A Homespun Yarn Part 2

HomeSpun,
The Half Moon,
Putney.
27 January 2006

This was my second Gig at this extremely popular Pub/Venue.
Situated by the River Thames (and not a whale in sight)
It was also the second time at a 'Homespun' Gig
Having seen them a year ago with Eleanor McEvoy
in Worcester.















I arrived at the Pub in the nick of time, sweating buckets
after racing through London on a freezing night.
Ordered my "first" pint and then joined the queue to the music room. Whilst waiting I got chatting to a couple of guys who had also arrived at the pub on their own and once inside we met a third.
Four gents out on their own on an evening, or 4 guys who love live music? Definitely the latter


The Gig had a wonderful informal feel to it Plenty of objet d'art on stage, Dave's beer waiter stage left, an ornamental table centre stage, complete with nodding dog, and Fairy lights over the monitors. As Dave Rotheray said during the set that these items had been collected in various towns during the tours. To wich Sam Brown quipped "that's how the got me". I rather hope not.
Dave also had some mates in the audience, down from Hull.

The Set, all taken from the Band's two albums was a joy. A few of of us couldn't help but sing along , although we did get it
spectacularly wrong during Sweetness, thinking it was finished when it wasn't. Sam's vocals are perfect for Dave's Catchy lyrics, and I should give a special mention for Somerset lass Clare Mactaggart on backing vocals, Violin and Mandolin, also Melvin Duffy on Pedal Steel Guitar, who along with Gary Hammond on percussion and Tony Robinson on keyboards/Brass together give the band their distictive sound.

The Set.
If We're So Happy
Unfortunately Young
Anniversary Rag
Love Will Come Around
Sweetness
Don't Force Me To Be Free
ITALY
I'm In Your Head
Whistlestop Blues
Let Me Be Good
Rubber Duck
Did You Ever?
Days
Footsteps
You Are Here
and
Effortless Cool
( which should be dedicated to one of the guys I met on the way in, Phil Brooks, a Homespun fan, and real nice guy.)
The encore was the old Lindisfarne tune
"We Can Swing Together" with Sam on Ukulele.
A great sing-along tune to finish the night.
With the banter,and music with friends it made for a fabulous informal evening.
And four old farts went home very happy.

I should also mention the support.
A one Curtis Eller's American Circus
a Basil Fawlty/Ron Mael (Sparks) Look-alike, with a Banjo, with all the madcap/bandy leg antics you'd expect fom a certain Mr Cleese.
Songs about Pigeons, Moles, Buster Keaton, and Serpents,
with lots of yodeling.
Good Banjo player, just not so hot on Kazoo.
Crazy but very entertaining.

Oh and if your in the Putney area on 17th February try and catch
HANK WANGFORD & REG MEUROSS on their
'NO HALL TOO SMALL TOUR'