Uncle Tom's Arthur's Day gig

The Cabin Sessions

Arthur’s Day 22/ 09/ 11

Angela Macari O’Looney

Lynda Lucas is a Country/Roots/Soul singer whose music took my attention a few years ago. Originally lead singer of The Cherry Pickers, she went solo when they split up, and has since recorded an E.P. and an album. Travelling to Nashville on many occasions, she featured in two TV shows which proved a huge success.

She gigs around Dublin regularly and in ’09, featured with the Lisa Janes on Balcony TV singing Wayfaring Stranger. Her guitarist Brendan Priestly compliments Lynda’s vocals with close harmony and both guitars blend very well.

I was delighted to be at Uncle Tom’s Cabin for Arthur’s Day, where Lynda and Brendan were performing, along with many other fab artists.

MC Gerry Fitzpatrick (The Sick & Indigent Song club) introduced the evening, explaining that this particular sessions gig requests for the punters to keep a hush for each artist and give them some support. I find this really impressive and prefer it to the kind of gig where punters drown out what’s happening onstage.

The McGrane Family

The first act was a family who each play instruments and are very enjoyable singers, yet each has a distinctive vocal style. Their album Fair and tender Ladies is available at gigs. Noreen performed the first number, which was made famous by The Carter Family; Bury me under the Weeping Willow Tree. I found her autoharp added atmosphere. Other musicians were invited to add a riff or a note at will, and this laid back mood was quite contagious, with the gradual addition of Gerry Fitzpatrick on Dobro, three acoustic guitars, Con Butler on bass and Cathy McEvoy on fiddle. A younger member of the McGranes, Ellen performed a wonderful number that had divine guitar chords and a delightful melody line. Other songs in their set included Miss Ohio, Craw Daddy, I would rather go blind. Cannonball; An up-tempo song about a train, this lifted the mood a little and went down well with the growing audience.

Ellen performed a great version of Baby, now that I found you, which is a popular song made famous by The Foundations. People sang along with the chorus and it was probably the most enjoyable of the set. Noreen sang a folk/Spiritual number called The Tempest. The last number was led by Brian and Harry McGrane. This was a Bob Dylan cover and a great choice to finish their set with.

The Mellowchords

This fantastic barber shop septet began their set with a show stopping version of Hello Mary Lou. They also did Under the boardwalk, Bye Bye Love, and after shouts for an encore they finished up with an oldie that’s perfect for close harmony. Hello! Ma baby and dates back as far as 1899; Not quite as old as the home of the black stuff!

Pat McGonnigle & Dylan McCauley

Pat and Dylan performed an excellent set which included a fab cover of No woman, No cry, which featured Dylan performing lead vocals, Pat singing harmony. With one on acoustic and the other on Steel Guitar, they created a full sound. Pat performed The Walkin’ blues and his guitar riffs were impressive here, with lots of bluesy bits using slider included in this slinky piece. This number has been covered by many famous people including a particularly amazing version performed by Rory Gallagher. The lads were able to bring this song to life in their own unique fashion!

Lynda Lucas

Next up were Lynda and Brendan, who started their set with a number that was written by The Cherry Pickers. Evangeline involves Brendan Priestly performing the verse, with Lynda joining him for the choruses. He performed a sweet guitar solo and this three four number involved a wonderful melody line and delicious harmonies.

My Morphine was performed by Lynda, with Brendan doing backing vocals. This sad song is about addiction and the lyrics are the words of a man who is reflecting on happier times, before his lady was changed by addiction. Chords are plucked and Lynda’s clear and emotion-filled portrayal of the story was moving.

They finished with Sin City (Gram Parsons). This version involved excellently performed harmony, with Lynda singing lead vocals.

Kevin Davenport

The last act of this fascinating show was Dublin Blues/Country/Swing singer Kevin Davenport. This young man has an amazing way with a guitar and even dresses the part, as his costume would make you believe you were stepping out of a time tunnel into a 1940s bar room.

Kevin began his set with an Emmet Miller number Sweet Mama. Also among his influences are names such as Robert Johnson, The Cheap suit entertainers and Al Jolson. You hear all of these music styles coming through in his performance.

He continued with a Rory Gallagher cover, Seven Days. A slinky intro was played using his impressive guitar expertise, with the use of a slider adding to the seductive feel of the number. Kevin’s riffs are so effective between each line and then he finishes the song with a flamboyant flourish of flamenco type strumming.

Sugar Moon, which is a cover from Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys, was Kevin’s last song. It reminds me of My Blue Heaven, with the pace choppy and cheerful. He has a great way of charming his audience and I found his act unique and memorable.

Finale

All of the performers joined in for a last number to end the evening. They chose Blue Moon of Kentucky, which went down a treat, especially with the slow start and then the pace picking up. The merging of instruments and voices took the atmosphere up a notch and Cathy’s fiddle, the auto harp and the various interesting guitars all mingled to enrich the huge crescendo.