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Spider John in UK
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Subject: Spider John in UK From: Roger the Skiffler Date: 29 Mar 12 - 06:28 AM I'm lairy of plugging upcoming gigs I'm excited about as the Skiffler's Curse often leads to them being cancelled (perhaps it's fear I'm going to perform!) but this is too good, not to plug & I've got my ticket! I mentioned in passing on another thread that veteran (well he's older than me!) bluesman Spider John Koerner is at the monthly blues night at Reading's South Street on 19th July. I assume he'll be playing other UK dates around then but the last time I checked his website there were none lsited. RtS |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: Roger the Skiffler Date: 30 Mar 12 - 05:51 AM No other UK fans? RtS |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: Big Al Whittle Date: 30 Mar 12 - 06:22 AM Oh god yes! Loved the music. My most important introduction to blues guitar was The Blues Project. Loved Southbound Train. Still no clue as to how he played My Little Woman! Saw him at Cousins a couple of times. Took his responsibilities very seriously and played alllll night! Nost acts used to bugger offstage when ever the fancy took them. Derek Brimstone travelled with him for a while and said in those days SJ used to lose concentration some nights and do the same song twice, which pissed off a few audiences. I have his DVD of Blues Rags and Hollers and - he's one artist whose name on the cover guarantees thatI'll buy the magazine. I'd love to make Reading. The thing is my wife is waiting for a shoulder replacement operation so it makes long term planning a bit difficult. But my God yes, I'm a fan....! Do you know the guy, Roger? |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: greg stephens Date: 30 Mar 12 - 06:27 AM Surprised nobody's put the arm on me to set up another gig. We put him on a Stoke a couple of years back as part of his last tour.Great gig it was, too. |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: greg stephens Date: 30 Mar 12 - 07:28 AM That was funny. No sooner had I posted the previous message but the phone rang: Dave Peabody seeing if I wanted to promote a Spider John gig in July! |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: GUEST,Spleen Cringe Date: 30 Mar 12 - 08:08 AM Hope he plays in the north west again. Saw him at the Bury gig (and at Moseley Folk Festival) last time he was here and he was fantastic. |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: Roger the Skiffler Date: 30 Mar 12 - 08:20 AM Al, I only know him from his recordings, looking forward to seeing him in person. RtS |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: GUEST Date: 30 Mar 12 - 01:16 PM I assume he'll be playing other UK dates around then but the last time I checked his website there were none lsited. His last British tour was organised by fRoots, they did a huge article on him a couple of years ago. I'd be surprised if they don't know about it. |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: PHJim Date: 30 Mar 12 - 01:53 PM Does he ever play his seven string any more? All of the current photos seem to show him with a 12. |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: Roger the Skiffler Date: 28 Jun 12 - 10:53 AM At last John's website has his full UK dates: July 12 Thurs THE GREEN NOTE Camden, London Spider John and 'Chip' Taylor Smith tba July 14 Sat ARLINGTON ARTS CENTRE nr. Newbury, Berkshire Spider John and 'Chip' Taylor Smith tba July 15 Sun THE GLOBE HOTEL Topsham, Devon Spider John and 'Chip' Taylor Smith tba July 16 Mon St. BONAVENTURES Bristol Spider John and 'Chip' Taylor Smith tba July 18 Wed Cluny 2 Newcastle Spider John and 'Chip' Taylor Smith tba July 19 Thur SOUTH STREET ARTS CENTRE Reading, Berkshire Spider John and 'Chip' Taylor Smith 8pm July 24 Thurs DARTFORD FOLK CLUB DARTFORD WORKING MEN'S (CIU) CLUB 40 Essex Road Dartford, DA1 2AU Spider John and 'Chip' Taylor Smith RtS |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: Big Al Whittle Date: 28 Jun 12 - 06:44 PM Do you know who I have to get a ticket from for Topsham? |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: GUEST,BanjoRay Date: 28 Jun 12 - 07:52 PM Debby McClatchy tells me she's guesting with Spider John at the Dartford gig. Ray |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: Roger the Skiffler Date: 29 Jun 12 - 05:52 AM Sorry, Al, I only know