So, lasr night to The Winding Wheel at Chesterfield for my first FC gig in a decade. Those who read my (re)intro to this site at
http://www.talkawhile.co.uk/yabbse/index.php?topic=28526.msg709370#msg709370 will have seen that up to 2007 I had been getting less and less enthusiastic about the band and it's output post Chris Leslie, to such an extent that I wondered why I still went to something that since the early 80s had been my winter highlight prompting attendance at several dates on each WinTour.The past decade of buying and listening to execrable albums had done little to re-enthuse me and I play solely “older” FC stuff these days. A pre-listen to 50:50 left me cold, but as it IS a celebration I decided to go to this WinTour in hope rather than expectation, and I approached last night with a sense of foreboding but went with an open mind and the hope I would find that the band failed to meet my expectations and would rise above all the recent pap. In summary, to save anyone the trouble if not really interested, then I'd say it was not quite 50:50 but I didn't come away TOO disappointed;
I've been to this venue several times, so was prepared for the ass-numbing temporary chairs.This was definitely no sell out- loads of empty seats even in the first rows (I was in B) and a pretty lack-lustre audience, mostly old gits like me! Ric introduced Sally Barker – never heard of her, wouldn't be bothered if I never saw her again, too much “la la la”ing (though in song 2 it was just one forgotten line- not one of the openers you remember like John B Spencer but pleasant enough.
And so to the main event. I've read the setlist for previous dates, and I know that this, and the schtick/patter/jokes don't generally vary from night to night-- this show was as per the Union Chapel date, And off we go with the utter pap of “The Bus”; p-- WTF?, open a 50th celebration with THIS? On to Genesis Hall-- quiet, understated,listenable, but underpinned by an annoyinf plinking on CL's mandolin. Then another whimsical ramble about DIY before another CL travesty of no consequence called “Devils Work”- best say nowt else about this rubbish, Onto “Now be Thankful”, a song I can listen to forever,AND unbelievably I enjoy CL singing most of this and the mandolin was a bit more toned down- the show was improving!To Danny Jack, and it's OK but unmemorable, then the utter sh1te of Summer by the Cherwell- uh oh, the thing's plummeting again! And am I the only one who is thoroughly sick of the overuse of the mandolin,- Swarb used it occasionally to great effect, tell CL it isn't a lead instrument will ya!I saw him strap on a black and white Stratocaster in 97 (when he replaced Maart) or so,probably against his will, and rock it- dig it out again Chris.WKWTTG is quite lovely- but I know the pasr 10years haven't been kind to me, and Simon's voice has sounded to lack SOMEtthing, a loss of a rich chocolatey sonority it used to have- and that f'ing mandolin is still there,by now I want to grab it,smash it and hide it where CL's sun don't shine! And to the end of the first half- thankfully sans mandolin, oh hell here comes a banjo and a **** song that proves that 20 years on the irritating Anna Ryder can trouble us remotely with this junk about bringing back feathers;;;;
So to what, in less PC days, was called “tiddle break”- God, I needed it. BUT, I has read from previous posts that side 2 got better, so I lived in hope.
It starts out promising. Simon's changed into a jaunty red and blue striped top, has his Stratocaster on, and seems more “lubricated”. And off with a perennial favourite Sir Patrick-- my heart lifts, the band rocks a bit, I can ignore the f'ing mandolin. Is this going to lay to rest the disappointing Side1?Onto a Sandy section,a nice Fotheringay then with Sally to another fave, Rising for the Moon- I've read conflicting views re this on this thread, I love the song, it was OK, but I feel that it needs a girly singer who CAN “rise” a bit more. The old raging idea of another girl singer has reappeared here, after 40 years of unequivocal statements from the band of “never”- Sally isn't her, Vikki Clayton came closest....
Another, forgettable Portmeirion, then another to my mind rubbish song, Naked Highwayman, not Tilston's best product, and I'm still loathing that mandolin. THEN, in hindsight, it gets to a point from where I think I got my money's worth? Farewell Farewell is lovely, CL's penny whistle gives a charming Gaelic air; My heart sinks briefly- CL goes for the mando, but the unmistakeable opening chords on Simon's guitar of Hiring Fair lift me up, and surprise surprise the mandolin is NICE as an accompanying instrument to this most wonderful of songs. A quick drop back down into inanity and forgettable songs with Elinor's Dream. I really can't get this thing about CL's songs. The topical ones all sound saccharine and trite with predictable rhyme, and as to the “historical” songs, he ain't no Al Stewart for sure! The finale approaches- Matty rocks, I enjoy it, but I want MORE- why oh why the plunking banjo, get a second electric guitar on it and give it some vavavoom and volume! They,re off, back for MOTL, then I'm out of there, another FC gig over.
Overall, it was not as bad as I expected. I came away having enjoyed about a third of it. I'd listened in amazement to more of the recent shite songs- why oh why with a 50 year back catalogue of great songs and tunes do this utter garbage, especially celebrating the 50 years. I know they need to keep it fresh, I know it's said they enjoy the current sound- but I didn't see much joie de vivre last night. I think they could easily cut away the front right fifth of the show, play as a rockier four piece, and do away with CL's input-- or better still, get in another Maart to bring back a harder edge and some greater production-- for example Hiring Fair used to be great with Mattack' 4 keyboards, it's still lovely but everything can be Improved. Will I go again?- nope, that's me done with FC. It's been nearly 50 years of listening, nearly 35 of WinTours, but unless there's a lineup change for me to see a different show, then I'll be absent. It's been nice fellas, but I don't want comfy,laid back,trite performancessittin' in my ol' armchair with a brandy,roaring fire and Val Doonican jumper. I want rip-roaring folk rock. Little rock, and Simon himself says folk was not that big a part of the whole “canon”. He asks if we enjoyed it, if not let them know- I hope you read this Simon. So on graduation from 50 years (or 20 as the current band) I'd say “could do better”.
I'm sure otheres will disagree. I'm sure those who are CL fans, tell me he's a talented multi-instumentalist and songwriter will say I'm being unfair, but I'm sorry, for me he is the weakest link. GOODBYE!
