Sunday Night, October 25th was the last night of the Seasonal Worker. Yes Keith Gore is going home.
LIVE FROM THE PORTLAND
G O O D B Y E
It hasn't been a good season for number one Blade fan Keith. Illness has dogged his stay on this Diamond Wight Isle,plus he's had to get to grips with some strange things in the village. I can't say what they are as they mean nothing to me or to anyone else.
But the gig which was conjoured together the other night was like a "It Ain't 'alf Hot Mum " type thingy.
Norman your original saxophone man from Church Road playing a number by Billie Holiday, God Bless The Child and a superb rendition of Watching The River Flow started the evening off on a high note.
Next up is Gary, he of the brilliant classical guitar. Gary has performed with the best, one Snowy White comes to mind. His set consists of several solo pieces which to me are delivered with outstanding precision. It's down to Gary that there is such a good sound in he pub, and Gurnard is really lucky to have a talent like him in it's midst.
At about nine it was Keith Gore with what I believe was the best set I have ever seen him perform. On the basis of this Isle of Wight Rock should definitely think about backing a CD release for our friend from the North.
Chip Shop Kate starts us off, full of those quirky little anecdotes that makes Keith's lyrics stand along side Ray Davies of the Kinks. Then there is a new song called Menopause which believe it or not silences the crowd packed into The Portland Inn, Gurnard. Keith giving us all a lesson in testosterone.
Keith now feeling confident asks for requests and Ivan Greenham responds with a shout for 'Quality Time.' A song all about those people of broken marriages. Keith delivers and it's all about the break up, the kids and the time for which everyone looks for when alone in reflection.
Nutcutlet is sung for the first time in ages and tells us all about his lovely lady 'Nut' and the audience is captivated by the stuff. A quick break with Norman filling in on sax and people rushing to fill their pint glasses.
Next up it's yours truly doing an instrumental entitled 'Walking Up A Hill At 45 Degrees.' A number inspired by a walk which Keith undertook out to the Tennyson Monument.
Joel Turner and Dominic Kelly late of the Milkman's Son are up to perform 3 songs.Interesting enough the first one is taken from the Woody Guthrie tribute CD Mermaid Avenue album by Billy Bragg. This must be a first that a Woody Guthrie song has ever been done in the Portland. Walt Whitmans Niece is delivered with a couple of mistakes but the audience recognise nerves and balls and they quickly get into Green Days 'Time of Your Life.' They finish with a Jeff Buckley song 'Eternal Life .' They get a rousing reception on finishing and perhaps it's the start of something new.
Keith's up for a second set and he's into Isle of Wight Rocks anthem, Diamond Wight. I lend a hand on harmony vocals which Keith later tells me was realy good.
We are now planning on doing something in January when I go North for a Reading game in Nottingham. But Diamond Wight is a brilliant portrait of the book and the only thing missing on the night is Chris Colley who could have done his Mr. Dyelon thing. Then something strange happens Keith does a song called Pendle Hill, a place in the Colne Valley and it's sung in a traditional style which Steeleye Span or Eliza Carthy would have been proud of. It was stunning and I certainley saw a side of Keith which I have never seen on the performing stage before.
His last number is The Last Resort and it's a tale of the end of summer and the desolation which besets a seaside town at the end of the summer season. A story of shattered dreams.
So it's the end of the evening and the Portland has apparently enjoyed one of it's best Sundays for ages. I wonder why?
See Ya Later Keith.
Pete Turner
