Birkenhead Rooooaaaaad! Birkenhead Roooo-oooo-aaaad! The instant adaption of Steve Earle's grinding "Copperhead Road" into the local version introduced us to the live phenomenon that is The Family Mahone. Being more than familiar with Mark Radcliffe's DJ work with BBC Radio 1, and more latterly, Radio 2, we were quite intrigued to see how he would be "in the flesh" as it were.
The live version was actually rather closer to his radio show than I'd expected - obviously the music was live, loud and, often, wild, but the links were just Mark's usual line of off the cuff repartee - and that's fine by me. The band (there are 6 of them) played a mixture of well known (if mildly adapted) standards, and their home grown stuff which was a little bit weaker, but by no means bad! The music is delivered in a full-on manner and with a huge helping of fun - this is not a band that can be accused of taking itself too seriously - with Mark taking the centre front position standing by his sparse but sufficient drum kit, flanked by Christy and Donal on various guitars, mandolins and banjos (they even had 2 banjos going at once at one point!), with Rusty playing seriously energetic accordion on the far end. Bassist Charlie and banjo/fiddle man Doc make up the back row.
Just about every song was described as another "drinking song!" and many of the band's mike-stands were customised to hold a pint glass, so you get the gist! There was a dance floor in front of the stage that was in danger of becoming a dusty desert until Gilly & Ann took to the floor, then Ann & Jim had a go (and got respect from DJ Mahone for dancing to the most complex song they do) and then we were all up and poor Gilly put herself back a week or two with her hip as we flung ourselves around the floor, joined by Christy Mahone with his mandolin for much of it too! In the end we settled for Gilly standing still while I danced around her, and a few other people managed to get up and dance - the music was wild and mostly now Shane McGowan penned, ending with "The Raggle Taggle Gypsy" and encoring with"Meet me on the Encore, sorry Corner" - it was an all too short set, they were after all in support of the "main event" a caleidh with Arthur Marshall and the Lifeboat Band (plus various Mahones).
This highlights one of my concerns about some of the lineups in this year's festival, with some rather unusual pairings and some really good acts being put on for too early in the running - but otherwise it was a terrific blast and if wasn't already sold out, we might be heading for the Middlewich gig at the weekend....
Afterwards we enjoyed a late session at Rinty Moneghan's with Alison Parker and the Third Man in charge (though I seem to recall the Third Man was absent...!)
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