Reviews

Artist:Mike Silver & Johnny Coppin + Tinderbox
Venue:Bournemouth Folk Club
Town:Bournemouth
Date:25/01/09
Website:http://www.bournemouthfolkclub.com/

A busy start to the year meant that my first foray into the live music scene of 2009 had been delayed longer than I would have like it to happen. So it was with a gladdened heart I made my way to Bournemouth Folk Club for my first gig of the year.

Bournemouth Folk Club had continued it’s regular Sunday night in the slot and whilst I was metaphorically blowing off the cobwebs, everything was on the button, as per usual, at it’s Centre Stage home.

Bournemouth Folk Club features mainly local acts, a good variety of names and styles, all of good quality, but once a month, sometimes twice, a month pushes the boat out to bring in bigger names from the folk and roots scene.

Tonight it was the turn of Mike Silver and Johnny Coppin, two great individual singer/songwriters touring as a duo.

Both Mike Silver and Johnny Coppin are respected writers and interpreters of song in their own right, occasionally coming together for a writing session, recording session or tour. From the moment they come onto the stage, you can sense their relaxed camaraderie and know that the evening is in safe hands.

Both artists have got years of experience to draw on. It’s provided some good between song banter and an easy nod, smile and quick quip on the rare occasions something doesn’t go quite right, such as a complicated one word in one word out sequence on a duet. Brilliant when it’s being executed in a Mike, Johnny, Mike, Johnny format, but almost better when it falls apart and Mike quips, ‘We practiced that in the car on the way here this evening, unfortunately Johnny was in his car and I was in mine.”

It was all the more impressive when Johnny gave a quick count of three and they were straight back into it from a standing start. I’m sure there’s a load of artists that would have simply moved onto the next number.

Mike and Johnny are songwriters of the old school, unrestricted by style and genre, they give the song what they know it needs to be right. That allows for a great deal of variety across the set, country, folk, Americana , a bit of blues, some accapella, the musical equivalent of a variety pack.

The same applies as much to the content of the songs, pretty much every aspect of the human condition is covered across the course of their two sets.

Songs with humour are amongst the most difficult to do, but there was one of Mike’s songs about ten to fifteen year olds being dragged around a folk festival by their parents that brought back a memory or two.

For me one of the most powerful songs of the evening was a song about getting aid into Gaza. It was actually about a previous part of the troubles, but with all the current fuss about what the BBC and SKY News will and won’t show, it was needle point in it’s accuracy.

The song was based on an attempt to provide medical aid and the problems they had with the Israel government to deliver that aid. It features the line “It’s about taking aid not taking sides” A line that highlights what should be a common sense approach.

It’s Burns night, so there’s an almost obligatory Scottish song thrown in. Almost as obligatory is the audience participation with a couple of sing-a-long choruses. I tend to sing quietly just in case I end up ruining someone’s evening.

Having one good singer songwriter on stage is good, having two is a distinct bonus. It allows a bit more flexibility, switching of instruments, styles etc. An odd cover to allow a interpretation of another’s work. You know both artists have got more gigs than they care to remember under their belts, but they still manage make the night feel like it’s yours, that it’s a fresh as when they first put it together.

Tinderbox were the opening act for the evening, switching between duo mode, Monique and Dan and trio mode, adding Kathy Burke into the line for a number of songs.

Monique’s voice, with it’s Irish lilt, has a way of hanging in the air with a sense of anticipation. It draws you into the song, particularly when supported by Kathy’s haunting whistles. The whole is pinned together by Dan's’s understated but vital guitar style.

The band’s songs work well across duo, trio and full band arrangements and it’s difficult to understand why they’ve not managed to breakthrough further afield. YET!

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