Steeleye Span

20th April 2004, Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire

A review by Mike Petty

I very nearly missed this one and what a travesty that would have been! I had known about it for some time but just not got around to booking. I finally did so the day before the gig and was delighted to find that two seats were available on the third row. The Roses is such a small theatre that probably anywhere is good, but I love to be near the front so I can see the facial expressions and the movement of fingers on strings. Maddy Prior has such an expressive face of course that it would be a shame to be so far away that this element of her performance was missed.

I am a long-standing fan of this band, having had first exposure over 30 years ago with Below the Salt. I don’t own all the albums by any means but I must have heard most of what they have done, and have been fortunate enough to see them live many many times. Each time I go I wonder if this might be the last time. Actually, I think that of most concerts that I go to – reminding myself every time that I should do this much more often because these people, the performers that I have followed nearly all my adult life, are surely coming to the end of the road or, most certainly, approaching one of the final bends in it. It will happen one day – Peter and Maddy will just say they can’t do it any more but, for goodness sake, let that day be a long, long way into the future!

This concert proved, yet again, that Steeleye are nowhere near finished. From a fairly low key opening where they wandered onto stage, almost apologetically, to a polite round of applause, and then opened with King Henry, followed by Padstow, the pace soon picked up. I was a little disappointed to hear the distinctive beat of Padstow so early to be honest – better saved until later in the set I think. But that is minor criticism indeed and I can’t think of a single song or tune that was not performed to maximum quality. I have read here and there of poor sound and sub-standard performances in recent times but that is just bad luck for those that witnessed it. I would defy anyone at this gig to utter a single criticism. Maybe the small venues suit the band better these days – who knows?

One of the delightful things about these people is the sheer understatedness of it all. They KNOW they are good, they KNOW they have a quality product to sell, so there is no need to push it too hard. Of course there were a couple of mentions of “the new album” but it was done with subtlety. I had not heard a single track from it but by the end of the night knew I had to buy it. I found the title track – “They Called Her Babylon” – and “Mantle of Green” outstanding. I was surprised to hear “Si Begh Si Mohr” performed, being one of (whisper it!) Fairport’s tracks from some time ago. I loved Peter Knight’s little anecdote that went with this tune, about the man who approached him after a gig to ask about buying a CD. He had explained to the audience some of the background to this tune and mentioned a “blind Irish harpist” had either written it or originally performed it. The man who approached could not remember the title but referred to it as “that one done by the half-pissed Irishman!”.

I enjoyed Rick Kemp’s little spell talking at the microphone as well, when he introduced his own new song “Samain”, a song about the pre-Christian festival that evolved into Halloween. Commenting on the affluent nature of this town of Tewkesbury that we were all in, he recounted the time when his Dad would gather all the little Kemps around him and tell them of his aspirations to move from the ‘arse-end of Regency Cheltenham’ to somewhere as desirable as Tewkesbury! You would have to live around here to appreciate that fully, but a lot of people saw the joke. The song is pretty good too.

Maddy told us how they were all appreciating the fact that they had two nights in Tewkesbury, instead of the usual one night then move on routine. This afforded her the opportunity to explore the lovely antique shops of the town. I couldn’t comment on those but the town is, indeed, very attractive with it’s many black and white timbered buildings and narrow streets, along with the lovely River Severn that flows through it of course and which, unfortunately, occasionally spews its contents into those narrow streets.

The night was full of great old songs like Long Lankin and Black Leg Miner and I even enjoyed All Around My Hat. What a pity that most non-Steeleye people, when told you are going to see the band, give you a totally blank look until you mention Hat or Gaudete, and then all the lights go on all at once! Such a rich tapestry of material over all these years, mostly unknown to the great music listening public. Big shame that. Never mind though – I have no desire to follow a “popular” group where I would struggle to get a ticket and, if I got one, would have to see them in some soulless stadium. I prefer to stick to acts like this, and many others like them, for my abiding life-long musical pleasure. The time flew by all too quickly and they saved the essential Gaudete until the very end of the second encore. Despite it’s popularity, I never fail to enjoy hearing this song and it was sung in the usual stunning manner last night.

Finally, a word on the line up. I thought that this worked very well together as a group. There is always time for individual brilliance – Peter Knight’s magicianship with the fiddle and (for goodness sake, at a folk concert??) Liam Genocky’s superb drum solo – but the overall impression was of togertheness and perfect musical harmony. Rick Kemp does what any good bass player does – unfussy, solid backing, essential element. Ken Nicol has stepped into Bob Johnson’s shoes effortlessly and showed last night what a wonderful contribution he makes. His guitar blended perfectly into the overall sound. He was also kind enough to come out to the foyer afterwards too and sign some stuff. I had a quick word with him about an old school friend of mine who now resides in Preston and stupidly forgot to tell him who I was (as if he would remember though!).

So, there it was. Another Steeleye gig chalked up on my long list of memorable concert nights. I remember saying way back in 1971, after seeing King Crimson at Sheffield City Hall, that if I had to die now and never see another live act I could go happy. Thankfully over thirty years have gone by and the list just grows and grows and long may these people continue. Maddy still has the voice of an angel, the billowing dancing skirt and the intricate footwork so why shouldn’t they? I heard Peter Knight and Bob Johnson interviewed on radio a few years ago and they were asked how long Steeleye could go on. Peter’s considered response, after a pause, was “Forever”. May that wish come true, for all our sakes.