The Last High

Saturday 28th November: ...and it's a "tear-in-the-eye" evening for York music fans as The Yards play their final gig at the Duchess. Roy and I (sometimes referred to as the B-team) are attending to say "Hail and farewell!" to one of York's finest bands.

First up, though, are The Federals. We've seen them before (during our first visit to the Duchess) and, as a package, they aren't really my thing. I can't remember whether any of the songs they played tonight were on the set list the first time we saw them but, looking back on the post for that night, my overall opinions hasn't really changed. Their songs are short, sharp shocks to the system, with some pretty good musician-ship. Unfortunately, there is little variation in style or content. The band also need a good lyricist - currently their songs are pretty much one-line repetition, with little or no meaning and the words are more shouted than sung. More punk than garage, in my opinion, and I'm not a big fan of either. As I said last time, The Federals are good at what they do, it's just that what they do isn't for me.

But, we weren't there for The Federals, we were there for The Yards. Frontman Chris Helme set out his stall early one by stating that, although this was their final ever gig, they didn't want it to be a sombre occasion and that they were aiming for their best gig ever. They then started the first of two sets, featuring their more mellow output. This gave us what seems to be a rare chance to see guitarist Chris Farrell standing almost still and hear Helme's incredible vocals with clarity (if only the place wasn't half full of people who had turned up to chat - honestly, if they want to talk to each other, why bother buying a ticket for a gig???)

Intermittently throughout the evening, the band was joined by guest musicians (Alan Leach, drummer from Shed Seven, on a rather large bongo drum, and two ladies whose names I didn't catch on violin and cello) as well as being permanently joined by backing vocalist Andrew Stone (or, possibly, Stowe - apparently a talented singer-songwriter himself but, I'm afraid Google has let me down info-wise...) With keyboard-player Jon Hargreaves also providing vocals, this gives their songs an almost unique harmonic and the strings added an extra dimension to an otherwise fairly standard rock gig.

Speaking of rock, the second set featured the band's heavier, louder output. With songs from both studio albums, as well as at least one from the live gig in York Minster a few years back, we were treated to what was, essentially, The Very Best of The Yards, including my favourites Cars and The Devil Is Alive And Well And In D.C. (written when the world was a bit sh*t...). There really wasn't a duff song in the two sets and, with the heavier stuff we got to see Farrell cut loose a bit with the guitar (although not as much as the first time I saw him perform).

Was it a fitting farewell? Well, it was a really good gig but, for me, it lacked something, I don't know, "monumental" maybe. I mean, there was nothing bad about it but I can't help but think that the occasion was getting to the band a bit and that they weren't perhaps giving their all, despite Helme's comment at the beginning. It was a better-than-good gig, it just wasn't a great one.

And so another chapter of the York music story closes. Was it a big chapter? Perhaps not. The Yards had been together seven years and only released two studio albums. They seemed, to me to play only intermittently. While I haven't been gigging in York for too long, I've only managed to catch them twice (and missed them twice). They did, however, produce one of my favourite "local" albums in Imperial Measures - a worthy addition to any music fans collection. And how many bands can boast that they have played York Minster twice?? So, in the long run, the closing chapter may not be a big one, but there's little doubt in my mind that it was an important one. Charismatic frontman Helme has already release a solo album and there was a promise that there was more to come from all the band members. There has been no mention of why the band are splitting up so I can only assume that it's a friendly break.

R.I.P. The Yards and good luck in your individual endeavours.

Midweek Blues

Wednesday 18th November: It's a mid-week trip for the three regulars this week as an act we have have previously seen supporting Johnny Winter is headlining at Fibbers. We were also joined by a Fibbers debutante and potential new regular.

First up was Ryan Spendlove, a man with a blue guitar (so Roj was impressed) and a clear, very strong voice. He was previously frontman for the Blueskins - the only band I've ever come across who are/were based in Gawthorpe. His set started strongly, with tracks called as Medicine and Bye Bye. Then came something I assume was called Lies (or, possibly, Lies Lies) and which seemed to turn him into a West Yorkshire version of Billy Bragg. Lyrically amusing, but perhaps a little shouty, this track was, for me, the last highpoint of the set. Not that the rest was bad, you understand, it's just that the songs started to sound a bit samey. Internet search results indicate that Ryan is a Blues guitarist. I'm not going to argue with them but his music didn't really fit in with my (albeit somewhat limited) experience of the Blues. A reasonable start to the evening.

