Reviews

Artists:The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
Venue:The Rose
Town:Kingston
Date:10/05/09
Website:http://www.ukuleleorchestra.com/main/home.aspx

Hadn't planned to go out that evening, but glancing through the local paper we suddenly noticed that the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain were playing nearby, so plans for an early night were scuppered.

The Rose Theatre are currently showing "The Winslow Boy", so the stage was laid out like a drawing room, with table lamps, desks etc. Sadly, like most theatres, they are hot on their anti-camera policy, so you'll have to take my word that it was very tasteful, and complemented the orchestra well.

For some reason, the normal octet was reduced to a sextet, with neither Kitty Lux nor Hester Goodman being there. I've since checked on their web-site, and there's no mention of a rift, so I don't think there's anything to worry about.

Without the girls, there was a couple of their stunning set pieces that they were unable to do, (all of them playing one ukulele; everyone playing the ukulele to their right and "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" where two of them hold the fretboards of a couple of ukuleles, whilst the others walk round in a figure of eight strumming them) but despite that it was still put on a hugely impressive, yet hilarious show.

I've tried to put together a set list, but I could have made a few errors, as many of their introductions were very witty, but quite cryptic - "If you're a food lover, this is a song about spaghetti. All the way from Spain." was how they introduced "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly". Many of their songs start off as one thing and end as another, and my notes got confused. I think there's ony one song I don't know; an instrumental which featured George Hinchcliffe (with his "big fat sausage fingers", playing a tiny ukulele).

The Orchestra are, indeed, an orchestra, with their songs beautifully scored, so that they all play different harmonies and rhythms to give a full and complete sound. They play from a range of genres, featuring songs as diverse as Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" to "When You're Smiling". Some songs, like Hawkind's SIlver Machine they play a faithful reproduction of the original, (yes seriously you have to listen to it to believe me), whereas other songs, such as "Wuthering Heights", they have adapted to fit their own unique style.

For example, misinterpreting what the name "Morrisey" meant, they played a Morris Dancing version of "Girlfriend in a Coma" (at least, I think that's what it was), which also included "Dam Busters" and the "1812 Overture".

A good example as to how complex their songs are is "Life on Mars". It starts off with just Jonty Bankes, (bass ukulele) singing the David Bowie song, but the others gradually come in, singing completely different songs, 'till by the end they are playing "Life On Mars", "My Way", "For Once In My Life", "Born Free", "Substitute", and "Someday I'll Fly Away".

Their sense of humour was shown when they played Jonti's audition piece to demonstrate why the rest of them chose him to play Bass. He whistled. Also, with "Yes Sir, That's My Baby.". They played a scat version, a jazz term for singing nonsense words instead of the real words, which changed half way into the Goons' "The Ying Tong song".

Their adaptability was shown by "Pinball Wizard", sung totally a capella.

Highlights, though, were "Smells Like Teen Spirit", in which Dave Suich let out his pony tail and head-banged, and "Leaning on a Lampost" in which, somehow, they managed to achieve the impossible by making their ukuleles sounding like balalaikas.

They are playing during Broadstairs folk week, so with luck, I'll catch them again this year. Might see you there too?

Set list was:

Set 1
Running Wild
Silver Machine
Life on Mars
Anarchy in the UK
Shaft
(Instrumental)
Hot Tamale
Thunderball
Yes Sir, That's My Baby
Pinball WIzard
Girlfriend in a Coma
Fly Me to the Moon

Set 2
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Hard To Handle
When You're Smiling
Rock Around the Clock
Limehouse Blues
Jonty's Audition Piece
Leaning on the Lampost
Wuthering Heights
Smells Like Teen Spirit

Encore
Hotel California/I Will Survive
Should I Stay Or Should I Go

Pete Bradley

Photos are illustrative, not taken at the gig