Post by wingsj0 on Feb 4, 2006 21:08:30 GMT
ROD CLEMENTS 6th March 2005 - The Greys Pub Brighton - By Paul & Pam Clarkson.
Anyone who listened to music throughout the 1970’s would have heard of the folk/rock group Lindisfarne who came from Newcastle. I was lucky enough to see them on 1st November 1971 at the Dome theatre in Brighton where they were supported by a little known group called Genesis. When Lindisfarne came back on for their encore that night, they invited their fans to join them on stage, which they eagerly did (myself included) and promptly received a lifetime ban from playing the Dome. The ban was lifted years later and they appeared on 13th December 1986 for a Christmas show, we won tickets for the show and a signed album called ‘Dance Your Life Away’ in a competition in our local evening paper.
Rod Clements was the bass player and one of the main songwriters with Lindisfarne, the group went on to have hits such as ‘Meet Me On The Corner’, ‘Lady Eleanor’ and ‘Run For Home’ including huge album success with ‘Fog On The Tyne’ and ‘Dingly Dell’. The Lindisfarne line up in 1971 was Alan Hull (lead guitar, vocals & keyboards) Ray Jackson (lead vocals, harmonica & mandolin) Simon Cowe (guitar) Ray Laidlaw (drums) and Rod Clements (bass), they were joined on the 1986 tour by Steve Daggett and Marty Craggs.
We were very pleased to see that Rod who in his own words ‘has stepped out of the sidelines to show himself centre-stage and play some solo gigs’ was, much to our delight, coming to our local ‘The Greys Pub’, which is situated in the Hanover area of Brighton and is a very well known music venue in the town. The capacity on gig nights is only 75 people so we always get there early to grab a couple of seats right in front of the stage as it gives the evening a more personal feel, you’re sitting so close you can literally reach out and touch the artist. Tonight when we arrived Rod was sitting at the bar enjoying a drink before his performance, it’s that sort of place.
Rod took to the stage, bid us all a good evening and began with a song called ‘Satisfied’ followed by a lovely bluesy song called ‘Blue Interior’ which was from his album ‘Stamping Ground’. In this part of the show he also performed 2 more tracks from the same album ‘Charity Main’ and ‘Roads of East Northumberland’. These were songs written about the area where he grew up in the North-East of England ‘Charity Main’ detailing the harshness and demise of the mining industry.
We were also treated to a song from Rod’s Lindisfarne days, ‘Train in G Major’ from the ‘Fog on the Tyne’ album. All the songs he sang were interspersed with anecdotes from his life and days on the road.
Then there was a short break to give people time to get another drink before the second half and a chance to purchase the CD’s Rod had on sale, which he very kindly signed for us. The second half started with a song called ‘Working My Way Back Home’ from the 1998 Lindisfarne album ‘Here Comes the Neighbourhood’ followed by ‘Stamping Ground’ and ‘Meet Me On The Corner’, which we all sang along to. Rod then played his own version of self-penned ‘Can’t Do Right For Doing Wrong’ which was a hit for Erin Rocha, followed by a selection of songs finishing with the wonderful ‘Whisky Highway’, a great sing-a-long tune and a lovely way to end the evening.
Rod showed that he is not just ‘Rod Clements of Lindisfarne’ but a solo performer in his own right. He is a brilliant guitarist covering many styles that suit the varied songs in his repertoire, his lyrics are simple but have the ability to transport you to the time and place he is singing about. The album ‘Stamping Ground’ is a true masterpiece and Rod is in good company with supporting musicians which include his friend and writing partner Nigel Stonier, Dave Hull-Denholm, Thea Gilmore, Sid Griffin, Kathryn Tickell, Steve Millington, Fraser Speirs, Ian Thomson and Paul Burgess.
Paul & Pam Clarkson
Official Site: Rod Clements www.rodclements.com
Please note all articles on this site are (C) to The Beat Goes On And On Fanzine and may not be used without permission.
Anyone who listened to music throughout the 1970’s would have heard of the folk/rock group Lindisfarne who came from Newcastle. I was lucky enough to see them on 1st November 1971 at the Dome theatre in Brighton where they were supported by a little known group called Genesis. When Lindisfarne came back on for their encore that night, they invited their fans to join them on stage, which they eagerly did (myself included) and promptly received a lifetime ban from playing the Dome. The ban was lifted years later and they appeared on 13th December 1986 for a Christmas show, we won tickets for the show and a signed album called ‘Dance Your Life Away’ in a competition in our local evening paper.
Rod Clements was the bass player and one of the main songwriters with Lindisfarne, the group went on to have hits such as ‘Meet Me On The Corner’, ‘Lady Eleanor’ and ‘Run For Home’ including huge album success with ‘Fog On The Tyne’ and ‘Dingly Dell’. The Lindisfarne line up in 1971 was Alan Hull (lead guitar, vocals & keyboards) Ray Jackson (lead vocals, harmonica & mandolin) Simon Cowe (guitar) Ray Laidlaw (drums) and Rod Clements (bass), they were joined on the 1986 tour by Steve Daggett and Marty Craggs.
We were very pleased to see that Rod who in his own words ‘has stepped out of the sidelines to show himself centre-stage and play some solo gigs’ was, much to our delight, coming to our local ‘The Greys Pub’, which is situated in the Hanover area of Brighton and is a very well known music venue in the town. The capacity on gig nights is only 75 people so we always get there early to grab a couple of seats right in front of the stage as it gives the evening a more personal feel, you’re sitting so close you can literally reach out and touch the artist. Tonight when we arrived Rod was sitting at the bar enjoying a drink before his performance, it’s that sort of place.
Rod took to the stage, bid us all a good evening and began with a song called ‘Satisfied’ followed by a lovely bluesy song called ‘Blue Interior’ which was from his album ‘Stamping Ground’. In this part of the show he also performed 2 more tracks from the same album ‘Charity Main’ and ‘Roads of East Northumberland’. These were songs written about the area where he grew up in the North-East of England ‘Charity Main’ detailing the harshness and demise of the mining industry.
We were also treated to a song from Rod’s Lindisfarne days, ‘Train in G Major’ from the ‘Fog on the Tyne’ album. All the songs he sang were interspersed with anecdotes from his life and days on the road.
Then there was a short break to give people time to get another drink before the second half and a chance to purchase the CD’s Rod had on sale, which he very kindly signed for us. The second half started with a song called ‘Working My Way Back Home’ from the 1998 Lindisfarne album ‘Here Comes the Neighbourhood’ followed by ‘Stamping Ground’ and ‘Meet Me On The Corner’, which we all sang along to. Rod then played his own version of self-penned ‘Can’t Do Right For Doing Wrong’ which was a hit for Erin Rocha, followed by a selection of songs finishing with the wonderful ‘Whisky Highway’, a great sing-a-long tune and a lovely way to end the evening.
Rod showed that he is not just ‘Rod Clements of Lindisfarne’ but a solo performer in his own right. He is a brilliant guitarist covering many styles that suit the varied songs in his repertoire, his lyrics are simple but have the ability to transport you to the time and place he is singing about. The album ‘Stamping Ground’ is a true masterpiece and Rod is in good company with supporting musicians which include his friend and writing partner Nigel Stonier, Dave Hull-Denholm, Thea Gilmore, Sid Griffin, Kathryn Tickell, Steve Millington, Fraser Speirs, Ian Thomson and Paul Burgess.
Paul & Pam Clarkson
Official Site: Rod Clements www.rodclements.com
Please note all articles on this site are (C) to The Beat Goes On And On Fanzine and may not be used without permission.