Hastings Friendship Group’s 61st gig for charitable causes was the usual semi-chaotic mix of highs and occasional lows. Held, as is often the case, at the friendly Gecko Bar in St Leonard’s, it showcased local musicians of varying abilities but who all
share one overriding passion: to perform to their best for those much less
fortunate than themselves.
To get the gripe over with early: the best performer of the
night, saved ‘til last, was Eddy Odel. A
man who over 20 years ago had his sax playing career cut short by not one but
two car crashes within 12 months, plays acoustic guitar and sings country-style
ballads in an exquisite manner. The trouble was I couldn’t hear Eddy’s delicate
song style for the sound of two people sitting just a few feet away from him jabbering
loudly. I or someone even closer to them should have politely intervened. We
didn’t and eventually Eddy lost his rag. He instantly regretted it, but
miraculously managed to carry on unaffected, barely missing a beat (as it were).
A performer who was perhaps better suited to the bar vibe, Oksana from Latvia, has her own way of drowning
out the revelers. She belts out power ballads aided by a synthesised backing
track care of a plug-in laptop. Cllr Trevor Webb, principal HFG organiser, was
keen to explain to me that Oksana can play keyboards and that they are trying to
hook her up with local musicians. Perhaps she should bring a portable keyboard
next time.
Oksana (pictured right) told me that she had written the song
she performed in English, “When You Go Home”. While she is a
better singer in her native Latvian, this was a well-crafted ballad that showed
off her undoubted vocal skills and comfortable use of English. The second
number, performed in Latvian and roughly translating as “After the Rain”, was,
paradoxically, less interesting. It sounded a lot like 1980s EuroVision (which,
if that’s your bag, may be a very good thing).
Mike, ‘Taffman’, Guy often plays in the Ghostfinger duo
with Patrick McGerr. Tonight he was performing solo, but was no less appealing
for it. Beginning with an excellent cover of the wonderful “Angel from Montgomery”,
by one of the world’s finest song writers and performers, John Prine,
Mike is no slouch at writing and performing his own material either. “Sussex
Hoedown” is a lively referencing of county life, as is “A259”, a touching reinterpretation
of the more familiar "Route 66". Mike is available for hire. Check him out via http://fandalism.com/taffmanmike
He is also one of the performers due to be included on the forthcoming
CD, “One Hastings Many Voices – Volume 1”, dedicated to the memory of the much-missed Hastings Council leader, Jeremy Birch. Hastings Friendship Group (HFG) is
currently recording a number of its regular musicians for the release of the CD this April. In fact Volume 2 is already being planned, conceived as a
fundraiser for two Sudanese charities, Together for Sudan and Children of Sudan. Tonight’s gig raised money to kick-start
a recording that will draw on a more international cast of performers but who, like those on Vol 1,
are mostly based in and around Hastings and St Leonard's.
Another contributor to Vol 1 will be Dan Wahnon (pictured below right). Accompanying himself on acoustic guitar,
Dan worked hard, alternating between reinterpretations of old and newer covers,
including Skunk Anansie’s “Weak (As I Am)”.
Andy Ives (AKA Flashboy), also included
on the CD, was playing only his third
ever gig, Trevor told me. With his laptop in tow this was akin to karaoke, but
with a difference. Who else in the world would juxtapose Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt”
(sung ala Johnny Cash) with Neil Diamond’s “Love On The Rocks”? “Hurt” was the
more rehearsed and is the easier of the two to sing, though no walk in the park.
It came across well, even though the backing tape threatened to overwhelm the performance
at one point.
Jim and Eric (see pic below, centre), so named for the evening only, were more like
old stagers. Jim Westlake (from local band 'Bad Whisky') played blues harp accompaniment to Eric Harmer's vocals and acoustic guitar. Their
covers were mostly of blues/rock classics and they performed them well. Surprisingly,
he and Jim chose to end their set with an affecting cover of “Clocks”. Eric
freely admitted afterwards that this is the only Coldplay song he can stand.
Paul Crimin is an unpredictable musician. Some covers he
performs, as he would probably admit, fall flat. However his take on the
Passengers’ “Let Her Go” was heartfelt and it showed. He closed with Chris Isaak’s "Wicked Game". It is not easy to sing in Isaak's distinctive style, but Paul succeeded.
