The last of the moon horses

Published on Sun 20 Nov 2011

I recently tried to figure out how many times I've seen Steve Earle play. I've counted up at least 12, but I don't think that can be it. There are probably a couple of Shepherd's Bush Empire shows that I've missed. The last time was two weeks ago today at the Corn Exchange for the first band tour I've made it to for several years (the name of which has been expanded to Steve Earle The Dukes and Duchesses which I'm not convinced I approve of - seems a bit unneccessary to make it a mouthful just because there are some women in the band). There was no support and the show started at 7.30 (I wish it was easier to find out exactly when things start - tickets always say 7 on them and it can mean anything from 7.30 to 9) so we missed the first song, but I didn't know it. Not that that makes it ok but I'd have been upset if it was one of the classics. The Corn Exchange had, incredibly, run out of pint glasses before the doors even opened, so I had several halves. I don't really know how to explain it, but Steve Earle is The Real Thing in a way that people don't often seem to be these days. There were spine tingles aplenty but it was really great to hear Johnny Come Lately because it seemed to have disappeared. Maybe the tin whistle playing tour manager from years gone by has retired. The only weaker patches of the show were when he let the members of the band (Allison Moorer, The Mastersons and long time bass player Kelly Looney, who is starting to look a lot like late Lady Jane era Lovejoy Dudley Sutton) take turns at singing songs. None of them fared well in comparison. But then I guess they were never going to. Steve Earle has got to be one of the most charismatic performers in the world. I'm not going to turn down any more chances to see him.

In comparison I've hardly ever seen MJ Hibbett (only twice before) but his gig at The Portland last week was just as enjoyable (albeit in a slightly different way). He opened up with a short set of his charming, positive songs (though not my favourite, " It only works because you're here" which made me slightly tear up at work the other day), then his friend Steve joined him on stage for "Moon Horse Vs The Mars Men of Jupiter" - a 2 man 50 minute rock opera about a magical horse and a spaceman who defend the earth against various evils from a base on the moon. That's either a lot more entertaining than it sounds or exactly as entertaining as it sounds, depending on how entertaining you think it sounds. It was very silly and a little studenty, but the jokes were clever and I've not laughed as much for a while. Probably since I saw The Inbetweeners film, which is either a lot more entertaining than it sounds or exactly as entertaining as it sounds, depending on how entertaining you think it sounds.

I did my first amplified gig for about 6 months on Saturday at The Beach Sessions a nice new night at in Waterbeach, a small village a few miles up the river. Annie did a couple of songs to start with and then it was me. The crowd were nice and quiet and I thought I sounded pretty good considering how little I've been playing. The room was really atmospheric (especially considering how it is when there aren't gigs in it), with fairy lights and the translucent torso of a female shop dummy with a bulb inside making it so the sound man could see. My phone isn't good enough at taking pictures to do it justice. The headline band were Straw Bear who all lived in Ely a couple of years ago and now all don't live in Ely. They made me think a bit of late 90's indie acts like David Devant or The Divine Comedy, but I don't really know if that's accurate because I can't really remember what those guys sounded like. They were great anyway. And one of the guitarists had an ebow and those things are cool. Setlist: The Ghost of Paddy's Night Past, Watertight, This Place is Dead Anyway (I tried the harmonica again - not as bad this time), Edinburgh, Muscle Memory, Grateful Smile, Soaked to the Skin, break for birthday cake (it was my birthday - they got me a cake - nice!), You Won't Break My Heart. I've got a couple more solo things and a few gigs playing with Annie in the next few weeks, so hopefully I'll get some momentum just in time to lose it all over Christmas.

Jacqui and Geoff did apparently read the last exciting instalment (googling their own names again I bet) and put the video up of my favourite of theirs. Here it is. I particularly love the "it's not your paint you're wasting it's mine" line.