I love house concerts, loved them as a booked guest, love them as a punter. There is something almost indefinable about them. There is a certain intimacy that seems to brings a different response from the audience and the performer.

Confessions up front: whilst I had never met Dave so called “stars” and only a tiny minority have ever heard Pegg before I have known Anthony John for more of them. Then again, hard on them as artists, possibly, years than we probably both want to add up, so this great for us in that minority as we get to enjoy nights review is predisposed to be more than favourable; hard like this. to be hard on your friends. In this case however, an I have never been one for listing songs sung in gig easy gig to review, simply superb from the off. reviews. If you were there then you know, if not, to me I was aware that Dave & AJ had been working as it harks back to Jim Bowen’s Bulls eye tag line “let’s have a duo for the last eight years but had never managed a look at what you would have won.” However it was to catch up with them. I had wondered how it would great to hear again Tuesday night is always Karaoke, work. I wonder no more. This is AJ in concert with Pitlochry and Waking on Sunday, a few of my favourites. an accompanist. But what an accompanist. Dave’s list A new one to me was Camping, lots of audience partici- of collaborations and collaborators would pation and simply a really funny song. easily fill the rest of this review. From his Two of the many highlights for me came right at the early days in the Birmingham beat scene, end. Peggy took centre stage and, harking the , Jethro Tull back to Richard Thompson’s Royal Al- and of course Fairport. As well as his role bert Hall 70th birthday bash a few as a producer and countless credits on weeks previously, did a great ver- other peoples albums. The consummate sion of Down Where the Drunkards multi–instrument musician, he brings a Roll. Peggy on mandolin and vocal, whole different level to proceedings, Allan Taylor on guitar and Nick Hall not only with his skills as a musician a very surprised and more than com- but his wonderful asides and stories. petent bass player. AJ made a point of His sideways glance, wicked grin thanking Allan Taylor for his influence and “too many notes AJ, too many on him as a song writer in his early days. notes” after one of AJ’s lovely guitar Recalling the times in Liverpool when he flourishes brought the house down. had run Folk Clubs and watched Allan AJ is a great writer of humorous songs with a perform. He then played a beautiful cover definite sting in the tail. Many of his songs could be o f Allan’s Win or Lose, with Allan taking a viewed as “dark“. He has never been afraid to express verse. Sim- ply a lovely and unrepeatable moment. The his views both political and social in song, Broken perfect way to end the night. To paraphrase that song Years being a prime example. What he has developed “Win or lose what’s it matter to you? Everybody’s doing down the years is that hard learned balance of light what they have to do. Like it or not you’re part of it too.” and shade that makes for a great concert. The ability Well it did matter and we were part of it. I think again to balance a hard hitting song with, mostly, gentle that’s what makes these gatherings work so well. That humour for the song’s intro. interaction between the artists and a small audience in a A small rant, indulge me for a moment: I thinks it’s small room brings something extra out of both performer fair to say both Peggy and AJ can pop down to the and audience. A warmth of shared enjoyment. Many their local shop without phone cameras appearing, thanks to Nigel and Christine for making their front room Twitter going mad and a full page spread appearing in into the perfect little concert room and hosting the even- OK magazine. What a sad reflection on our times that ing with unfailing generosity. these two have more talent than the vast majority of Jon Harvison

Photo: Jim Ellison Tell people you read it in Tykes’Stirrings. 45