GRAHAM GOULDMAN - Heart Full of Songs

GRAHAM GOULDMAN - HEARTFUL OF SONGS THEATRE SEVERN SHREWSBURY WEDNESDAY 24th APRIL 2013

Opening the show was Garron Frith who accompanied himself on acoustic guitar and harmonica, while he sang a number of his own compositions, each one introduced by how they subject came about.With a nice style of informal delivery each song was introduced with a wit that warmed the audience to him. Lines such as "This song is the soundtrack for a film yet to be made".

One song that stood out for me was one where Garron played the harmonica and stamped his foot to give a beat and sang. No sooner had he began his spot than it was over and time for the last song. On plugging his CDs which he would sign in the interval he told how during the afternoon he was walking along the river and saw a man with a black bag which he was about to throw in. Noticing that the bag was moving Garron enquired as to his contents. Puppies the man replied I cannot afford their injections. With the audiences hanging on every word of this tale, Garron informed them that he had struck a deal with the man and that the proceeds of his Cd sales would be for the puppies. The things acts will say or do to sell merchandise.

To open the main show Graham Gouldman took the stage alone and with his acoustic guitar sang "Pamela Pamela" which he had written for Wayne Fontana back in the mid 1960s. Bringing on former 10CC coleague of 37 years, Rick Fein, the two of them performed The Yardbirds' hit "Heartful of Soul". Time to bring on the other two musicians - Mick Wilson and Mike Stevens and into 10CC's "Good Morning Judge" then "No Milk Today" by Hermans' Hermits. This was a different way to start a show and one that really worked for me.

More tracks followed from Graham's solo album including the up tempo "Halls of Rock n Roll", the country flavoured "Dancing Days" featuring Fein on slide guitar. More well known numbers featured were The Hollies' "Bus Stop" and "Look Through Any Window", 10CC's "I'm Not In Love" and "Things We Do For Love" before it was time for the final song The Yardbirds' "For Your Love".

Returning to the stage for an encore all four assembled around a single microphone to give an accapella version of 10CC's first hit record "Donna" before returning to their instruments to close the show with another hit from the 10CC "Dreadlock Holiday".

The entire set was an acoustic one, which made a pleasant change to hear such great songs performed without a driving sound.

Although the evening was one of Graham Gouldman compositions his song catalogue could keep us entertained for several nights. For details of all his songs, the tour and other dates www.grahamgouldman.info

IF YOU WERE AT THIS SHOW OR ANY OTHER ON THE TOUR PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD YOUR OWN COMMENTS!

STANDING IN THE WINGS by JOE FLANNERY

STANDING IN THE WINGS - JOE FLANNERY

Joe Flannery has been described as the 'Secret Beatle', and as the business associate and partner of Brian Epstein, he became an integral part of The Beatles' management team during their rise to fame in the early 1960s. Standing in the Wings is Flannery's account of this fascinating era, which included the controversial dismissal of Pete Best from the group (nothing to do with London, but matters back in Liverpool), Brian Epstein's fragility, and the importance of the Star Club in Hamburg. This book is not simply a biography, as it also considers issues to do with sexuality in 1950s Liverpool, the vagaries of the music business at that time and the hazards of personal management in the 'swinging sixties'. At its heart, Standing in the Wings provides an in-depth look at Flannery's personal and professional relationship with Epstein and his close links with the Fab Four. Shortly before John Lennon's murder in 1980, it was Flannery who was one of the last people in the UK to talk to the great man. Indeed, Flannery remains one of the few 'Beatle people' in Liverpool to have the respect of the surviving Beatles, and this is reflected in this timely and revealing book.

Title

Standing in the Wings

Subtitle

The Beatles, Brian Epstein and Me

Authors and contributors

By (author) Joe Flannery, With Mike Brocken

Physical properties

Format: Hardback
Number of pages: 288
Width: 156 mm
Height: 234 mm

Audience

General/trade

Language

English

ISBN

ISBN 13: 9780752490090
ISBN 10: 0752490095

Classifications

BISAC category code: MUS035000
Nielsen BookScan Product Class: T4.1A
BICMainSubject: AVH
BISAC category code: BIO004000
LC classification: ML

Illustrations note

32 black & white illustrations, 16 black & white plates

Publisher

The History Press Ltd

Imprint name

The History Press Ltd

Publication date

01 May 2013

When you have read the book please feel free to add your comments on this site!

