Re: World Tour Of Essex

[James SftBH]

Tee-hee! No, we went and had a lovely time thank you Ces. Moses were excellent despite teetering on the edge of disaster with some sound problems and breaking strings etc, and Hughes warmed up as he went along (also struggling with some aural nasties such as one side of the PA cutting out at random intervals). The dry wit and stonking guitaring saw him through with aplomb and a second encore of 'Ruby Does' created moist eyes in our row - it's been on me noggin ever since, as has 'Heart Of Stone', but then that's always on me noggin anyway. I'm afraid I didn't watch Pavlov's Cat cos I was detained by a barman.

That's enough about music. Keith, FB, the missus and me met in The Fox & Fiddler early on and were royally entertained by Mental Jeff the landlord, before DH popped in for a Greene King and a licquorice rollie. We were joined by Moses' very own stalkers, John and Wendy (they go to pretty much every Moses show...from Brighton  ). A splendid time was had by all.

Then there was a gig.

Afterwards, the bar allowed us all to hang out for a bit more, and we just waited for Dave from Moses to get drunk so that the real show could begin - he's terribly entertaining y'know. Keith did manage to have a serious conversation with him for about 90 seconds though, which is a world record in my experience. There was lots of prodding of hmulley's tummy, and we struck up a new friendship with Sophie, who sometimes sings with Moses, but we'd never met before - she likes a Stella or two, I can tell you. Lovely girl, cracking voice and very enthusiastic about babies....but not yet. Her beau Seamus looked on in terror.

By the end only the Essex massive were left - Hughes, FB, hmulley and self - we were turfed out of the bar very gracefully around the witching hour, bundled FB into the back of the van and dropped him off in his rural idyll before zooming off to ours, happy and with tunes buzzing in our heads. A grand night.

[Ces]

Sounds a cracking night, James (even kicking the ITV Pop Quiz into touch ). Did the Hughster do "Two Stroke' (my personal fave off "I Can Explain'?).

And it's amazing the magnetic effect of a pregnant woman's bulge is on folks who have "had a few'...prodding, patting, listening etc.

'Bout time you East coast lot bundled your instruments into a double-decker bus and took a magical mystery tour of the Wild West

[James SftBH]

Did the Hughster do "Two Stroke' (my personal fave off "I Can Explain'?).

He most certainly did, and very good it was too.

'Bout time you East coast lot bundled your instruments into a double-decker bus and took a magical mystery tour of the Wild West

Or we could set sail from Maldon and see you in about a week. Can one navigate up the river to your house in a Thames barge?

[fat Billy(Bill)]

As James said earlier it was a stonking evening, we met up early and as james said "Fox & Fiddler chaps...nicer beer and bonkers landlord."
he was as usual correct although the landlord was a little more than bonkers. Mr Hughes joined us and we eventualy gravitated to the bar at the headgate. never been in here before, its a lovely venue, small and intimate. I must recomend Moses to the board they were great, and what troupers, keeping control (just) as the whole world fell apart around them (not to mention straight faces).
David Hughes took to the stage and played up a storm. I did not notice the techie problems as James did but with his distinctive guitar style ringing through the theater David had us in the palm of his hand, I even forgave him the birthday greetings in the middle of the set. Great set, great evening, great people. I am very glad I went.
BTW thanks for the lift home guys, I was gonna walk. its only 3 miles, another beer I owe Ms Mulley after she finally delivers.

[Keith]

A truly great evening for me - a little starstruck, I must admit, but only in the face of people far more talented than me.

Lovely to meet fB, Helen and James - such lovely people - and a pleasure to have the attention of Mr Hughes who must be congratulated for tolerating my ramblings in the pub, down the road and in the theatre bar. So polite 

Moses were also lovely people, and no slouches on the stage either. Some excellent numbers, and great entertainment, especially the hot-dogging guitar string break jive (see pic).



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[JJ (Joanna)]

Lovely photo of you and DH Keith! 

