|
Post by Michael Messer on Jun 27, 2021 12:10:25 GMT
I gave you two thumbs up as we were leaving Michael, albeit behind the mask and a human screen! It's in the nature of these things that a percentage of the audience monopolise the turns at the post show mingle, so I generally stand back. There's always next time ... Thanks for a great show. e&oe ...Ahhh.... yes, I remember the thumbs up gesture! Now I know why 16th century Venetians, the Lone Ranger, Jesse James and the great train robbers all wore masks, it's because you can't see who they are! Shine On Michael
|
|
|
Post by Stevie on Jun 27, 2021 12:50:21 GMT
In particular I was sold on the BWJ / BWMcT loose "interpretation" of DWTN/CWTG. That was an inspired thing to do when pressed to include the Havana.
Also, the Hawai'ian piece with Pete was a welcome inclusion. I can't remember all of the anecdotes. I reckon I've monopolised the tributes now, time for another take or two ...
e&oe ...
|
|
|
Post by lonelyjelly on Jun 27, 2021 14:31:15 GMT
In particular I was sold on the BWJ / BWMcT loose "interpretation" of DWTN/CWTG. That was an inspired thing to do when pressed to include the Havana. Also, the Hawai'ian piece with Pete was a welcome inclusion. I can't remember all of the anecdotes. I reckon I've monopolised the tributes now, time for another take or two ... e&oe ...Big shout out to the DWTN / River J mash up. Good to see you all and to meet Peter and Dave too. Ta for the ride JB! Now to go try eating a whole lemon / lemon whole ala Ted Hawkins. Well done Michael, and Pete. Luna Hula was a personal favourite 😎🏝 Best, Lew
|
|
|
Post by pwblues on Jun 27, 2021 19:53:46 GMT
It was a fantastic evening and amazing to be a part of it. Storming set from Michael, first class performance and lovely stories. As a return to gig-going, it's set the bar pretty high. Lovely to meet a couple of forum members there too.
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on Jun 28, 2021 10:09:23 GMT
Thanks Pete. It was brilliant to see you and to play a few tunes together!
It was so good to be back out playing for a live audience and thanks to everyone for a great reception. I don't think anyone in the venue, including myself, has ever been to any type of live performance where the performer has not been out in front of an audience for so long. I also don't think it is a common occurrance that the whole audience, the sound crew and the venue staff are all wearing masks. for two and a half hours I was the only person in the whole venue not wearing a mask. It's going to take a while for society to recover from this extraordinary period in our world.
Shine On Michael
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on Jun 28, 2021 14:42:33 GMT
This was written by Lorraine Lucas. Regulars to the Pocklington Roots & Blues Weekend will know Lorraine. Photo by ©Lorraine Lucas Tales From Road. Gigs. The New Normal? ….By Lorraine Lucas
I had the immense honour of being one of a restricted socially distanced audience at The Anvil arts centre in Basingstoke to see my friend and teacher Michael Messer play a rare solo concert.
It was my first indoor gig in 18 months ..it was also Michaels' first gig in that time too and I think the last time I saw him was at our annual blues and roots guitar workshop weekend where he played with Robbie McIntosh ( I also got an honoured invite to play a few tunes with them) and little did we all know what was round the corner.
So Michael Messer’s annual blues bash in Pocklington was cancelled understandably last year and we are hoping it will go on as planned for this coming November.
Michael is someone who's opinion I value and trust and he has been a great sounding board for matters music and non music related since we became friends a few years ago and he has been supportive of the songwriting festival and we chatted about our respective workshops and the responsibilities we have to ourselves, our students and colleagues and to the community and how we need to have the courage to say Yes and then maybe No
Michael’s gig in the arts centre was the first gig they had done post lockdown. Hats off to them all for opening the doors to let live music fill the air and our hearts again but it so very different from gigs of old.
There were no refreshments to greet us and actually the entry was a bit tense as I had my ticket then had to do the track n trace which meant uploading a new app..I was already a little late after the 2 hour drive to the gig....then I put my phone away so as not to disturb the show and was asked again for the e ticket, then given my instructions to keep my mask on, where to walk, I'd missed missed the email from the box office to say I'd need to pre order drinks for interval or any other time in advance...I couldn't get a drink after the long journey but thankfully they gave me some tap water placed on a table we had to choreograph around.
The atmosphere in the auditorium was very tense...it seemed evident the restrictions were just that...restricting. I didn't think I would be required to wear a mask for the whole concert....3 hours with the 20 minute interval and even then it had to remain on apart from going outside for a breather.
But you know what? it was worth it to hear Michael play again...I said to him at the interval that I could tell that he made every single note matter, every note was perfection, that slide gliding down the neck with the precision and perfection that makes him in my opinion the best delta blues slide guitarist.
He told me that he made/makes every note matter, it matters to him and that during lockdown when he thought he might never play another gig he rehearsed as he has always done..every day, with faith and hope and that he would be ready. And he was.
I am a big fan of his band Mitra with his Indian slide guitar bandmate Manish Pingle and tabla player Gurdain Singh Rayatt and when I hear Michael playing songs from their award winning album Call of The Blues I can hear them all coming in and out, but even without them Michael makes these songs sing.
Michael was joined by Pete Webber whom I also met at the Pocklington guitar weekend..for a few tunes and I could tell they had both been rehearsing their parts....just sublime.
Their friendship has a great backstory...Pete's dad took 14 year old Pete to Michael’s gigs and at one gig he asked Michael if Pete could meet him, he then became a student of his and then friend and fast forward 30 years and here is that grown up 14 year old accompanying Michael on stage. Dreams coming true in Lockdown!
Talking of National Guitars...the 12 string reso in the photo is a 1939 National and THE ONLY one of its kind IN THE WORLD!!!! It plays like it's brand new..or rather Michael makes it sound like it's brand new. Just imagine. The other guitars in the photo are Fine Resophonics made by master luthier Mike Lewis in Paris and they are becoming more present at the blues weekend as the guys get inspired listening to others play them. they are objects of great beauty and aurally delightful.
I’m glad I made the trip, I'm glad the venues are opening up and I hope they feel a bit more relaxed with it all as time goes by. I'm glad too that I was brave enough to press pause on the songwriting festival as I really didn't feel that this kind of tension and responsibility was the right environment and energy to support the kind of event I wanted to offer. The end. Photo by ©Jon Brook Photo by ©Jon Brook ---------------------------------------------------------------- Shine On Michael
|
|
|
Post by lonelyjelly on Jun 29, 2021 16:25:11 GMT
Got one with PWBlues in action
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on Jun 29, 2021 17:52:49 GMT
|
|