“Will the Circle be Unbroken?” was the song of solidarity
that folkies from another time and another place used to sing. This Hastings
musical circle remains tight, thanks to the efforts of Councillors Trevor Webb
and Nigel Sinden and many supporting performers.
“The Circle of Trust” is the
name of
Hastings Friendship Group’s second CD. (The first, "One Hastings Many Voices", was released earlier this year, and was reviewed on this blog). Showcasing a lot of local
talent, "The Circle of Trust" has just been released and is dedicated to Maria Grazia, a sadly departed singer and songwriter who performed at
HFG events. The new CD is raising money for Sudanese charities under “The Circle of Trust” moniker.
Maria gets a heartfelt tribute at the close of the CD: “Goodnight Maria” is one
of the best things I have heard Paul Crimin do. It’s his own song too.
The launch event was at the excellent (if a little pricey) "Relax" restaurant and
bar at Marine Parade, on St Leonard's seafront on Sunday October 23. Listening to the CD, and
reflecting on the live performances of many of those featuring on the album,
there are some whose star inevitably shines brighter than others. There are also those who came across much better at the launch gig than on the CD, and vice
versa. The most important thing about the CD though, aside from the good cause
and giving a different platform to local artists, is that all the performers
are playing original material that was either written by, or for them.
The CD’s producer (and writer of several of its songs)
Nelson King (who also produced the first HFG CD) closed the evening. (I had to make my excuses before Nelson hit the
stage, sadly). He and Wendy White’s number, “Follow Me” is a good cut on the
CD, well produced by Nelson, albeit ending abruptly. His entirely self-penned
song, “I Don’t Believe a Thing,” is also a strong feature on the disc.
Preceding him was a young woman who is fairly new to HFG
events, Georgia Faye Steele. Georgia played electric piano and belted, and I
mean belted, out some classics. Note to the organisers: this woman can sing…loud.
Turn down the PA (a bit), or get her on earlier to wake up the bar (and the
neighbourhood).
Her own song “Something New Just For Now” came across much more
authentically than covering the folk (and very male) song, “House of the Rising
Sun” (best known by The Animals), or, even more bizarrely, singing the Eagles’ “Hotel
California”. Georgia is probably going places though.
Nick Warren is no stranger to HFG gigs. Unfortunately for
him he had the graveyard slot as the closing acts beckoned. Nick had to make it
fairly snappy at the end and barely got time for a well- deserved round of
applause. Nick sings his own songs (as far as I can tell) and plays acoustic
guitar with feeling. “Riptide” especially stood out. “Be My Baby One More Time”
is the self-penned song he plays on the CD.
Tania Pieri was accompanied by Juliette on electric piano
and backing vocals. Juliette told me afterwards that she hadn’t performed in
public for 30 years. This gig was one of Tania’s first too. They did an
excellent gospel cover, and another number had some tantalising lyrics including
one that went along the lines of “it’s a good day, put away the pills” (unless
my hearing problem is worse than I realise).
Tania’s own composition “Fire and Light” come
across well live. On the CD Tania’s strength, like some other HFG performers,
doesn’t register in the same way. However, live on a Sunday afternoon at Relax she
and Juliette were probably the best act.
Katie Wren is just 16. She performed confidently and her own
song, “Fairy Tales”, comes over well on CD too. (She also covered Train’s “Hey
Soul Sister”, which has a riff that to my ears sounds a lot like Tracey
Chapman’s song “Fast Car”.
It was a shame that Craig Devlin wasn’t there on the Sunday.
His “Carry You Home” opens the CD and is one of its strongest cuts. Trevor told
me before I had had a chance to check the CD out that Craig is the most
authentically rock artist HFG currently have on their roster. He has an earthy,
lived in voice to be sure. Yet another HFG person who either is or should be
destined for greater things.
