Tap Jam Night at the Brewery Tap, Worcester - 06.02.12
After a busy few weeks on the gigging front, 'quiet time of the year' syndrome finally kicked in, so apart from some spectacular failures on the equipment front - I contented myself this week with checking out a couple of the wonderful open mic events.
I haven't been to the regular Monday night Tap Jam at the Brewery Tap in Worcester's Lowesmoor run by Jay Clarke and Sarah Colquitt for a little while now, but it's still a cracking warm welcome for anyone who wants to take the first steps to rock 'n' roll stardom - or for the more established acts who want to try out a few new numbers or ideas.
There was very much a case of the latter as I rolled up - on stage were the unlikely pairing of Shane 'Jasper' Husbands and Chris AKA Enzo, who I chanced upon at the Cock & Magpie in Bewdley a couple of weeks ago. A completely impromptu set of genuine fun numbers to warm up the crowd who entered shivering from the streets - a good call to kick off!
He seems to be playing sets everywhere at the moment - but ex-Velvets frontman Mike Mann confided that he's actually looking for maybe a move towards the production/promotion side of the music industry - and this I reckon could be something really positive. I think it's the gig-hardened musos who definitely make the best engineers and executives - as they're more in tune with the artists themselves - best of luck.
I was tremendously impressed with young Worcester folky rap hip-hop duo Done By Sunrise - who are launching themselves by staging a mini-tour of all the open mic nights in Malvern and Worcester - tonight at the Tap, Tuesday at the Angel, Wednesday at the Morgan and Thursday at West Malvern - followed by the following Tuesday at the Great Malvern Hotel. What a fine idea! I was well impressed with Scott and Lauren's set of sparkly original numbers - I'll be keeping an eye out for this bright-idea'd pair in the future.
A pleasing set of covers from Bridgnorth's Camilla Nutley continued before a 'moonlighting' set from Richard Clarke, who'd only popped around because it was a bit quiet next door! He did a nice cover of Police And Thieves - before playing originals such as Science Breeds Catastrophe and Efforts Lost from his new CD. Rich has been playing the local circuit for a while now - both solo and with his band The Rafters - but I was really taken with his pairing with Wes Dance a few weeks ago and he certainly seems to have picked up the pace the last few times I've seen him.
Time for an impromptu jam to close the evening off. This Tap night was the unlikely combination of Eli and Jay Clarke of The Cover Junkies and Chad Jackson of the Mary Hinge Experience - so of course the working band-name for the night was The Clunge - what else could it be?
10 Nov 2012
- From the section Hereford & Worcester