[Keith]

DH was awe-inspiring. A prodigious talent who oozes poetry, performance and humour, and had the audience caught in his homeland tales.

"Heart of Stone" is one song that has to be heard live - the Maldonian atmosphere fizzed off every string, although every song that night had something special to say. I was truly taken by the gorgeous "Ruby Does"; having two girls aged 5 and 6, this tale of a homebound eleven year old already rings true. Despite undoubted protestations by said Ruby (famille Hughes in the audience and bar, and all charming) a deal was struck involving a cheeky version of "Teenage Dirtbag" which we were none the poorer for. "Jellybabe" finished off a short but stunning set. I am hooked.

Thanks to everyone I met - I hope to meet you all very soon.


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[Shane (Skirky)]

That's the worst Peter, Paul and Mary tribute band I've ever seen.....
SK

[Keith]

That's the worst Peter, Paul and Mary tribute band I've ever seen.....
SK

But can you spot who's in the background?

[Shane (Skirky)]

I was too astonished to see you'd actually got James to sit still while he had an empty glass to notice at first....
Nice chap that Hughes - somebody ought to check his hands for extra fingers though, I reckon. Got the albums?
SK

[Paul]

That's another photo of James with his eyes shut. Doesn't he like cameras?

Paul

[Keith]

Got the albums?

Recognised and (signed) I Can Explain.

Strange that he plugs Recognised rather than the other studio albums, does anyone have any opinions on them?

[Barry]

Personally I love 'em all.  The man is unique talent.

Anyone got a copy of Curtains, though? 

[fat Billy(Bill)]

Nice pictures Keith, god! do I always look that rough?
It was a great evening and all the turns were great, and yes shane I think david Hughes must have a few extra fingers too.
great style.

[YaBB Master (Colin)]

Strange that he plugs Recognised rather than the other studio albums, does anyone have any opinions on them?

'Recognised' is 'An Introduction To'.
The studio albums each have there own feel, but Recognised shows the whole scope of DH's work. That's why it's cheap. We want people who have never heard of him, to risk it and then investigate further.

As for the studio albums.
Curtains and Active in the Parish were not Folk Corporation releases and although there should be some at distributors, they are difficult to find.

50 Yards of David Hughes is only available if you get David or myself to dig around in our sheds and find just one more copy. (However I do have a stack of CD's with no case and we might well be doing a special offer.)

This Other Eden is still available and I do have a couple of boxes left.

[hmulley]

... and very nice to meet you too, Keith! Lovely pixtures.
I don't know why it is that James never has his eyes open in photographs. I suspect he's worried that the camera will steal his soul.

Or his mojo.

[Keith]

... and very nice to meet you too, Keith! Lovely pixtures.
I don't know why it is that James never has his eyes open in photographs. I suspect he's worried that the camera will steal his soul.

Or his mojo.

You definitely came out best in that last photo Helen - though that was inevitable given the competition (and the fact that James has David Hughes growing out of his head) 

[fat Billy(Bill)]

... and very nice to meet you too, Keith! Lovely pixtures.
I don't know why it is that James never has his eyes open in photographs. I suspect he's worried that the camera will steal his soul.

Or his mojo.

You definitely came out best in that last photo Helen - though that was inevitable given the competition (and the fact that James has David Hughes growing out of his head) 

Keith you should know that the best roses are always surrounded by thorns, although I thing James did come out rather better than me
but then he is younger and rather more talented.

[Shane (Skirky)]

The Moses messageboard posters are nothing if not succinct and to the point;

The closing set was by David Huges, a guitar-picker of some class who also sang witty lyrics inspired by life in Maldon, Essex - "the real Blackwater side," he claimed, in reply to his good mate and sometime touring partner Bert Jansch.

I'm sure the surname thing is a typo, and not an observation...
Skirky

[mikec]

Strange that he plugs Recognised rather than the other studio albums, does anyone have any opinions on them?

Yes.

Brilliant

mikeC