| Reviews 2018 | |||
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Woodman Folk Club - Reviews |
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| Eddy Morton & Friends |
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| Les Jones | 8 June 2018 |
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Knowing him so well I could not believe that according to The Woodman
website Eddy had not played the club as a solo artist since 2008. He last
played a proper set when with the Bushburys in 2013. Well I’m glad we’ve
put that right because he gave us an excellent two sets comprising all his
own music both new – old; solo and Bushburys. He admitted to not playing
many gigs these days – which is a pity but concentrates on writing
instead. It is a pity about the former, but the latter makes up for it.
I have seen him seen him numerous times at various venues and this must be the first time his main instrument has been the guitar – instead of his mandolin - played in a mixture of DADGAD and Open D tunings enabling him to accompany his unique singing style with tuneful melodies. He did on a couple of occasions take to the Bouzouki which was a treat. His songs old or new are melodic, sometimes wistful but always; always thought provoking. In both halves he played several songs solo before being joined by Paul Hodson on keyboards and accordion and Andy Jones on fiddle. Together they blended well both musically and in humour. Each song had a tale to tell with Eddy providing embellishments either about the content of the song or the circumstances in which it was written. In the first half he sang: • Rainbow Man – dedicated to his friend Geoff Homer who was never quite in the world we inhabit- and is the title track to his last album. • Union Jack – written some while ago he has now decided is about Pensions although not originally his intension it has changed the older he gets and the nearer the time for it comes. • When We Were Young – An old Bushbury song still relevant today could be applied to the Brexit situation. • (With) God on Our Side – rages against the problems humanity is causing to the environment. • Queen of Stourbridge Town – tells the tale of the old foundry which was sited over the road from Eddy’s pub Katie Fitzgerald’s which built the first locomotive to be used on the American railways. Regrettably because it was so “sturdy” the rails buckled. Nonetheless the foundry survived from it’s 19th century beginnings until a few years ago. Just for the record it is now a very good health centre. (Eddy says). • Liberty Falls – Is about a journey Eddy made through the USA some years ago. • Light of Your Love – is a song written for his wife Trina for their 25th wedding anniversary. • The Battle of Stourbridge – finished the first half and tells of the fight to keep the canals open after the WW2 when the government of the day was keen on closing railways and canals. The canal is still open. The second half gave us: • Poisoned the Water. • When a Horse Road By – Inspired by the fact that when the road outside Katie’s was dug up the original cobbled street was still there. • 40 Years in The Making (40 Years in The Breaking) – Prior to the Thatcher era we were a manufacturing country. Afterwards we became a financial centre and many of us prospered. Brexit will change the status quo again. But what will it be then? • Born on the Mountain - is dedicated to a character now deceased who was known as Brian The Banjo who was cared for until his death by Ben Smith a friend of Eddy’s who even until the last wanted to do things such as go panning for gold in Wales. • Navvy on the Great Western railway is self-explanatory said Eddy – so there you are. • Sooner or Later Down the Road – is as well according to me because I failed to make any notes. Sorry • Mary Mary – was written for Sunjay. • London Road is known to us all and really had the audience going. It was intended to be the last song. But of course, there were the encores: • Faith Healer – tells of one of the many characters that did of for that matter prowl the streets of Wolverhampton. • That’s What Friends Are For – used to end the Bushbury’s sets as it did on this occasion. Local musical support was provided tonight by: • Velvet Green who sang – The Last Goodnight which marked the 5th anniversary of it’s composition and dedication to their good friend who had died. The more upbeat Nell Bryden song, The Only Life I Know, provided an excuse for Paul and Sue to bob up and down on stage in time to the music. Done for Debbie it seems who always laughs. I can see why. • Dick Woodhouse – was again Jake Thackray, singing The Nurse and Isobel Makes Love Upon National Monuments. Breaking News - including the Royal Albert Hall. • Bryn Phillips – The Woodman Bluesman converted The Angels’ Share and That Ain’t No Way to Stop a Train to be played as slide on his recently purchased resonator. Excellent. And that was it. Another excellent night at the The Woodman Folk Club. It only behoves me to say: As usual; A Wonderful Night Was Had by All. Here’s to The Next One. |
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