I'm sure you've all come across the following scenario. Musicians turn up timidly at a session and join in with what they know and are persuaded to start a set and it's all quite low key and doesn't upset the session dynamics. After a while they bring along some 'friends' who turn out to be a band and from there on it becomes a matter of honour for them to play their entire repertoire. If you're lucky, they don't have an extensive one.
Characters you're likely to come across. Apart from plinky, twangy and thumpy who have already featured in this diary there is the one who hears a tune they know and then puts their head down, not looking at any other player nor listening to them (or the leader of the tune) and ploughs on regardless with all the finesse of a locomotive whose brakes have failed. I think this one needs to be labeled 'ostrich' or 'wrecker'. Mind you, I have also witnessed someone starting a set with a familar tune, only to have their set whisked from under their feet by someone forcing the second tune of their set to follow on - to surprised and slightly hurt looks.
I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but why is it that singers who try to accompany tunes (usually on guitar) have no sense of rhythm? I can think of a few notable exceptions but in general they seem to exist in a rhythmic twighlight zone.
And isn't it glorious when a bunch of disparate players get together and it just soars? The Irish session is much better at producing those moments than the mixed lumpy.
Well this week will see the regular Wednesday Irish at the Anchor, Wingham and then the regular Thursday at the Bear at Faversham will be missing 4 of the main musicians who for some unknown reason have swanned off for a week of 'la dolce vita' although knowing who's going, it may be anything but dolce. Sunday sees the regular last-Sunday-of-the-month Irish session at the Anchor in Faversham (not the Last Sunday session for which I was upbraided last time).
Not long now to the first festivals of the season - Rochester and Whitstable and another year has gone by.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Sunday 1st April 2007
A treat tonight apparently. Steafan Hannigan and Saskia Tomkins are hosting a session at the Anchor in Faversham so it promises to be good although how much of a session it will be I don't know.
Sessions are like that - regulars for ages and then suddenly somebody drops in like Chris Taylor, Tim Edey or Brendan Power or these two and takes it all to a new level. The come-down leaves everyone a bit flat for normal sessions but usually with good memories. Maybe it gives a boost indirectly. The same thing happens at sessions that are part of festivals. I think it's to do with the audience being there - it's a big lift. I know we say that we play for the music and it doesn't matter about the audience but a session without an audience is always less fulfilling.
Surprisingly a lot of people seem to be a 'lurking' audience - from the other bar! They say they like the music but won't come in and actually engage.
Sessions are like that - regulars for ages and then suddenly somebody drops in like Chris Taylor, Tim Edey or Brendan Power or these two and takes it all to a new level. The come-down leaves everyone a bit flat for normal sessions but usually with good memories. Maybe it gives a boost indirectly. The same thing happens at sessions that are part of festivals. I think it's to do with the audience being there - it's a big lift. I know we say that we play for the music and it doesn't matter about the audience but a session without an audience is always less fulfilling.
Surprisingly a lot of people seem to be a 'lurking' audience - from the other bar! They say they like the music but won't come in and actually engage.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)