Penrith, UK. Sunday 06-February-2022.
This was my first experience of an open mike gig and I was not sure what to expect. What I got was a bizarrely eclectic mix of styles. Each artist was allowed two songs then it was "get off", change the microphone and on with the next performer. Although they were introduced I can only remember some of the names.
Tom, the MC, started a show off with a single song.
Second act was Harry Stephenson with a loop pedal. The first time I saw a loop pedal was a bunch of saxophonists in Cisternino where they built up a wall of sound. I subsequently discovered that Ed Sheeran was a great exponent of that art. It was fascinating to be close enough to see the loop pedal in action.
Harry laid down a backing track then percussive beats on his guitar then some vocal backing. He then proceeded to sing his songs using the pedal to switch on and off the various loops. He was overly self-effacing, he should have more confidence in his ability.
Then we got a man in striped trousers who was more of a poet than a singer. He recited lyrically complex material and accompanied himself on a strumming guitar with percussive accompaniment from bells on his shoes.
An old man from Carlisle (sounds like the start of a limerick) with a deep baritone, cowboy twang sang a humorous song about a love affair with a blowup doll. Unfortunately he lost his thread halfway through, busked it a bit and then moved onto his second song. For that he switched from guitar to accordion. I am always incredibly impressed by anyone who can play an accordion Playing the keyboard with your right hand and working the dozens of buttons with your left while at the same time working the bellows; more than I could handle.
Then we went into deep into "a cappella" territory with a woman who sang a couple of songs in a folk style accompanying herself with a Shruti box. This curious instrument is driven by bellows and provides a steady droning sound in the chosen key.
Next was a guy who sang a Leonard Cohen song, "Hallelujah" but sadly, like the man from Carlisle, lost his train of thought and had to appeal to the audience for a prompt for the next line. He found his way back to the second chorus with a sigh of relief.
We then were entertained by big Phil Haslehurst who sang a couple of his own compositions the first of which involved his landlady accidentally burning a load of dope mistaking it for dried flower arrangements.
Sad to relate I remember little of the next act, a man in a dark grey jumper with a man bun.
A double act next, two blokes (apparently sometimes a trio, the guitarist is Mike Turnbull) one of whom played guitar and the other sat on a beatbox to provide percussive support. What they sang can’t remember but they did OK.
The penultimate act was another bloke with a guitar.
The final act of the open mic was a couple, him on lead guitar, her on bass guitar. They were clearly seasoned performers appearing at various other venues and events. They played a fairly rocky couple of numbers and then it was time for a break and a refill of the beers.
The main act, Hiroshima Twinkie, were a talented group of musicians that defy categorisation. A four piece with drums, and rhythm, lead and bass guitars. They played in a variety of styles including a couple of reggae based numbers. They are closer to novelty, comedy act than anything else. For those of you who are old enough to remember the Baron Knights that might give you a reference point. Or perhaps Tom Lehrer updated and migrated from piano to rock and roll. Deservedly the headline act, they entertained and amused the audience.
So that was nice.
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