for a Singaround!

Friday January 18th. Chris was in charge tonight. There was a good mix of performers. I promised Robin an honourable mention for turning out, and singing whilst still suffering from the dreaded fluus returnus. Tonight's singers were : Chris, Mo, Andy, Ralph, Ben, TDL, Robin,Peter, Keith, and the poems read for us by Julie. See you next week for our singer/songwriter Andy Smythe.

Friday January 25th Despite some of our regulars being '"hors de combat" we still had a very good evening's entertainment. TDL compered the evening and opened with a couple of old faves. Resident, Ralph Henning followed, going on early in case his voice did not survive. Thankfully he made it through his two songs. A great first set from Andy featuringa few surprises  amongst the more familiar self- penned material, some new songs from his forthcoming CD amongst them. After the break, Trevor gave us "The Ballad of Sir Roger De Lodger" then I joined him for "Wee and A Shave", Robin was sans voice still, so there was a rare chance to hear a non- resident floorsinger, Peter Twydle. He thought this was a singers night, and brought his guitar . Andy then concluded the evening with another mixed bagfull of songs .Great stuff. Singers Night next week, with some new blood I trust.

Friday February 1st The sick toll rises again. Ralph calls in sick at 5.30. I had already confined myself to barracks, so Trevor and Ben went along without me. Trev should have been writing this, but he went down with the lurgi on Sunday. Apparently Robin was back in action. So, if he'd like to comment... apparently the new blood showed up, as did Woodsie Theresa, and a few others. Over to you Robin.....

 Having been ill in one way or another for the whole of January, and with my vocal chords just starting to recover, I turned up hoping for a jolly evening to raise my spirits. It seemed promising at first as there was Trevor (though he wasn't feeling too brilliant), Ben, Woodsie, Paul and Helen, Theresa  and the duo "Eggy Bread". Shortly after, Doug arrived too. However, it soon became apparent that the performers were not in what you might call a 'light-hearted' frame of mind (presumably influenced by the 'orrible weather). In fact as we went round the circle, each person seemed to be trying to out-do the previous person's song in terms of doom, gloom, death, misery and despair (Chris Spindlow would have loved it!!). I tried to inject a bit of cheerfulness with songs like "Oh Lord it's hard to be humble", but my efforts fell on deaf ears and the singers stayed resolutely sombre. If I ever become Prime Minister, there will be a law saying that all floor singers have to do at least one cheerful song during the evening!

On the positive side, it was pleasing to see how Ben's confidence in his singing is growing and as a result his projection is getting stronger every time he performs. At the end of the evening, Trevor marshalled the last of his resources of energy and led us in that two-chord favourite, "Lay me my money down", so at least I didn't finish up feeling like I wanted to throw myself under the first 208 bus that came along!(Oh My Gawd!- You will all sing cheerful songs next S.N. night- or else!- M. W.)