Next on stage was Fox'N'North - members of Vudu-Blues band Hijak Oscar. Now, Andy was with us tonight and he's not exactly enamoured of Hijak Oscar so we weren't paying as much attention as we maybe should have been. To be fair, though, they certainly fit my definition of the Blues a bit more than Ryan Spendlove did, albeit with a little bit more harmonica than is necessary. From what I heard, they didn't sound too bad and the set was certainly better than when we saw the full band at The Duchess a few months back. They finished with Dylan's Rock Me Mama, a favourite from the Hazzard County days, which gained them extra respect from me.

Finally, Ian Siegal and his band (Andy Graham on bass and Nikolaj Bjerre on drums). Ian definitely plays the Blues and plays them well. The last time we saw him, we didn't know what to expect. Having heard him, though, we knew we were in for a treat. Ian's occasionally humour-laden lyrics are performed with an incredible vocal range which belies his deep, gruff speaking voice. His guitar playing is superb, mixing bottle-neck and traditional styles. This tour is to promote new album, Broadside (Mojo magazine's Blues album of the month and, if Ian is to be believed, soon to be announced Blues album of the year) so most of the tracks are from that album. There was one, however, that I thought I recognised from the last time we saw him. Unfortunately, I didn't catch any of the titles.

Ian and his band performed a well-crafted set - building to a show-ending crescendo, leaving the reasonably sized audience clamouring for more before Ian takes to the stage to perform a solo track from his The Dust album (not one he wrote but one that, according to the author, he performs like he wrote). Finally it's the full band again with and incredible final song. Throughout the set, Ian shows a very dry wit, commenting on the size of the audience and the luxurious Travelodge that the band will be staying in before their next gig, amongst other things.

This was, as we expected, a highly entertaining and well-performed gig. I just have one criticism - if you are touring to promote and album, should you not have it on sale at the gig?

I Want A Bike...

Friday 30th October: The Chantel McGregor Band is, as I have said before, an act that I would go out of my way to see. So, it's a surprise to find that tonight's gig at the Roman Bath is only the second time this year that I've managed to catch one of their gigs. (I know I missed their last visit to York as it clashed with my visit to the York Beer Festival and I think the previous one clashed with another gig.)

There's little I can add to what I have already posted about Chantel's prodigious talent with a guitar but I have to say that tonight's set was, in my opinion, the least impressive that I have seen by her. That's not to take anything away from Chantel - she played as brilliantly as ever - it's just that there was a lot of the set that I wasn't familiar with and some of my favourites were missing. Yes, we got songs from the likes of Hendrix (Red House and Voodoo Chile), Jethro Tull (Living In Past), Ten Years After, Joe Satriani (Up In The Sky) and Joe Bonamassa (Mountain Time), but where was Clapton/Cream, Steve Vai and Fleetwood Mac??

Hey ho, I guess if she played the same set every time, I'd be complaining of too little variation.

I'm beginning to get the impression that Chantel is getting a loyal following at the Bath (as she seems to have at other venues) as the applause tonight was mixed with cheers and howls of appreciation. But there are still people who, until tonight, were yet to experience one of her gigs. Members of York's own Morpheus Rising were in tonight's audience and I have it on good authority that the wife of one was "blown away". It was interesting (and slightly amusing) to see the looks on the faces of some of the casual punters who wandered in, heard the music and then noticed who was playing it.

After another excellent set, we headed outside for our usual round of banter and despite Andy telling us at least three times that he had to head off, he was just getting round to unlocking his Brompton as Chantel, her band and parents left the pub. For some reason, she thought it would be a good idea to have a go on the bike. So, much the our amusement (and that of band members Martin and Alex) and the apparent consternation of her parents, Andy dutifully lowered the seat (twice!) and off she wobbled around St Sampson's Square. "Can you play guitar while doing that?" shouted Martin from his car. We have a suspicion that she may well be able to, with just a little more practice.