Show of Hands 27.11.2009
Show of Hands 27.11.2009
St Nicholas Centre Ipswich
Promoted by Movers & Shakers
The prospect of seeing Show of Hands in a well appointed local venue was sufficiently tempting to draw me away from the folk club on this evening. I enjoy Show of Hands and like to catch up with them live every couple of years (to catch a different show).
Flossie Malavialle played in support. I have looked for more information about her, as I found her presentation confusing. She is a very good singer (in three languages) and capable guitarist. I felt rather patronised by her performance, which I described at the time as rather like a female Jasper Carrot , (whose work is excellent in its genre). Flossie has a ‘let’ for this review, and I would like to see her again, when more music and less chat might influence my opinion. I was interested to hear a very expensive guitar sound thin and cheap, despite being well played through a state of the art desk.
Show of Hands played some excellent music with lots of old favourites, and as ever the quality of the sound mix was excellent, (although the volume was set at large venue rock band level). The set started with Santiago and worked down the years with Country Life, Blue Cockade (rearranged), Cousin Jack, The Galway Farmer et al.
There were some newer songs, both original and covers from the new album, with both political and personal significance, (e.g.Arrogance Ignorance & Greed, Drifting). Musically good, at times a bit tired, some of the arrangements were repetitive and monochrome. I thoroughly enjoyed Miranda Sykes contribution on bass and vocals. In future I will try to see the band in smaller venues where they are able to connect more directly with the audience.
In terms of the venue, seating was set out to capacity in the central aisle of the available space (to enable sight lines). I suspect this was to a capacity for the whole venue, regardless of proximity, hard into the bar space and I suspect dangerously. So a potentially good venue was made into an uncomfortable space.
Steve and Phil brought their own light show and dry ice with them, which I am sure was intended as state of the art presentation, but was unnecessary and distracting. At times the band looked like a holographic projection, or perhaps that was intended. Show of Hands play for their friends, who were out in force on this evening. It sometimes felt to me rather like a cross between a holiday camp and an elderly folks entertainment, but then I sometimes say that about the folk club!
I will go and see Show of Hands again, I will seek out Flossie Malavialle again, I will think carefully before going to another Movers and Shakers promotion (both in terms of health and safety and price point). I am aware that my sense of the evening may be individual, if not unique, judging by the uncritical appreciation I observed around me.
Sheila looked forward to the gig and enjoyed it (subject also to reservations about Flossie in support).
Bill Johnston 28.11.2009
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PS from Bill: Bob PAterson has responded to advance notice of my notes about the venue and movers and shakers:
'As with all our promotions we try and find the right venues for the various acts. Vaughan Pearce, their manager, was booking a church tour for September 2008 and The St Nicholas Centre in Ipswich met all our (and the bands) requirements. The venue holds 250 people maximum. Their license is for 250 people. Last year we sold out the concert within a fortnight to go and so we were confident - in the absence of an accesible 400+ capacity venue in Ipswich - that we could raise the ticket price by a pound and sell it out quicker. That we did. No one but you complained about the ticket price.
The venue has high Health and Safety standards which is why the bar was open inside the venue in addition to the bar in The Sanctuary adjoining the venue to the East (the public entrance to the venue). The bar in the venue was closed during the performances out of respect for the band but also to avoid excessive congestion at the rear of the venue throughout the performance. The bar remained open inside The Sanctuary throughout the night and was well frequented, that's for sure!
We allowed ample space either side of the seated area (to the North and to the South) for people to walk around and stretch their legs. We also allowed space for a wheelchair user which we were given advance warning of by the tourist board, who sell our tickets to people who visit and phone the Tourist Information Centre. We do take Health and Safety very seriously as does the venue. Eric Falla, the venue manager, even gave a Health and Safety introduction at the beginning of the evening.
We try and keep the ticket price down but we do have costs (as do the bands we promote) that need recouping, and because none of us receive any financial funding or support we operate purely within the financial confines that we find ourselves in. I think £16 for an evening with Show of Hands + special guest in a lovely venue like The St Nicholas Centre is a bargain. The bigger the venue we promote them in, the bigger the costs and the bigger the marketing and promotional costs. We have to reflect this in the ticket price
I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinions, it is a 'free world' after all - but I do feel as if you have tainted us in a bad light. I appreciate that maybe you probably didn't mean to do this - but to me that is the way it has come across.'
Bill again: THanks Bob, I am sure I will be at future Movers and Shakers promotions, if for no other reason that you are promoting music I enjoy locally. Hopefully i have captured the relevent parts of your reply fairly and that my pockets are just about deep enough for the extra quid to have made little difference to food on the table.
All the best: Bill