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.
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1 comment:
When's the next installment due? Up north, we are agog with folkie doings down in Kent, as an adjunct to the excellent website. It unfolds like the Archers, but more fun and better written!! What's next, we wonder? An invasion of box players? of manic depressive Irish ballad singers? Of Morris tunes?
It's been a long time since your last, Banjolin. Keep up the good work.
The Northern Banjolin Fan Club
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