by Simon Banks Van Zyl
photos by Gina Williams
What Do You Get If You Mix Local Talent With Musical Genius, Throw In A Touch Of Madness And Stick It In A Back Alley?
An inspired, amazing, amusing, mews-set, musical masterpiece!…and this is precisely the event I was lucky enough to witness at Freemantle Mews, situated behind The Browns Hotel in Central Southsea.
I approached The Browns to find an open front door and people milling around outside, there was a welcome lack of door security, this was, after all a rather exclusive, invitation only gig. Through the door and turning left into the warren-like abode I spy our host, Joel Ransom, he offers his hand, clearly pleased to see me, but characteristically nervous with pre-gig anxiety. Vardenafilo levitra There is a laptop set up to play music through a P.A. system outside; the choice of tunes is good, and diverse. I deposit my drinks in the kitchen, though not in either of the fridges as the power has been out across Southsea for most of the day, not that this had bothered Joel, he would have gone ahead with acoustic sets and candles if need be.
The exit through the kitchen door reveals a hidden treasure, an extensive mews with a brick-laid surface. buy drugs online There are garages, a couple of front doors and an array of windows overlooking us, just an upper level in front, but, to the rear, The Browns offers three floors. Zithromax pharmacy Settings for gigs do not come much more inspired than this. Joel introduces me to Kolonel Jamie Kasper, oddly enough I have just accepted his Facebook Friend Request – following some bizarre swan talk. I also clock Rossco Patrick, whom I recognise from The Birdcage and who had earlier remarked on recognising my voice from The Ransom Family Show and finally the man with the fantastic moustache, the amazing Johnny Fifth Wheel. Looking around I can also see one NinetyNine, in the form of Ashley Till, Huw Olesker and Oskar Jeff of Zoo In The Sky and Edward Perry, whom I recognise from The Ransom Family Show and who will entertain us later. Order Doxycycline
There are small groups of people scattered around Freemantle Mews, drinking, smoking and chatting while waiting for the bands and wondering at the location. The Kolonel is tonight barbequing burgers, sausages and bacon, which astounds the young Canadian lady to my left, who has no idea what it is. There is no chicken in sight, no swan either. Florida codes bank The air is filled with cooking smells, the buzz of conversation and anticipation.
Edward Perry steps up to the mic with his guitar, the music starts…it begins at the back wall, rises through the giraffe feeders, rolls along the building facades and crashes like a tidal wave on to the audience. Edward plays a short set and at one point implores us to take him away, but why would anyone want to leave…
Some people are asking if the neighbours are going to mind, as if in reply, a man leans out of a window and applauds.
Next up is Rossco Patrick, resplendent in his red-rimmed shades. He takes to the stage and takes a seat, I’m not sure if this was just to make us brick-sitters jealous. His guitar and vocals are channelled down to us as we chat about the setting, English versus Canadian pronunciation, who won the inter-band rounders and whether or not KJK’s barbeque is ready. I’ve not heard Rossco do anything other than compere before, I enjoy his set, I will endeavour to see Lucifer’s Gold in the near future.
Rossco returns and now Ashley heads for the mic. I have no Flakes to throw and my Freddos have melted. Like Rossco and Edward, Ashley’s sound is marvellously reverberated and funnelled down Freemantle Mews to delight his audience. I was in the studio when Joel last had The NineNinetyNines on, I was impressed then and I am not disappointed now. Ash calls out “Any requests”, Rossco calls “Wuh, uh, oh…” and while the lady to my right is still praising his sighs, Ash responds “Wuh, uh, oh, wuh, uh, uh, oh…”, I love this upbeat, happy, uplifting set and so does everyone else. Although I am still unable to look a red-shoed woman in the eye now. Levitra reviews
Ash rejoins our little squat by the back/front gates. In the meantime people have come to call for their friends, residents of Freemantle Mews, these visitors, having no prior inkling of this evening’s events are now, surprised and pleased to have walked straight into a night of free entertainment.
Zoo In The Sky were to be up next, how good would the horns have sounded here? Alas, there was a mix up in communication so we have Huw Olesker plus a band-mate on a melodica. The sound is still good. I love Huw’s music, his ideas, lyrics, imagination and improvisation belie his youth. If I did not know Huw, I would worry that his dark thoughts were the sign of paranoia to come, but he is a laugh a minute. As he sings of CCTV, my thoughts turn to the neighbours, nobody has complained yet, will they, my parents live in easy earshot of Freemantle Mews, my Loganberry has not rung yet…
Next is the Bohemian Mikey Kenny, who forms the core of Ottersgear, playing a solo set. Buy antibiotics online without prescription. Online Drugstore. Tremendous energy and passion spill from the lips and leap from the strings of this incredible man. His style, both musically and fashion-wise are so fitting in this location. Captivating the mind without dominating the ears. I listen and feel blessed, we all do. It’s been a wonderful night already.
There is something afoot. There seems to be some kind of performance area being set up in front of us. Meanwhile we are discussing the virtues of dwarves as housekeepers, an odd topic, Buy Brand Levitra Online Pharmacy No Prescription Needed though nothing seems odd tonight. There is a call to look up to the windows of The Browns; there are people peering out and music from within. It’s the moustachioed man, he has a guitar, he has friends, one of them has…yes, it is an accordion I can hear. They are making their way down through The Browns to join us, playing as they descend, appearing at windows in turn. Levitra generico Their audience are astounded. We are laughing, applauding, cheering, awestruck. Johnny Fifth Wheel And The Cowards make their way musically through the kitchen and out to join us. Tonight has been amazing, but it just got magical. We are treated to absolute delights, not just as listeners, for Johnny encourages audience participation by means of shaky eggs, personalized by The Band and thrown out as both instruments and mementoes. We all join The Cowards with our eggs, Mikey, Huw and Edward doing their thing with The Band. We relive The Tail Of The Little Red Hen from our youth and learn the folly of refusing to lend a hand. Too soon it is over and Johnny Fifth Wheel And The Cowards are making their way back into The Browns, still playing as they go, this time “la, la-la-la-la-ing”, now accompanied by us as we watch them ascend, window by window. I have never seen so many people so happy at a gig, all laughing with huge smiles. Cheap Levitra online
Gradually people start to leave, the air still buzzes with comments on how amazing tonight has been . We have all made new friends, everyone is thanking Joel and congratulating him on his stroke of genius. There is a collection for Johnny and we are putting in notes. Everybody loved it. There were no complaints, not even from neighbours. (It would seem from my Mum, that they all loved it too!) Now I check in my Inbox and trawl through my e-mails, could it happen again? It won’t be the same, but music sounds better in a weird, brick-lined frame.
Awesome review of an amazing night i won’t forget in a hurry
Agreed.ThankYouSimon.
KeepYourEyesAndEarsPeeledForOurFirstAlbum
WhichShallBeOutImmmmminnnentttt…SOON!
J5W
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