Frazey Ford - 22/11/2021

Despite pandemics, unmasked English people and a standing gig, Frazey Ford trumps all three issues and so I found myself masked and distanced as best I could in an old prison converted to a music venue in a Bedminster industrial estate. She had a five piece band with Frazey on vocals guitar and keyboards, Darren Parris on bass, Leon Power on drums, Craig McCaul on lead guitar and Caroline Ballhorn on backing vocals. From moment one Frazey's compelling vocals were immaculate and inspiring. No one sings like her, squelching almost every word into a vocal cry. I loved every song and every minute. Shame on the people at the bar who had come to drink and talk! Early on she played my current favourite track from 'U kin B the Sun' which is 'U and Me'the power in those incomprehensible lyrics and simple chord changes is uplifting. The backing vocals from Caroline are just superb and on occasion the bassist and drummer chime in as well. A great vocal soundscape. Frazey played 'Done' of course which got a big response but much as I enjoyed that the finishing tracks of her set and the encore were stupendous. The penultimate song from the main set was the outstanding 'September Fields' followed (I think) by 'Holding It Down' and then the encore was the perfect 'Weather Pattern' followed by the best track on her first album 'Firecracker' and then the elegaic 'U Kin B the Sun' - poor spelling but a beautiful song. In essence a genius gig. I'd love to hear her in a quiet seated venue - maybe one day!

Richard Thompson - 1 November 2021

First up was Katherine Priddy who was new to me but was an excellent singer songwriter with understated songs full of emotional content and a interesting folky vocal style. I particualrly liked 'Eurydice', dark and powerful. Richard Thompson came on with just an acoustic guitar - this is perhaps my favourite RT gig - he doesn't need guitar changes or roadies - just give him an old guitar and he will show what an amazing guitarist he is. He seems to play combinations of chords and melodies that no-one else thinks of and he completes a whole soundtrack effortlessly. Less full music can be heard with a whole band on stage. I didn't know all of the songs he played - there were three new ones plus a couple of older tracks I didn't recognise but mostly this was a fascinating trawl through his amazing back catalogue. Early on we had 'Turning of the Tide followed by 'Beeswing' followed by 'I misunderstood' followed by 'Walking on a wire', each song incorporating intricate guitar passages of brilliance. Just stupendous. Later in the set he did 'Vincent Black Lightning', 'Wall of Death' and 'I want to see the Bright Lights Tonight'. In amongst these songs was a super new song called 'The Fortress' which sounds like it might be another RT classic. 'Meet on the Ledge' was the first encore, a new song 'Tinker's Rhapsody' followed by 'The Storm Won't Come' was the second encore. From 'Wall of Death' onwars there was a backing singer 'Zara Phillips' on with him. This being only the fourth gig since everthing closed in March 2020 it was perhaps extra special but Richard Thompson gigs always are.