HESSYS MUSIC SHOP - THE BOOK!

The latest book by Tony Bolland is now available!

'Hessys' the shop that launched a thousand bands and the Beatles...the Iconic shop where the Beatles bought their first instruments from along with many of the Merseybeat bands, Tony managed the Guitar Department 1977 to 1980 and worked along side of Big Jim Gretty who organised the Albany theatre gig where the Beatles played and taught John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison chords on the guitar when they often went to the shop before they were famous.

 

There many anecdotes from famous musicians and the foreword is by Merstbeat founder Bill Harry.

MAGIC of MOTOWN

THE MAGIC OF MOTOWN THEATRE SEVERN SHREWSBURY WEDNESDAY 17th APRIL 2013

If you went along to see this show not knowing what songs or artistes that you were going to see / hear then on taking your seat a look at the stage and the full size backdrop depicting some of the many artistes to be featured sets you straight.

This show had it all as a Motown tribute - excellent musicians, superb singers, great songs, well choreographed dance moves, beautiful costumes in abundance and great lighting and sound.

With a four piece band on stage throughout the vocal show comprises of 4 guys and 3 girls who top and tale each half as a full ensemble on stage whilst in between use the stage individually the boys as the 4 Tops and the likes and the girls as The Supremes or Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, plus one boy & girl on "Endless Love".

Artistes featured include - Supremes, 4 Tops, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Martha & Vandellas, Isley Brothers, and the Jackson 5 ( made up of the 4 male vocalists and the smallest female one as a brilliant Michael complete with "moonwalk").

Too many great songs to list but a few were - This ole Heart of Mine, Stop In Name of Love, Proud Mary, Why Do Fools Fall In Love, Reach Out I'll Be There, Loco in Acopulco, Cant Help Myself, Midnight Train To Georgia, Heatwave, You Can't Hurry Love, Get Ready, Aint No Mountain High Enough, My Girl, Keep Me Hanging On, It Takes 2, I Want You Back, Dancing In The Street, Signed Sealed Delivered, Rockin' Robin and Blame It On The Boogie.

This show has a real feelgood factor that never mind the streets get the majority of the audience dancing in their seats.

A beauty of this show was that the show itself was the star with all vocalists sharing the lead vocal duties as well as excellent four part harmonies from the boys and three part from the girls.

However, if there is to be a downside then for me is the fact that the brass section of the backing is played on the keyboards and not with a live brass section. In times of austerity it could be down to cost!

If you want to lift your spirits then get along and see this show next time it is in your area.

Alan Crowe.

If you were at the show or seen it as elsewhere please feel free to add your comments!

PAPERBACK WRITERS

PAPERBACK WRITERS at FORT PERCH ROCK NEW BRIGHTON SUNDAY 21st APRIL 2013.

6 leading Merseybeat authors will be interviewed about their books, followed by a personal book signing session.

Live music from KNOTTED

1pm - 4.30pm

Admission £3.





If you attend this event why not add your comments directly or e mail to beatsworking2012@gmail.com

MEMORABILIA AUCTION

MEMORABILIA AUCTION FORT PERCH ROCK NEW BRIGHTON SUNDAY 19th MAY 2013. 12.30pm

Having been there since the start, Harry Prytherch formerly drummer with the Remo 4, will be selling off his collection of memorabilia including autographs, sheet music, books, and much more.

Opening the auction will be Freda Kelly who was the secretary of the Beatles Fan Club back in the sixties.

Auctioneers will be Paul Hayes from TV's "Cash In The Attic" and recording star David Garrick "Dear Mrs Applebee".

There will also be an Art Exhibition of Merseyside Portraits

Live music will be provided by merseyside's very own Cliff - Cliff Roberts.

