If you only ever do one thing , please make that thing going to see live music.
I managed to see Luther Vandross just the once on his last UK tour before tragedy struck and he was taken. That made us agree to get out and see artists' when they visit our home town , or to travel to see our favourites ( Steely Dan, Jimmy Webb and Richard Hawley etc.,)
Last night was a lucky night, Jimmy Webb playing in Sheffield. It could so easily have been a bar on Bleeker Street in Greenwich village thanks to the atmosphere the artists created.
Previously we had seen J.W. in York a few years ago at a cold and damp Opera House with some 30 people in the audience, never the less the gig was breath taking with songs and stories and the chance to say hello to Jimmy After. We travelled down to Birmingham on Jimmy's last tour where he was supported by his sons (the Webb Brothers) along with Cal Campbell on drums, an even more special evening as the talent on stage was multiplied.
At the memorial hall in Sheffield Jimmy was supported by Nell Bryden a singer songwriter from New York , great songs which I recommend checking out such as goodbye, pavement ends and sirens, a beautiful song linked to 9/11.It,s surprising how many female singers there are on our screens with weak voices and limited if any visible talent, who find it difficult to muster up a couple of words to say to an audience; but by paying for a ticket to see Jimmy Webb you get to see an up and coming talent who can articulate emotions by her voice and guitar playing as well as giving a back-story to each song. Jimmy ahh Jimmy Webb two hours of one man and a piano with stories about the songs he wrote which were sung by : Glen Campbell, Richard Harris, Waylon Jennings, Joe Cocker,Art Garfunkel, Mr. Sinatra and Rosemary Clooney. Stories of wild days, politics , life and the current state of the music industry. In no particular order songs included, All I know, Galveston, Wichita Lineman, This time we almost made it, The highwayman. Some of these songs along with others from his catalogue were written when he was still a teenager, now that is frightening.
There are only three songs that bring a tear to my eye when played live Galveston is one of them, the others being Richard Hawley's Ocean and soldier on. Long may my tear ducts work.
It is a strange world when talent like this plays to a couple of hundred people at the memorial hall in Sheffield and the Arena will sell out for another dance laden mime fest.
Would have been nice to see a few local musicians in the audience it's not everyday you get to see a master class at close hand.
impressed