Reading, no contact details on SJ's website. RtS |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: Big Al Whittle Date: 29 Jun 12 - 06:26 AM Apparently Julian Piper is organising the Topsham gig. You can buy tickets from the bookshop in Topsham - telephone 01392 877895 |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: greg stephens Date: 29 Jun 12 - 07:40 AM I would urge anyone to go to one of these. John is a historic character and still going strong. I helped organised a sel;lout gig for him last years and it went down great. Alas I am too busy at the relevant time to do it again this year but very glad to se there are plenty of dates lined up. Go and listen and enjoy! |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: Charley Noble Date: 29 Jun 12 - 08:54 AM Greg- I've admired Spider John's blues playing for decades. He really has become one with his mentors. Maybe that's what you mean when you say: "John is a historic character and still going strong." I suppose he's no longer in his 20s! Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: Big Al Whittle Date: 15 Jul 12 - 10:26 AM I've got a ticket for tonite in Topsham, any other catters going? |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: Big Al Whittle Date: 15 Jul 12 - 10:28 AM Not seen him for forty five years.... Forty five years.....sounds like kenneth Williams! |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: Big Al Whittle Date: 16 Jul 12 - 08:39 AM Amazing evening! Youknow when I was 17, I used to play air guitar to Southbound Train, and My Little Woman. i worshipped this guy. He seemed like a young God. When I got to see him at Cousins - he seemed quite chunky compared to last night. Last night, he looked a bit jovial version of the Headmaster in Bash Street Kids - almost skeletal. We had both grown into okd guys. Deadpan delivery of jokes - or maybe he was bored with his own stories. Gentle humour - rather than uproariously funny. Still he was appreciated. The music was interesting. Not really the slick gunslinger of guitar any more - Spider John somewhere along the way has become a great traditional style interpreter of folksong. if you love tradtional music - you will love Spider John. he plays a 12 string tyhese days - a battered old epiphone with its full complement of strings. He hits the strings in such a skillful fashion that the modest sized belly of the guitar sounds as big as a rain barrel - the tone is mighty. He plays few chords these days, his tyle (although) in standard tuning is reminiscent of Martin carthy's. he plays a lto melody lines - wth that powerful magisterial sound. he plays a little ragtime picking also. The songs are from the great American folksong book. Careless love is delivered as folksong - not a blues. We get the Cuckoo, a little Woody Guthrie, something from Blues rags and Holler - Good Time Charlie - but no Creepy John ( song surely composed in the wake of the Boston Strangler slayings). For the rest its quite brilliant traditional fare. He is accompanied on fiddle and bones by Chip Smith. The support was by dave Peabdy and Stuart Piper. Stuart could make his guiar sound (which was apity as he is obviously a great slide player). Dave is of course a legend in his own right. what a man! |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: Big Al Whittle Date: 16 Jul 12 - 08:42 AM Soryr the typos and omissions. i was in a rush! |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: Mick Tems Date: 16 Jul 12 - 10:23 AM LOVED Rent Party Rag! SJK, you are the best! |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: Big Al Whittle Date: 16 Jul 12 - 11:14 AM (Edited version) Amazing evening! Youknow when I was 17, I used to play air guitar to Southbound Train, and My Little Woman. I worshipped this guy. He seemed like a young God. When I got to see him at Cousins - he seemed quite chunky compared to last night. Last night, he looked a bit jovial version of the Headmaster in Bash Street Kids - almost skeletal. We had both grown into being old guys in the intervening years. Deadpan delivery of jokes - or maybe he was bored with his own stories. Gentle humour - rather than uproariously funny. Still he was appreciated. The music was interesting. Not really the slick gunslinger of guitar any more - Spider John, somewhere along the way, has become a great traditional style interpreter of folksong. If you love tradtional music - you will love Spider John. SJK plays a 12 string these days - a