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Lunchtime Legends at the Falstaff, Southport on 29 November 2002
What do you get from a group consisting of three Bothy Folk Club residents and the accordion player from Strawhead? Rock & roll is the surprising answer. The Legends began on the fringe of Whitby Folk Week in 1992 as a one-off jam session that has become an annual event with celebrity opening acts such as John Kirkpatrick, Pete Morton, Janet Russell, Steve Tilston and Maggie Boyle to name a few. The band consists of Alison Younger (vocals), inexplicably referred to as “Candy Rell, a very sweet singer” throughout the night, Chris Harvey (accordion, keyboards), Clive Pownceby (drums) and Nev Grundy (vocals, acoustic guitar).
On this occasion, they were playing the Falstaff in Southport to raise money for kidney research. Opening with Be Bop A Lula, the Legends seemed to take a song or two before getting fully into their stride but once they did it was party time for the rest of the evening. The Legends’ music is rock & roll in its broadest sense and includes songs by Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent, and Buddy Holly alongside others from Gerry and the Pacemakers, Dusty Springfield, the Kinks and the Drifters. “Ferry Cross the Mersey” takes on a new dimension when played in a West Coast style and was for my money better for it.
With four albums under their belt, they have plenty of material to choose from, including the two Geoff Parry originals that were in the set: “You’re Dreaming of Elvis” with its catchy chorus is about being married to an Elvis obsessive and “It’s the Year 2000 (and the world needs to rock & roll)” with hints of Eddie Cochran. Candy led on a couple of songs: Sandy Posey’s “The Single Girl”, jokingly described by Nev as a feminist anthem, and “Denis”, played in full-tilt Blondie fashion. She also sang with Nev on others such as “The First Cut is the Deepest”, their voices locking well together. These songs are so far removed from what her alter ego is renowned for, Scots ballads and being a member of First Principles, that they further enhance her reputation for talented versatility.
Nev introduced “Teenager In Love” by saying that he wanted to sing it as often as possible before it became inaccurate, eliciting precisely the response you’d expect from an audience that knew better. “Sorrow”, “Blue Suede Shoes” and “Matchbox” followed; a song that was intriguingly described as being collected from a Yorkshire Tea farmer turned out to be “Heartbeat”. Although Nev’s vocal style is more Billy J. Kramer than Little Richard, he still handles the rockers with conviction. With Chris’ imaginative accordion and keyboard arrangements creating and enhancing the mood and Clive’s impressive and energetic drumming, there is no doubt this group means to rock. The instrumental break in Da Doo Ron Ron was pure Van Halen. The second set opened with a fast version of Richard Thompson’s “I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight” showing a well-known song in a completely new light.
The Legends do not attempt to recreate the sound of the originals but put their own stamp on some very disparate material. Playing on folk instruments and employing the folk ethos of the importance of the vocal, they have a distinctive sound of their own that gives a different perspective on the classic 50s and 60s songs that we all grew up with. They clearly enjoy what they are doing and that enthusiasm infects the audience. To the final numbers then: “Hi Ho Silver Lining” which had dozens on their feet waving hands in the air and joining in, no doubt remembering those handbags in 70s discos, leading into “You’re Sixteen”. And that was it: the bar was shut, the staff waiting patiently to clear up and everyone leaving in a cheerful mood.
Nev has said privately that he believes that in time this material will be as acceptable in folk clubs as music hall is now, and for much the same reasons. That remains to be seen; the Lunchtime Legends may plough a lonely furrow on the fringes of the folk scene, but it is certainly a cheerful one where a lot of fun is to be had. Dave Newton © 2003.
