TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Whilst extolling "The Way I Feel;" as part of the thread on "A Sailor's Life" I just listened to the track on my gear new system... Just listen to Jerry D take off at 2:37.... Now, ladeez 'n genullmen, I love and revere James Burton, but hell... take it away Jerry!!! And the counterpoint at 4.05... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..... And that's without Sandy and Trevor's exquisite singing!!! PLAY IT LOUD!!

I have been a fan of Jerry's playing since he was in FC, and wondered where he'd gone to prior to an apparently recent resurfacing! Somewhere I have a videotape of a TV programme on the history of the electric guitar, in which Jerry did all of the demonstrations - fab! Not only does he play beautifully, but it all seems so absolutely effortless. There is a video of FC doing Brilliancy/Cherokee on YouTube, and Jerry is playing the unison line with Swarb and they're just looking at eachother, and Jerry's fingers are an effortless blur on the frets.

I can also now report that he's a really nice guy, too - we bumped into him and the lovely Kristina  :P outside the stage door at Peggy's do last weekend, and they were both really up for having a good chat; partly as a result I'm now going to see the Gathering at Stevenage next week.

DC

The blurring effect makes it impossible to count his fingers - I swear he has extra ones! He's just too incredibly talented for words!

This thread leaves me wanting to play the cd and it is at home. I will play it tonight. Am I the only one who is having a hard tme not buying the fotheringay with the 4 live tracks? I want the fotheringay 2 project now!!!!!  With a bonus dvd  :)

Mattacks is playing bass guitar!

Just be patient - it'll appear in less than a year!

he used to do quite a bit of that class of thing,and a bit of piano on the side

eg: Bridge Over the River Ash (bass), Hiring Fair (keyboards).

DC

. . .the sax solo on Baker Street   ;)

That was Raphael Ravenscroft, unless it's a pseudonym.

There's a can of worms you've opened. That was thought to be a pseudonym for Bob Holness, a TV bloke.

(Sorry, veering slightly off topic)

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raphael_Ravenscroft

Nonsense. It was definitely Dave Mattacks.

Here's a thing: the Baker Street album was recorded here in Chippy - Gerry and Hugh (his producer) were great fans of the studio - as was I. Topping to walk to work! (The original, unreleased version of Shoot Out The Lights was done in the same time period with some shared personnel.)

And my point is.... the mighty PETE ZORN (the only thing he's scared of is Kryptonite) was in Gerry's band and was down to play THAT sax break: but he developed the world's most untimely tooth abscess and handed the role to Raf.

The rest, as they say, is Geography. (Don't change the subject!!!)
 

Speaking of Mattacks playing bass, lets not forget that Bruce played bass on Farewell, Farewell on Bridge Over The River Ash and Flatback Caper!

For David's benefit:

The turnout at Stevenage was good - quite a large theatre, which I'd guess was about 2/3 full? The band made some comments about the size of the audience, suggesting that a well-attended gig was the exception on this tour. They commented that the previous evening (?Skegness) there were four men and a dog, and the men left at the interval. Having said that, several people sitting close to where I was didn't come back after the break. I spoke to a few people who I've met before (I used to work with one of them) at gigs, FC and RT fans, Cropredy veterans etc, and the consensus was one of a general feeling of disappointment. Maybe we're spoiled - FC touring too much? - I don't think so!

DC

Oh dear.  It really does sound like a real pig's ear of a project.  Which given the quality of the personnel involved is a bloody travesty....

Hi Clive,
Could you expand on the possible source of the disappointment?

Choice of instruments played? e.g., they played all an acoustic set when everyone was expecting/hoping to see JD on electric.
Poor musicianship?
Poor song selection?
Inability to mesh as a band?
Poor rapport with the audience?
Poor production values (lighting, sound,etc)?

But what was the show like, Clive? INYHO?

Difficult to put my finger on it - certainly no problems with the musicianship, it was all electric, basically, drums, bass guitar, two guitars, mandolin/gob-iron, vocals. I think it was a mix of choice of material and a "failure to gel" thing, plus the issue with the sound quality - drums way too far up to begin with, and the vocals generally lost in the mix. The latter was a particular problem with a lot of unfamiliar (to me) material in the set. The sound did improve, but the vocals were still lost. I got the impression that there wasn't much rapport with the audience - polite applause rather than the sort of out-and-out enthusiasm that I've come to be used to with the likes of FC, RT, SoH. etc, etc.

All this is a purely subjective response, of course, and very much IMHO (although a couple of friends I spoke to who were also there were disappointed, too). Being a long-time fan of Jerry I find it difficult to write a less than enthusistic review for one of my heroes. I really enjoyed what he did at Cropredy and at Peggy's party, but this just didn't hit the spot.

DC

I went to the Camberley gig on Thursday night and I thought it was an excellent show.  It was about 3/4 full and the band were on fire.  They are using this tour as a toe in the water to see see if it works.  In their opinion (and mine) it does work and they consider, having spoken at length to Clive Bunker, they are all now part of a full time band, individual commitments permitting.  They are writing new material and are hoping with better publicity to make a bigger impact next year and with the talent on show I have no doubt they will. To see Ray Jackson back on a stage for the first time in almost 10 years was worth the admission fee alone and I think the future for the Gathering is very bright indeed.    

