Tense, maybe Tams was a bit tense himself?
it has been my experience in the past when i have been to gigs to hear the person that i have enjoyed on a previous occasion, and i have not always enjoyed the second gig, it is not always the performers fault,it may have been my own mood., likewise maybe Tams was not in the best of form when he arrived at the club.
i have never heard the atmosphere at NTMC described as tense by members of the audience.
the standard of performance was always high[please note no music stands or feckin crib sheets], the fact is that the residents sat on the "sill" behind the performer, this gave an atmosphere of formality perhaps, but knowing Roy Harris and his abilty to emanate a relaxed atmosphere, I am frankly gob smacked by Tams remark.
NTMC had a high standard of residents and was a formal folk club, but I never experienced tension there.Dick Miles