Friday 10 February 2012

Silver Crowd Surfing


Last night I went to Bury St Edmunds (in snow!) to the wonderful new Apex centre to see Fairport Convention on their winter tour. I first saw them in Oxford in 1969 and was sold at once - I remember sending a telegram ("what's that? : ed") to a friend in Kent about it the same day.

They were better than ever, and the virtuoso 6 string Bass playing of Dave Pegg was outstanding, as was the Swarbrick-esque fiddle playing of Ric Sanders. These chaps are good. It was surprising how well the vocal melodies have improved over the years and there was a Beach Boy vibe to some of the harmonies from Chris Leslie. Wonderful stuff and particularly good on the old Sandy Denny numbers!

The standout moment for me came right at the start when the support, Kieren Goss, led Fairport into their first number - the Motown classic "Reach out I'll be There". For a band that is just coming up to their 45th year in business they were fantastic - if they're coming to a town near you don't miss this opportunity!

13 comments:

dinahmow said...

Jeeze! You must be as geriatric as I am!
But I've no idea what you're on about! Although I am glad I don't have a Beach Boys vibe!


I'll be over in Blighty in a few months.Best wear yer 'elmet, lest I whack you wiv me walkin' stick.

Ms Scarlet said...

Back in the eighties I had a Rock and Pop trivia game... and the answer to every question seemed to be 'Fairport Convention'. None of us [my little group of eighties pop tarts and a goth like creature] had ever heard of them. It came to pass that whenever we were asked something where the correct answer escaped us [anything at all, for example: what is the capital of Czechoslovakia?] we would always say Fairport Convention and then giggle a lot.
You had to be there...
Anyhow, it's good to know that they actually exist!

Sx

Martin said...

Never managed to catch them yet. Even went to Cropredy, and had to leave before they took to the stage. Your enthusiastic review reminds me, I must do better. We're off to the Cambridge Festival this year, I wonder...

Rog said...

Dinah: Haven't you heard of Good Vibe-rations? I hope you aren't coming for the Olympics - the walking stick event has been postponed due to Dutch Elm.

Scarlet: Where do the Salesmen for Port get together every year? Yes I can see it working. Pop Tarts were banned in some areas because they were so hot.

Martin: I'd love to do Cropredy Festival but only in a very expensive Winnebago with a Porcelain bathroom which would instill resentment amongst the other concert goers. I like Cambridge Folk Festival on R2 and BBC2.

Christopher said...

So there's hope for us 50-year-olds after all?

mig bardsley said...

For many years Cropredy was an annual pilgrimage of ours. And I'm hoping we'll take the boat one year (only we'd need to have it for ages - I understand moorings are taken over for nearly a month before the festival)

Macy said...

They must be good-there's at least two people down the front there giving them a standing ovation!

Pat said...

I probably do know the music. I'm going to you tube them.

Pat said...

'A Sailor's life' - I can see why they have a following.

Rog said...

Christopher: Ah, my dear Watson. You forget that we know how old your Mother is!

Mig: Wow, turning up on a narrow boat would be super-cool. Do you pop up on stage with your fiddle at any juncture?

Macy: I think that must have been two of the carers.

Pat: Excellent - "Sailor's Life" was the first thing I heard them play in the 60's in Oxford. The instrumental section with fiddle-v-electric guitar is stunning, and particularly good on this version.

Rog said...

Pat: Correction - there's not a fiddle to be seen on that Richard Thompson track!

Richard WalkL said...

I have the compilation album The History of Fairport Conventional on vinyl. It has a convoluted family tree of band members, very intricate.
It was released in 1972.
I also have it on CD.
Matty Groves lives!

Richard WalkL said...

Unconvention-AL, sorry.