The Stormcock Community

Well I have just posted a quick review of Nick's show last night in Brum on the "other" forum and thought I might as well stick it on here as well somewhere ... then I thought I could create it as a blog and add bits from the other gigs I'll be going to in May .... though no doubt I may be a little more tipsy at some of them and so not remember much !!

Nick @  The Bear, Marlborough ( 29th April )

Thank chuff this gig wasn't as hot and steamy as the last time Nick played here last July ... but it was much MUCH busier ... the pub was packed anyway, due to the pub football team had just been playing that day .... the football team that during the gig Nick called them "The Lamb team" instead of "The Bear team" .... that didn't go down too well !!

The Bear is an old hotel, now run as a pub by a mate of Nick's called Trevour ( as in Trevour Island - see DVD ) and it's not really the best place for gigs, but that doesn't stop Nick playing there.  Since last years gig Trev has put up loads of black and white photos all over the place ( bit like DeBarras ) ... though most of them are publicity photos, there are some good ones of both Harpers ... but you’ll have to hunt them down yourselves, if you are ever in the area !!  The crowd was obviously made up of lots of his mates and so he knew he had to put on a good show .... and he didn't disappoint.  Can't remember much of the set list, though the ones I can remeber are :

Truth up't Mountain

Aeorplane

Field of Cloth of Gold

Blue Sky Thinking

Miracles for Beginners

Guitar Man

Real Life

Titties 'n' Beer

and many many more !!

I'll add a photo of the gig to this blog, but it's also worth looking at this site for more and a painting of the man himself - http://www.janetomlinson.com/journal/index.php?id=306

Nick @  The Barfly, Birmingham ( 2nd May )

Ah  I was in two minds whether I should go last night, but boy I'm glad I did ... 90 miles took only 90 minutes so not bad at all !!

As I was driving and thus not drinking ( much ) I had a lot of time on my hands ... I've not been to brum for years and so wanted to have a butchers at the Selfridges store ... so that killed 2 minutes ... so I was actually at the Barfly at 7:30pm, in time ( which is unusual for me ) to see both of the support acts.

Vijay Kishore was indeed very good, but I actually preferred the first support act ( who had about a dozen folk watching him ), a guy called Jim Gipson ... in some respects he too reminded me of Jeff Buckley !!

Anyway ... it was obvious that after the two support acts, the barfly PA setup was going to be loud enough for Nick ( in fact Nick actually had things turned down for him .... that must be a first !! ).  Not going to try to give an exact set-list, as I saw at least 6 folk writing it down .... so it might get here eventually.  Songs I remember ( in brain scrambled order ) :

No Truth up In the Mountain
Imaginary Friend
Aeroplane
Cloth of Gold
Blue Sky Thinking
By My Rocket Comes Fire
Real Life
Love Junky

[some bluesy number, that he said doesn't really "go" with the rest of his set - but he likes it anyway !!! ]

Guitar Man - some real heavy trash acoustic stuff !!

Love is Music
encore of Kilty Stone

The atmosphere was great ... there was a group ( guessing students - cos some were drinking soda water !! ) of about 30 that seemed to really know his stuff ... and were initially sat down in the chill zone [ Nick's name for it ] at the front, but soon got up and they were all dancing around ... so if they were all drinking water ... then I guess that other substances were involved somewhere down the line - but good on them ... they certainly added to the entertainment.

In fact the encore nearly didn't happen .... got the impression that he really didn't want to do an encore .... he really gave it all in LiM ... but the crowd weren't having it ... and they even carried on shouting after the end music was put on and turned up .... two of the guys even went round back to try and persuade him for one more !!  Kilty Stone was an excellent choice, as it gave them one more song ... but it was a nice calm one to bring them back down to earth before they left !!

All in all a great night ... I have one slightly un flattering photo from the night that I will upload to somewhere soon.