battered old Epiphone with its full complement of strings. He hits the strings in such a skillful fashion that the modest sized belly of the guitar sounds as big as an empty rain barrel - the tone is mighty. He plays few chords these days. His guitar style (although in standard tuning) is reminiscent of Martin Carthy's. He plays a lots of melody lines - with that powerful magisterial sound. He plays a little ragtime picking also. The songs are from the great American folksong book. Careless Love is delivered as folksong - not a blues. We get the Cuckoo, a little Woody Guthrie, something from Blues, Rags and Hollers - Good Time Charlie, Running Jumping Standing Still - but no Creepy John (a song surely composed in the wake of the Boston Strangler slayings - and to my mind, at the time pointing to a way of folksong advancing into the 20th century). For the rest its quite brilliant traditional fare. He is accompanied on fiddle and bones by Chip Smith. The support was by Dave Peabody and Stuart Piper. Stuart could not make his guiar sound through the PA (which was apity as he is obviously a great slide player). Dave is of course a legend in his own right. What a man! |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: Big Al Whittle Date: 16 Jul 12 - 11:16 AM Thought I was SO careful! Amazing evening at The Globe, Topsham! You know when I was 17, I used to play air guitar to Southbound Train, and My Little Woman. I worshipped this guy. He seemed like a young God. When I got to see him at Cousins - he seemed quite chunky compared to last night. Last night, he looked a bit jovial version of the Headmaster in Bash Street Kids - almost skeletal. We had both grown into being old guys in the intervening years. Deadpan delivery of jokes - or maybe he was bored with his own stories. Gentle humour - rather than uproariously funny. Still he was appreciated. The music was interesting. Not really the slick gunslinger of guitar any more - Spider John, somewhere along the way, has become a great traditional style interpreter of folksong. If you love tradtional music - you will love Spider John. SJK plays a 12 string these days - a battered old Epiphone with its full complement of strings. He hits the strings in such a skillful fashion that the modest sized belly of the guitar sounds as big as an empty rain barrel - the tone is mighty. He plays few chords these days. His guitar style (although in standard tuning) is reminiscent of Martin Carthy's. He plays a lots of melody lines - with that powerful magisterial sound. He plays a little ragtime picking also. The songs are from the great American folksong book. Careless Love is delivered as folksong - not a blues. We get the Cuckoo, a little Woody Guthrie, something from Blues, Rags and Hollers - Good Time Charlie, Running Jumping Standing Still - but no Creepy John (a song surely composed in the wake of the Boston Strangler slayings - and to my mind, at the time pointing to a way of folksong advancing into the 20th century). For the rest its quite brilliant traditional fare. He is accompanied on fiddle and bones by Chip Smith. The support was by Dave Peabody and Stuart Piper. Stuart could not make his guitar sound through the PA (which was a pity as he is obviously a great slide player). Dave is of course a legend in his own right. What a man! |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: GUEST,Phil B Date: 16 Jul 12 - 11:24 AM Deeply regret not making it back home in time for this! |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: GUEST Date: 16 Jul 12 - 11:29 AM He's at Saint Bonadventures in Bristol tonight, also with Dave Peabody. |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: Roger the Skiffler Date: 17 Jul 12 - 06:46 AM ...and on Thursday in Reading, also with Dave. Thanks for review, Al, I can't wait! RtS |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: Tug the Cox Date: 17 Jul 12 - 08:07 AM Al..is that Julian rather than Stuart Piper? |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: Big Al Whittle Date: 17 Jul 12 - 08:37 AM Yes of course ....sorrry! |
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Subject: RE: Spider John in UK From: reynard Date: 23 Jul 12 - 06:23 AM The Dartford Gig is tomorrow, Tuesday 24 July and not Thursday as reported above. See you there. DARTFORD FOLK CLUB DARTFORD WORKING MEN'S (CIU) CLUB 40 Essex Road Dartford, DA1 2AU Spider John and 'Chip' Taylor Smith |
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