Now having decided not to travel to see The Dylan Project I put plan B into action. Vic had said that he was going to Ryde to see an Irish band at Yelf's Tap so I thought I would suprise him and turn up.The suprise was on me, as when I got there, I found Vic wasn't. I also didn't find an Irish band, but a duo called 'On the Edge'. One half was a guy known locally as Irish Dave, the other half I didn't know. Vic had said that the session would start at around 4pm and end at 6pm. Wrong it had started at 3pm and was due to end at 5pm.
I entered the gig at about 4.55pm. What I caught I enjoyed although the sound wasn't brilliant and the volume was a bit too loud so the interplay between guitar and mandolin was lost a little. Nevertheless I did witness a fine rendition of Dylans, Senor (Tales of Yankee Power). Also included in the short time I was there were The Waterboys, Fishermans Blues and A Bang on the Ear, the standard old Whisky In the Jar, Dylan's Forever Young and the set was finished with Summer of '69, I think it's by John Cougar Mellencamp I'm not sure.
Then an encore. A self penned love song called You Keep Walking Away. It was just what I needed to get the evening off to a good start. Not spectacular, but enjoyable.
Back to windswept Gurnard and The Portland has 'Henry's Pocket Jazz Band' performing for the evening. Henry is one time member of Mind Exchange, Jack Tait. Jack is in fine form as usual cracking witty jokes in between numbers.
Then I'm off to the Woodvale. Now the summer is over the pub is not so packed, still there are alot of people in, and Gypsy Jazz are performing, accompanied by Simon King of the Island Drum Circle.
There is no doubt that Messers Armfield, Mansell and O'Riordan (I think I spelt it right !!!) are the bees knees when it comes down to entertainment. Donal's fiddle soars high and Paul's stand up bass thumps out a rythm that you just have to jump to, and Johns guitar is tight and clean and fast.
The music is as good as ever and they do this number, which for a minute I thought was from Donal Lunny's new album Coolfin, but it wasn't, but I was intrigued so I asked Donal if it was influenced by it. The answer was typical of Donal. " No, I wrote it last week."
We then briefly discuss The Coolfin album and Donal virtually repeats what The Irish Times review read. "It's the drums, there is to much of it" Well that put me in my place.
So the band go back for the second set and they the pub up and stomping. Great Stuff. Jane and I head back up the hill and finish off at the Portland with Jack again.
Lifes Rich Pageant continues . . .
Benjamin Bowmaneer