Admission only £2.

THAT'LL BE THE DAY

THAT'LL BE THE DAY, Theatre Severn Shrewsbury Tuesday 26th March 2013

Having seen this production several times, each time I go I look forward to it with great expectations. When I go out I don't want to be sung at but entertained and that is certainly what this show does - ENTERTAIN!

From the moment Trevor Payne walked on to the stage to get the crowd involved before curtain up till the final curtain comes down this show like its predecessors delivers an entertaining, fast moving, musical tribute to the three decades of the 50s, 60s & 70s.

The beauty of this show is it is suitable for most of the family and by involving mixed generations will ensure that the music from these decades will continue to live on.

Each tour the content of the show changes, new songs are added, some favourite pieces are kept in, the comedy is kept up to date with whatever is happening around us, in particular the horse meat scandal being covered this time around and extremely well received.

One item that really stood out was "Wipeout" featuring two drummers, an excellent feature!

Among the bands and singers featured this time around are - Bill Haley & Comments, Buddy Holly, Cliff Richard (young & old), Freddie Mercury, Mick Jagger, The Eagles, Gene Vincent & the Blue Caps, Bonnie Tyler, David Essex, Brian Ferry, Marc Bolan, Elvis Presley, Status Quo, Cilla Black, Paul & Paula, Johnny Cymbal, The Rubettes, New Seekers, Blue Mink, Showaddywaddy, Whitney Houston The Beatles, Jerry Lee Lewis, Gerry & Pacemakers, Freddie & the Dreamers, Billy Fury, Johnny kidd and not forgetting Roy Orbison,

A bucket collection was taken as patrons left the theatre in aid of the show's chosen charity and one that I have supported personally numerous times with events, merchandise sales etc -  Help For Heroes Well done, £140k raised so far!

TOUR DATES

PATSY CLINE - THE CONCERT

PATSY CLINE THE CONCERT, THEATRE SEVERN SHREWSBURY WEDNESDAY 3rd APRIL 2013

Billed as recreating the 50th Anniversary concert, this was more a musical biography. Headline artistes were Sandy Kelly as Patsy Cline and George Hamilton iv as himself.

Backed by a 5 piece band George would come on stage talk about his career and the Grand Ole Oprey then narrates bits of Patsy's life story, before Sandy would come on as Patsy singing songs from the Cline song book along with talking of how her career & family life was going or not going at that particular time of the story.

For me the first half was somewhat flat and never got out of first gear, whilst the second half was more bouncy with some more up tempo material. In the interval I over heard a couple of ladies talking when the one said " I thought I would have known more of her songs, and I didn't know any that he sang". This summed up the first half for me and also reflects on the promotional material for the show if you hadn't heard of the two headliners there was nothing to inform you of who they were, no website or other social network links. This probably answers why the audience was only at approximately 50% capacity.

For an encore we wwere treated to a medley of Patsy Cline hits - Crazy, Back In My Baby's Arms, San Antone Rose, and Blue Moon of Kentucky. With the final song being Rocky Top. to me the sign of a memorable concert is when you go home and cannot get the last tune out of your head, great if it had been  Crazy, Blue Moon of Kentucky, but Rocky Top was not the one to do it.

Having seen a number of shows that use screens projecting original images and footage of the idols being portrayed I think this show would be enhanced conciderably by such technology, cutting down the slow paced narration.

Whilst the stars of the show are well respected artistes in their own rights, for me for this show to last and improve audience figures it would need to be rebilled as Patsy Cline & Friends and introduce tributes of other top country music stars which would have more universal appeal.

Saying all this, those that were there bought programmes and other merchandise so it appealed to them, and they certainly joined in with the more popular singalong numbers of the second half.

All the songs were there - Crazy, Blue moon of Kentucky, After Midnight, Your Cheatin' Heart, I Fall To Pieces, Sweet Dreams, San Antone Rose, and 2 Cigarettes in an Ashtray.

Alan Crowe

If you were at this or any show on the current tour please feel free to add your comments on how you saw the show!