Lighthouse, Poole
After a Summer break, Hangover Hill’s Live & Unheard returns to the Lighthouse in Poole, offering one of the best monthly music showcases in the South of England. Before the event starts the news breaks of the death of our Monarch Queen Elizabeth II, the Lighthouse are quick to get a spokesperson to stand up in front of the audience and offer sincere condolences to the Queen’s family. Tonight’s host, the illustrious Si Genaro performs his own heartfelt emotive harmonica tribute of the National Anthem. Music to me has always been a great comfort in difficult times and it’s decided the best thing is to respectfully continue with tonight’s programme. It’s a great call by the Lighthouse and is really appreciated by the gathered audience who will possibly never forget tonight for that very reason.
The first act of the evening is a duo from Wiltshire who is made up of Lorna Somerville (Acoustic Guitar/Mandolin/Vocals) and Darren Fisher (Acoustic Guitar/Harmonica/Vocals) who are collectively known as Fly Yeti Fly. The duo are favourites amongst the Folk and festival community, with them gaining lots of positive comments from the host of performances. The duo set the mood for the evening with the opening number “Stay Humble”, where Lorna shows off her fine dulcet vocal that radiates beautifully around this wonderfully acoustic room. Her delicate finger-picked guitar work sounds sublime and despite a few obvious nerves, her skills shine through. Darren inially starts off with some subtle backing vocals before taking a more involved role as the set moves forward. Lorna explains that she has a historic connection to the Lighthouse, as her Mother (like mine) used to work here; (then Poole Arts Centre) over 30 years ago, selling tickets in the box office and she has some very happy memories of attending events here.
We are treated to a full background explanation of each number before it is played and this duo have a host of great stories to tell as each song has its own unique tale. The songs such as “Pleasure & Pain” about the highs & lows of life, a revolutionary number called “Cannonball” and “Firefly” about having a bad day; all provide the attentive audience with a welcome distraction to the news and some wonderful entertainment. “Firewood” is a highlight as the band really find their stride with some impressive vocal harmonies and some superbly executed skilful strings work. The duo end on the emotive “See You On The Other Side” and as they finish, the audience gives them lots of appreciation that they both really deserve for a fine performance.
The second act of the evening is teenage singer-songwriter from Salisbury Becca Maule; who has put together a band for this evening featuring Libby on bass and new drummer Vincent, who has apparently only had three rehearsals with the band before this evening’s show. This young lady has plenty to say about a host of subjects from the perspective of a teenage girl living in difficult modern times. With songs like “Little Girl” about feeling like a youngster trapped in an adult world growing up too fast and “Mother Nature” giving her views on climate change. There are plenty of three-dimensional influences going on, but overall she seems to be coming from a Punk/alternative direction with plenty of youthful angst in her delivery, imagine a sort of punk rock Kate Nash. “Affliction Of Melancholy” is a powerful composition dedicated to her late father, showing lots of seemingly needless pain and suffering. The best number though is left to last with the wonderfully insightful recent single “Teenage Things” about mental health and how people try to ignore it and brush it under the carpet, hoping it will just go away. Becca shows plenty of flashes of musical potential, however, there is plenty of work needed on improving the instrumentation and vocal delivery. There is lots of positive support for this trio here tonight and an evening like this show can only build their confidence in performing further.
Tonight’s worthy headliners are the Jonny Phillips Trio featuring an experienced bunch of musical friends who have performed together in each other’s company for quite a while. Jonny performs Guitar/Vocals with Kris Venzi-James on five-string headless Bass and Justin Young (Drums). Previously they can be found together performing in Krista Green & The Bees and folk outfit Willowen. Though this is a relatively new project, their friendships bring wonderful chemistry to the band and this shows in their recent creativity and performance. Kicking off with a bright colourful number “My Life’s Mine” that dates back to the Willowen days, the band have the audience on their side from the start. It’s hard not to like Jonny, he plays the unorganised fool on stage but really everything is not left to chance and each member knows exactly what they have to do.
Another one of Jonny’s classic compositions “Nag Champa” (an Indian Fragrance used in incense) is the perfect feelgood song to brighten anyone’s mood. The song wonderfully evolves and each time I have heard it over the years it changes with many nice twists and turns, once again it takes on a whole new feel. Today is also the release of the brand new single from the forthcoming EP “Yang”, following the release of “Yin” in January of this year. The track “Never Change” is some fatherly advice to Jonny’s headstrong daughter Marley. It was inspired by Marley’s eccentric personality and is a reminder to her and others that your best self is your true self. The song is one of the band’s best to date and features some wonderful creativity with the song truly coming alive when performed in front of you. The set ends with “Admiring The View” and the band give the audience an opportunity for a sing-a-long to which they duly oblige. This ends a great evening of local artists all performing their own original material in a perfect setting, with an audience that truly appreciates what this event is all about.
Set Lists
Jonny Phillips Trio
My Life’s Mine
Liferaft
Burning Rocks
Black Holes
Nag Champa
Never Change
Too Many Tracks
Admiring The View
Becca Maule
Sleeping in The Day
Creatures
I Never Asked to Stay
Little Girl
More Than a Friend
Mother Nature
Affliction of Melancholy
Teenage Things
Fly Yeti Fly
Stay Humble
Pleasure & Pain
Cannonball
Mermaid
Fireflies
Firewood
See You On The Otherside
Videos
Links
https://www.facebook.com/TherealJP3
https://www.facebook.com/becca.maule.9
https://www.facebook.com/flyyetifly
The next Live & Unheard at Lighthouse, Poole features Regional One, Day of The Red Sun and Missing Digit on Thursday 13th October. Tickets are just £12 and can be purchased here.
Words & Media by David Chinery (Chinners)
