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6 May, 2016
CAM BROWN WINS THE AUDIENCE WITH HIS FLIGHT OF SONG
It was a musical night. Not to say there was no poetry but music was definitely the theme. The audience was geared for it but Cam was always a step ahead. His fingers move like lightning, his grey curly hair swings round his shining face, his eyes smiling, and you know what follows will be lyrics that catch you 'off-guard' and keep you listening till you're hysterical laughing! He plays to the audience, loves it and it shows! His songs were from the '50s, '60s and '70s. His influences, Paddy Roberts and Jake Thackeray.
Having read, 'They don't make characters like Paddy Roberts anymore - the civilised English gentleman type - his humour recalling a time when mischief could be made with the inclusion of a double entrendre, - a 'nod and a wink'.. (Paddy, called one of his albums, 'vulgar', then delivered a charming series of a more refined era of British humour!)' That, for me, aptly describes Cam's style. Risqué but gentle and too clever to be not taken lightly!
From the time Cam took to the stage, he had his audience well in grasp. My favourite, an American song, 'She Left me for Jesus', was a big hit. But then, so was 'The Ram of Derbyshire', 'Christopher Columbo' which got laughs galore. Cam went on with 'The Finding of Moses', 'Cowboy Poem', a contest between two cowboys who had to use 'Timbuck Too' in a poem – 'The Philosophers Song', 'Bedbug Song', (hysterical), Sister Josephine (well known tune), 'The Vicar and the Frog', 'Tights in White Satin', 'The Tattooed Lady', 'The Ballad of the Two Town Shoes', 'A 'Cautionary Tale', 'The Hole', and finally, 'Let's Do It'. He could have gone on and on. No one left their seats. They loved it and he did as well. Cam runs the Open Mic at Chelsea Arts Club, London. He has a collection of guitars and has been playing over 50 years (he must have started at age 5!) He is a star, in every sense of the word! A man who leaves his audience humming his songs long after they've left the room and maybe even looking up the songs and doing a bit of karaoke when they get home.
Meantime, the Open Mic had Richard Barnes on guitar singing about the lonely sailor, 'Ready for the Storm'. Then, 'Our Town', where things have changed – and the good things become memories to hold onto. Richard Hawtree read his poem, which was entered in the Limerick Poetry Trail and is on display in Archer's Clothing Store, Ellen St, in Limerick. 'April's Flame', about the welcoming of Spring. 'Let Spring sway in both your wintry hips and linger where the wind is strongest in the April air'.
Sondhild read 'Aegean', a very descriptive piece about living in Greece. Barry Smith did 'Antidote for Babylon', about the Tennyson Walk around the edge of the Isle of Wite. 'a walk, well worth taking!' He followed that with 'Airbourne', about a 'brush' with the eagle owl, 'who have been targeting bald headed men!' The audience laughed at Barry's shiney head. He followed with a tale about Yehudi Menuhin who owned the oldest concert Stradiverious which he lent to a man named Giles, who accidentally dropped it, and as it tumbled down the stairs, Yehudi just got another violin! Barry detailed the contrast between the Canterbury and Chichester Cathedrals, always with the eagle owl in view
Leslie Prior read, 'Getting Out of the Box'(of crisps – trying not to break any,) which she knew she had to do. To ensure it, she got the suntan and is keeping her scruffy hair, to remind of the 'good times' that are there ahead of her, after her 'careful' escape. Chris Sangster read an 'ode' to his new conservatory, 'Through the Roof', where you see sky, sun, rain, changing seasons. Then, on his 'baby guitar', aka ukelele, he did 'Sweet Dreams' describing how love makes the world go round. Jilly Funnell followed with her guitar and a lovely song, 'El Paso', based on rock country singer, Marty Robbins. She then sang 'Dublin Wife', the poor woman left at home as hubby goes round the poetry circuit but she finally gets on-line to do some research, only to type right into hubby's profile!
David Roberts did 'Shakespeare's Skull' which was stolen. Then, 'Black Swan', with bright red beak. Wild and dangerous - a free spirit. Finally, 'Never Trust a Naked Bus Driver'. Certainly tell your teenage daughters to never trust one! Murrough read from his book, 'The Moment You Know', a poem about 'It's out...the secret...but you'll still never be free'. Then, he told about the experimenting and curiosity of young children – all so exciting - but also irritating'. Paddy Brady and guitar, got up to sing 'I Loved the Ground She Walked Upon', written during the time of Joyce, but he knew she'd never have him'. Then, an Irish song, 'Maloney wants a drink'. Everyone sang along. Bruce Parry followed with some lilting Irish tunes on his hammer dulcimer. 'My Own House', (lovely) followed by 'A Walk in the Park'. Gwenith Trudy Griffith dedicated her life to collecting everything about Queen Victoria. Her one regret – not living in the V&A museum.
Liz Verlander won the audience with her clever poetry and excellent performance style. 'What would I say to my 20 year old self'. 'Eat chips'. Divorced 5 years ago, she read 'I have a crush'.'I have no right to have the crushes, when gone are the days of girly blushes, and I should be focusing on hot flushes!' (Please come back, Liz. You are a star!). Her poem, 'Upeck' about Charlie having nothing against pigeons, indeed he is tolerant of all religions..Charlie is a seagull and just feels all pigeons should go back to Trafalgar Square to be with their own kind. (oh yeah - Ukip, lend an ear).
All in all, a very good evening. People laughing all the way out the door, commenting that this was 'our best evening yet' (said so often but we still love to hear it). This was our first time in Townhouse and it's a perfect venue for our gigs so please try and come over and see for yourself! We're always getting new people, new talent but the comments stay the same. It's our ninth year but we're still bringing in new talent and a good audience!
Cam Brown's friends won the raffle for The Half Moon meal for two, so that means a trip back from Surrey to our part of town!
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