Williams Bar, Goodramgate, York. Thursday 12th April 2007.
'You never know what to expect', that is what people keep telling me.
I understand why. I go to my own shows you know I know what they are like. Stand-up storytelling at its best and all that, well, you never know what to expect. Jim Nield didn't when he turned up to play as a precursor to the Mists of the Ancients show scheduled, (make that rescheduled), for the following week. Without the other musicians who are members of the word-and-music outfit he had to improvise. Jim, of Red Trees, plays beautifully mellow guitar in his own unique way and slid his beauty seamlessly among my stories and poems. He had a task, as the audience choose the stories from the menu. It is hard to believe looking at the photos of audience members rolling about in delight that the most effective number of the evening was a captivating piece on the timelessness of love. They didn?t know what to expect from one number to the next, they adapted admirably. Saying as they left, 'I thoroughly enjoyed that'.
Every week. Come along to William’s Bar on Goodramgate, York on a Thursday evening. Please wander upstairs for a unique experience.
Doors open 7.30 Admission £3 (Watch out for special event evenings)
Williams Bar, Goodramgate, York.
Williams Bar, Goodramgate, York. Thursday 19th April 2007.
Mists of the Ancients
As Dylan of Millers
Yard observed, mixing media and weaving together different talents creates
a purity and beauty that has a spiritual element. Dylan, in fact, has been
inspired, by the first number of the evening; Celtic Ways to draw
on that feel to start off an evening using the artists of Mists of the Ancients
in a melding event with other performers at his alternative arts event at
Millers Yard. Weaving from this number, through the ongoing fiddle playing
of Elaine Wallace, through a full evening, to a crescendo of Tibetan symbols
and singing bowls.
Mists of the Ancients seems to be more of a concept than a band. This fusion
of artists evolves as a show bringing that same rich feel in an ever developing
way. Listening to numbers like Gathered here and Eons on you
see something simpler here, enjoyable, beautiful. Melody and thought.
This mystical experience of music and word, well that is how Adrian describes
it, you will have to judge that for yourself. It is expected however that
you will further identify with his feeling that what they give is almost
too rich and that people need a little recovery time following a performance.
You certainly will after hearing what was their final number of the evening;
What Kind of Kiss is this. It comes in fact with a health warning.
The claim was that it is so intimately passionate that you will want an
after performance cigarette. Well Jim put down his guitar and exclaimed
he was going to have to start smoking and the Restless cameraman was found
laid out on his back with his camera pointing idly towards the rooftops.
Calmness followed by great debate might be the way to see the audience reaction.
There was a mix of being satiated and of being with friends who have been
stimulated by the same concepts.
The full set list
Celtic Ways
Through the Fair
A traditional ballad A traditional ballad reputably developed spontaneously
from a Rabbie Burns poem. Sung and arranged by Jane Stockdale with a new
improvised monologue from the still searching lover.
In Shakespeare's World
A magically dramatic exploration of the world of faerie from the realm of
the Bard?s plays: invited in we all forgot that this was meant for children.
Silent Lands
Two brothers
Gathered here
Jim solo
An improvised piece led by Jim Nield.
Stretched
This is the gender bending one where the female vocal follows the experience
of the boy and the spoken poem identifies with the waiting lady love in
spirit.
We can see a thread of a theme developing here. No more so in the admission
of Adrian that this is so. Love is eternal they tell us. And there is hope
for us to find this. But one thing is sure. Life will end. And there may
well be some time of waiting and searching. Such is the beauty of eternal
love.
So I queue
Members of the band and the audience stroked Adrian reassuringly after this
one! Strangely they had laughed all the way through it until that twist
at the end. Ahs of sympathy abounded, for they too perhaps have been giddy
in hopefulness and in despair a minute later.
Standing Stones
Jim solo
Another improvised piece led by Jim Nield.
Wildwood
Eons on
Kiss
Performance Review