Mike Guy’s “Little Town Blues” is sadly under-produced on
the CD, or just recorded at a lower volume than the rest of the tracks. It’s a
shame because it grows on you, well it has on me. I had originally taken the lyrics for a non-ironic
channeling of John Major appropriating George Orwell’s famous misty-eyed vision
of England. "Little Town Blues" is in fact based on the lyrics
of the "Dorset Gypsy Poet", Raymond A Wills. The clever and evocative lyrics work well with Mike's gently affecting tune. Mike also sung "Mr Bobby" by Manu Chao (a Bob Marley tribute) and his own,
localised, take on Route 66, "A259".
Dave Williams’ “Dare I Believe” CD contribution is both professionally
performed and produced. Live, Dave (see pic below) has matured as a performer. No longer, on
this showing at least, tackling the rock behemoths. Aside from the above song given
to him by Payen Bingley, he covered lower key numbers that suited his range and
style.
Pete Williams (no relative, see pic below) performed a blinding version of
the
Nelson King song "The River". This was great live and is equally great on CD.
No small feat. It has that feel of an old folk/acoustic rock classic, as if it
was a huge hit back in the day. Pete teamed up with
his old musical sparring partner in Harry's Brother, Steve Avery, for a version of "The Weight" that
(for me) was the best performance of the night. It was also the third best
version of the song that I have ever heard (after The Band and the Staple
Singers, naturally).
Sadly,
Tom Cole was finishing his self-penned, and very catchy, CD contribution, “Long
Way Home”, when I arrived. His voice is sounding more mid-Atlantic these days (as
almost every English singer invariably does).
 |
| Tom Cole with Flashboy in the foreground (and Trevor and Nigel in the background) |
John Busbridge’s “Summer of 67” is certainly a whole lot
better than the better known “Summer of 69”, and evokes that fabled time nicely. After the first summer we had Devaluation
and, during the second, British troops went into Northern Ireland. “Sgt Pepper” versus “The Ballad of John n’
Yoko”. False dichotomy I know, and I digress. John’s tune is reminiscent of Robin Sarstead's “Where Do You Go to My Lovely” fused with Dylan's “My Back Pages”. Musically appropriate I
guess. He also covered "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan". I hadn't realised it was originally performed by Dr Hook. To my mind it shall forever be Marianne Faithful's song. "At the age of 37, she realised she would never drive through Paris, in an open car, with the warm wind in her hair.." Oh yes.
On the CD, Maman Jay performs a number under
the “Kids from 7 Streets” title. The 7 Streets project was launched by Trevor to
bring help to homeless children. The song has a moving intro by one of Maman Jay’s
grandchilden. It was written and, unlike all the other tracks, was produced by
Abye Abdullah. Trevor tells me that Abye, like Maman Jay, originates from one
of the French Indian Ocean islands.
Exclusive to the CD, Indian Dave is no Indian but he does a nice
line in ethereal flute playing.
Jazzi B (Jasmine Bollen) makes a solid contribution with “Life”, a song written by Nelson King. Dan
Wahnon tells us of trying to make it up in the smoke ("Hard Road Home") in a
surprising foray into new wave circa 1977 (with Dan Duke providing electric
guitar accompaniment). Oksana Kirjuskina is an HFG regular. Her impressive
larynx does a nice turn on “Your Smile”, a song familiar to HFG regulars.
A word for the performers who didn’t make it to the CD this
time and who played early on at the gig. Flashboy, otherwise known as Andy
Ives, had the difficult task of singing while Kevin Sloan held his Tablet aloft
as a lyric sheet. Flashboy's numbers included a cover of "Wasteland" (which I think is the song originally performed by 10 Years).
Kevin then sung good
covers of a couple of Creedence Clearwater Revival songs, "Fortunate Son" and "Bad
Moon Rising".
The Circle remains unbroken. Here’s to Trevor, Nigel and all
the
HFG crew. Buy the CD at Relax, Gecko’s and other reputable outlets.
