Madding Crowd, Bournemouth
It is blowing a hooley outside in Bournemouth town centre with sheeting rain pelting down and rather than stay in watching whatever drivel is broadcast on TV on a Saturday night, I’m here at the Madding Crowd for a night of local musical troubadours. The real original music fans are out for a mouth-watering line-up featuring one of Dorset’s favourite artists Phil “Jinder” Dewhurst. This man’s musical CV is something that many local aspiring musicians can only dream of. Performing with bands Candlefire & The Mercurymen, a string of 12 critically acclaimed solo albums, a track on the soundtrack of a major film, two top 40 charted singles, worked as a tour manager, signed record contracts with major labels and many various international solo tours under his belt, as well as a side venture into motorsport. The venue has been set out intimately with tables and chairs in front of the stage to give the night a club gig feel.
Before Jinder arrives on stage we have the matter of two quality supports. The first from Shaftesbury is Rich Atkinson & The New Billionaires, a unique duo that has crossed my path quite a few times before and always impressed me with their output. They feature frontman Rich Atkinson on acoustic guitar/lead vocals along with Richard Quintin on saxophone. Their music is described as Narrative American featuring strong Jazz influences along with Rich’s pièce de résistance vocal style along the lines of singer Tom Waits. He is also a classic storyteller and each song comes with its own background setting. Tonight we are treated to a string of new songs including a song I personally can totally relate to, “Life is What Happens (When You’ve Got Other Things Planned)”, “Let’s Fall in Love All Over Again” and the upbeat rock n’ roll influenced “Crazy Train”.
Tonight sat at the tables in this relaxed manner is just perfect for listening to what these two Richs have to offer. The thing is that everyone here is so respectful of the music and there is a beautiful silence when these guys are playing, unlike a usual pub-type atmosphere. They end with a couple of their best-known songs “Love Is A Beautiful & Terrible Thing”, a song about a failed relationship and the nautical wonder of “A Postcard From The Ocean”. There are plenty of smiles and lots of applause at the end of their entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable set.
Next up is a great friend and collaborator of Jinder’s, Bridport-based singer/songwriter Peter James Millson who has worked with him on the last couple of albums providing plenty of valuable input. Peter as a soloist has made six albums since his debut in 2014 and has drawn comparisons to the likes of Paddy McAloon, Jackson Browne and Roddy Frame. Peter arrives on stage with his fender telecaster, and electric guitar and with his specs, his stance and guitar position reminds me of Graham Coxon of Blur. I have little or no expectations as I have unfortunately never had the pleasure of his life experience before. His vocal delivery is warm and mellow, with each song you are drawn in by all he has to offer. His songwriting is really impressive and Peter puts a real passion into his delivery, especially on “Summer In September” – a track from his most recent album “The Accidental”, which is about a memorable day out with his son and a so far unreleased gem called “Caught In The Machinery” about being kind to yourself.
Once again the audience sit with a respectful silence and all seem to really enjoy the set, such was the applause and the cheers at the end of each number. I had to laugh internally as not to interrupt the silence as a song called “It’s A Trap” was performed and all I could think about was Admiral Akbar from Star Wars (if you are a fellow Star Wars fan you will understand). Needless to say, it was a great song and Peter’s silky smooth, soothing vocal continued to deliver throughout. It was also great to see his pal and former neighbour Jinder sat at the side of the stage showing his support cheering and clapping with the rest of us. A truly great set indeed and I suspect that we may be hearing some more from him a little later on this evening.
I’ve been fortunate enough to see Jinder in a few quite select locations including a house gig with Billy Bragg, a small craft brewery bar, and as a guest performing on a local radio show I was hosting. Each time I was amazed with the power and emotive properties of his significant voice. Tonight he arrived on stage unannounced and just started singing his opening number, the epic slightly sinister ‘New Maps of Hell’ and immediately the noise within this venue is silenced by his commanding vocal presence – to be honest it gave me goosebumps. The evening continued with Jinder showcasing a few tracks from his forthcoming album Codetta, which is due out in April 2023. The first was “A Simple Song”, a personal song that came out of lockdown inspired by the marriage to his second wife in August of last year and just the yearning for life to be a little more simplistic. The other two are “Isabel” and “Between Vermillion & Mitchel”‘; I leave some mystery over these songs so you will have to wait until the album is out to discover them, and needless to say they are certainly worth waiting to hear.
After some serious heart and covid related illnesses over the last 18 months, thankfully the singer/songwriter is looking healthier than ever and seems to be seriously pleased to be playing within the local vicinity again. His mood is quite jovial and he turns comedian at some point telling some great stories including some advice that the late great Jackie Leven gave Jinder about not farting on stage as audiences notice everything. There was also a wonderful story while on tour in America with Glen Matlock, but I’ll let Jinder tell you that next time you see him live. (I promise it’s hilarious). The set included some of his best work from across the back catalogue including the single ‘Overthinkers Anonymous’ and the track used on Fisherman’s Friends movie ‘Keep Me in Your Heart. The encores arrive far too soon and Peter returns with his electric guitar to accompany Jinder on his final two numbers ending this fantastic evening with some style.
Jinder
New Maps of Hell
Yer Life in Rain
A Simple Song
Isabel
Between Vermillion & Mitchell
Diving Board
Kamloops, BC
Shawcross
Over thinkers Anonymous
Keep Me in Your Heart
Encores: (with Peter James Millson)
The Train to the Sky
I Still Believe
Peter James Millson
Summer In September
Lead Or Follow
It’s a Trap
Caught in the Machinery
Rich Atkinson & The New Billionaires
Sister, Stay Away From the Buffet
Life is What Happens (When You’ve Got Other Things Planned)
On The Edge of Guilty
Key to Life
Let’s Fall in Love All Over Again
Will You Walk Me to the End of the Street
Beauty in Ruins
Romeo is Bleeding (Tom Waits Cover)
Is it Raining Where You Are Too?
Crazy Train
Love is A Beautiful & Terrible Thing
A Postcard From The Ocean
Videos
Links
http://www.jinder.co.uk
http://richatkinsonandthenewbillionaires.com
https://peterjamesmillson.bandcamp.com
Article by David Chinery.
Photographs by Lynn Burt.
http://lynnfrancesphotography.co.uk