I think they're definitely suffering from an identity crisis. 'The Gathering'? No one has heard of that name.
Also, there's no indication of what is going to be played.

o, yes - a marketing problem. They're with management / agent that handles bands like The Animals, Troggs etc etc...and being put in rock clubs, rather than in arts centres, where most of them are known.

OK, Clive B will have played most of those venues in various line-ups, but I doubt Ray Jackson, Jerry or Mr Kemp has...

Do you think Lindisfarne, Fairport and Steeleye played in arts centres in the 70's?  Of course not...they all played the rock circuit.  After all, in reality they were rock music at the time.  As for the indication of what is going to be played I would have thought that 'Legends of Folk-Rock' gives a small clue.

Sounds to me like they need new management, a new publicist and a decent slot at Cropredy.  That will sort 'em....  ;)

But the people that went to the rock clubs back then don't frequent them now....

This was my point - what they played (IMHO, of course) could only very loosely be said to have fitted this description.

DC

My take on the marketing side of things would be that one of the names needs to be above the title

Jerry Donahue and The Gathering for instance.

I know it probbaly goes against what the band is about but commercially Jerry is still a draw for guitarists throughout the world and he would put bums on seats.

David W

I think that would be excellent - be interesting to hear what the others thought though....I suspect the odd ego is getting in there maybe?

Or perhaps a shortage of ego - if the band was formed as a collective effort, probably no-one's wanted to suggest naming the band after themselves. I agree that it would probably get more bums on seats if they did though.

Having spoken at length to Clive Bunker the other night at Camberley they all feel they are equal and therefore no one should be fronting the band or having their name featured i.e Jerry Donahue (or whoever) and the Gathering.  It has nothing whatsoever to do with ego, just a collective decision.  I hope that helps.

I absolutely understand that in terms of the band but it doesn't seem to make great commercial sense.

david

That is basically what I meant - keep all egos at the same level but not naming anyone in particular.

BUt I also think it is commercial suicide, and should at least feature their surnames, possibly in alphabeticakl order....

You mean people would like to see the

Bunker, Donahue, Donahue, Jackson, Kemp, Morter Band

It's all early days and the fact that we are discussing it shows to me that with a bit more publicity it will be a runner.  The other thing that is worth remembering is that The Gathering will (no doubt) be mentioned on all of the websites of each member's past/current bands.  Certainly there a mention is on the Lindisfarne and Fairport website.  I think quality will rise to the top and with (hopefully) a Cropredy appearance next year it will be interesting to see if my prediction is proved correct.  

No, just "Bunker - Donahue - Jackson - Kemp - Morter" below 'Legends of Folk Rock'

Then you know exactly who you're getting....

Hi we were at Southport last night and following the not very good comments previously were wondering if it was gonna be worth the long drive down form Carlisle ( and Bob coming back from work in Dublin on the Friday night to do the long drive!). It was a GREAT gig with a roughly three quarter full hall. They played a storming folkROCK set. They covered a variety of material with notably  great versions of Meet Me On The Corner and Lady Eleanor. Inevitably with Ray Jackson as IMHO the only real front man of the group the whole gig had a feel of Lindisfarne in the arrangements which again is no bad thing. The arrangements and variations to the original tracks played reflected well the abilities of all the members. Yes the chat between the songs was not as natural as it is in Fairport but they are just starting to come together as a group and I'm sure if they choose to continue it will improve. The 3 track ep with the program is great and left me wanting a whole album. The audience were happy and the final encore "Brampton to Roadhead Blues" written by Rick Kemp was stunning - its on the EP, so try and find one to buy.  I would love to see them again esp. at Cropredy next year when I'm sure they would go down a storm - if given a chance. Hope this encourages som of you to go out and see them.....Anne  :-* :-* :-*

Chiming in a bit late on this thread. I got to see The Gathering at Wolverhampton (my third attempt - the first was rained off in the summer, and the Crewe gig was cancelled). The venue had been changed (possibly due to the darts, possibly due to poor ticket sales).

It was hugely enjoyable, and I hope to see more of them over the next few years.

My only gripe is down to publicity - or the lack of it.

Oh yes! Gareth? Book them please  :-*

I think you've got the two Donahues in the wrong order there.  ;)

I spoke with Jerry after the Burgess Hill gig who told me they were 'earmarked' for the Thursday night slot at Cropredy next year.

However, I've just seen this morning seen that Neil Young is booked in at the Apollo Hammersmith on the 5, 6, 8 & 9th August next year - this leaves him free to dart up the M40 for an acoustic set at Croppers on the Friday night (or is this just wishfull thinking?) :-\

March not August..

Cropredy 2008 now listed as an 'upcoming show' on their website;

http://www.myspace.com/thegatheringonline

Headliners for the Thursday night?

John.

Not  headliners surely - a band with no recorded output and only one small tour?

David W

There have been far lesser known headliners at Cropredy

Leningrad Cowboys anyone  ;)

John.

Who says they will be headliners?

Any news on Fotheringay 2? or a dvd?

Fotheringay 2 is scheduled for October on thebeesknees....

Fingers very tightly crossed that it happens this time....

Jules

I am hoping it is true. Will it include any of the video or live material? I can't wait.

I am hoping it is true. Will it include any of the video or live material? I can't wait.

We all know Fotheringay played Beat Club and most have seen the live-in-studio performances of "Gypsy Davey" and, I believe, "Too Much of Nothing."

It would be sweet if those were included...

According to the BBC website, JD is appearing as a guest on tonight's Bob Harris show on Radio 2, so should be worth a listen.