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Salient. Victoria University of Wellington Students' Newspaper. Volume 31, Number 22. September 17, 1968

Concerts — Members rise to concert

page 11

Concerts

Members rise to concert

The Folk Club held its penultimate concert last Thursday night—the first of two "Grand Final" concerts. The concert was, in its own terms successful, pouring more money into the club's vast coffers, The first hall was filled by the club's backing members—the two members most to the fore belonged as usual to Mitch park and Steve Robinson Steve's very fine Gibson model, on which he is becoming ever more proficient.

Steve and Mitch were ably supported by Linda Mason, Richard Doctors, Mitch Parte, Graham Nesbitt, Kris Kloack, Van Antony,Tony Thurston, and Heather Hamerton. The Windy City Stragglers also struggled through. Rick Bryant's vocal carried plenty of tension, but the instrumental backing sagged badly.

The second half was also left sagging, by the absence of Pilt Ramsay owing to unforseeable circumstances, and the Auckland contingent at the concert comprised two people, Lynne Pike and Curly del Monte. Lynne Pike, billed as a mini-Odetta, a powerful young singer with a voice which should go far. Her ethnic song from Auckland capping mag was OK, but the cliche was unfortunately apt For the "Union Maid" and Memphis Train". Her coordination of guitar and voice was a little astray, but they got closer together as she went on. She sang the sane about the young maid who married the old man without even an ingthing of intwing. Yet even though she was about 30 years closer to the song, she sung it with none of the magic of Joan Prior.

Curly del Monte, from the 'poles Apart Folk Club, then "entertained', He lacked much of the panache and polish of Red Sullivan, who gave a similar show here last year. Proprietors of folk coffee bars seem traditionally to have gravel voices, but the Auckland variety makes Frank Fyte sound like Cliff Richard, and Mary Seddon like Joan Baez (or Tiny Tim?).

His version of Sweeney Todd, Fairly typical of the pace of his performance, was less funny and certainly less musical than Arthur Toms, even, except for the ephemeral appearance of some camp bow-street runners. There was, in fact, a surprising lack of camp, considering the current wave of jug-band music (Lynne Tike gave the uncampiest version ol "The blues my naughty sweety cave to me", ever). This is the most alive genre of folk music today, but the teeny-bopper folkniks on Thursday night seemed happy with the golden oldies.

This was emphasised by the success of the last item in which Curly and his new group (the Taj Mahal? Turk Thrust and the Knobgobblers?) sang shanties and ballads unaccompanied. For an impromptu performance they sang tremendously well.

Lynne Pike … mini-Odetta.

Lynne Pike … mini-Odetta.