26th November 2019

I stepped in at the last minute to host the evening. The weather was foul and it meant the numbers of acts were down on previous sessions.  As a consequence, some performers were able to perform additional songs if they wished.
 
I started with ‘Sadie the Flatulent Horse’ and ‘I’ll Do Anything’ and came back to perform ‘Dementia’ and ‘Gardeners World’
 
Mark was up next and performed these  3 songs  ‘City of Stars’ from La La Land, ‘Anji’ and ‘One Scotch, One Bourbon, one Beer’
 
Clive Woodman performed the song made famous by Elvis Costello ‘A Good Year for the Roses’ and ‘Saltwater’ (written in 1991, I was wrong).  Clive came back a second time and performed the amusing ‘Water Melons’ and ‘Over the Lancashire Hills’ a song made famous by Fairport Convention
 
Keith Willson performed his own songs ‘Brighton Rock’ and ‘Baby Steps’ a song about taking chances, not necessarily a song about babies. I requested ‘Requiem’ and Keith performed it. He finished with a song ‘The Worst Thing’
 
Neil Grove…I am not sure we were prepared for the shock. The best Dobro I have ever heard said Bob Taylor and I can only agree and I hope he comes again!!  I am pretty sure his first instrumental was untitled but I was mesmerised and I might have missed the title…he definitely performed ‘Mississippi Blues’ and ‘Stormy Monday’
 
Bob Taylor and Cristy-Lee played 3 songs ‘Goodbye To The Blues’ ‘Billy Holliday’ and ‘Love Song’….beautiful!!!
 
Bob Melrose was our last performer  and he performed his own songs ‘Asylum Day’ ‘Like A Summer’ ‘Seesaw’ and a song ‘Jelly Roll Blues’
 
It was a fab night with some fantastic talent!!

Lance

Jason’s Return (12th November 2019)
 
And so he shall always return
Holding sway at the dimming of the day
And so he shall sing of strange sailings
Remembering times with distant spirits so fey

And so we get armed with a lance
To keep faith with the eternal blues
And so to the thrill that never shall leave us
Nor shall our old gin house muse

And so the Wicker Man still burns within us
Filling our dreams as our heads lay on pillow
And so we obsess with the darkness
It curls around like the embrace of the willow

And so we let the dark ghosts linger
Forever returning through our song
And so brass snaking like smoke curling
Feeling the jazz life all night long

And so the star dust tries to settle
Getting caught in the prevailing wind
And so the song goes on forever
Let’s love and support our fellow kind

And so we watch the world go by
Beholding such beauty from afar
And so to those truly deserving
For they returned as light from distant star
 
And so we drink in the tea and oranges
From the hand of your intense new love
And I dream of your mind and body
The bird on the wire is our one dove

And so we were embraced once again
From root to branch of the laburnum tree
And so we welcomed the golden chains
Capturing such beauty that we all could see

And so we live in this world of pain
But our spirits never let go the celebration
And so we breathe the air and make love again
Not for new life, but merely pure elation

And so we struggle to avoid the street
Where poor souls live under gathering cloud
And so our dreams may wash away in the rain
Another homeless life ends under dirty shroud

And so we still sing of sin and the fallen
Flickering lights across the backs of the beast
And so to the fields and long may they feed us
For on love and food . . . and music . . . . we forever shall feast
 
Jason, November 2019
 
Thank you to Lance and his Band Unknown, Mark Lynch, Chris Martin, Heather & Simon, Bob & Christy Lee, Helga & Lisa, John, Simon, and Jim, for all your performances.
I hope this “blog” poem is something a bit different and that you enjoy reading it.   J

Lance’s Super Open Mic night did indeed take place on Tuesday 29th October 2019 and was a lovely evening from beginning to end.
 
I kicked off the event with two of my songs…..’In A Gardener’s World’ and ‘Sadie The Flatulent Horse’.
 
Mark kindly stepped in to take the second spot.  He performed the instrumental ‘Classical Gas’ and covered the Mary Black Song ‘No Frontiers’
 
Colin, a good friend, who came along to support me, was up next.   Not everyone will know that we occasionally perform together as a duo called Tom. He performed ‘Neanderthal Man’ and ‘Sign of the Times” with me on background vocals.
 
Chris Martin performed two original songs ‘Life’s a Race’ and was joined by Helga on his song ‘Sanity’
 
Lisa was up next with two original songs “Footsteps and ‘Mid Winter Mist’
 
Simon performed ‘Halloween Song’ with Greg's help on Saxophone and  covered ‘You Don’t Know Me’
 
Jane was up next and performed ‘Wade In The Water’ and Paul Simon’s ‘Kathy’s Song’
 
Helga performed two songs on guitar ‘Stormy Weather’ and ‘Blue Bossa’
 
Keith was up next and assisted by Helga sang two of his songs ‘Baby Steps’ and ‘Tale of two Acorns’.
 
Clive covered a Julian Lennon song ‘Salt Water’ and ‘Save The Last Dance for Me’
 
Heather, who had kindly agreed to swap with Lisa to allow Lisa to leave before the end sang Joni Mitchell’s ‘Little Green’ and a tradition Belfast/Irish song called ‘Black Velvet Band’
 
Penny, who had not been to the 6 Bells for a while performed two songs with Keith providing backing on guitar. The two songs were ‘Bring It On Home To Me’ and Summertime.
 
The final performer of the evening was John who did Rolling Stones songs ‘Ruby Tuesday’ and ‘Wild Horses’.
 
Martin Lee played bass on all the songs and sat quietly in the corner.
 
This was my first open mic and I have learned a few things.  Onwards and upwards.
 
See you all next time
 
Lance of Seaford (retired)