Loudon Wainwright III with Beth Nielson Chapman

When I was asked to do a write up of Loudon Wainwright III I have to admit that at first I was a little worried.  I hadn't seen the first two and I wasn't sure I would understand what was going on.  Now I promised myself that I wouldn't make that joke but when it comes to word play I am a weak man.    Sorry Loudon!  In all seriousness though I was looking forward to another evening of World class entertainment and Southern food all within walking distance of my flat.  How can you get better than that?

I arrived at Perth Concert Hall nice and early so I grab a burger, a beer and catch up with friends while enjoying some sun and music at the Southern Fried Outdoor Stage.  I was glad I did because I was just in time to catch Wang Dang Delta play a blistering set to a busy crowd.  Lead guitarist Pete Caban is the owner of Bandwagon Music in Perth which I've been buying guitars from since I was a wee boy.  So if watching all this music has got you inspired to pick up an instrument give him a visit and he'll hook you up and we'll see you at the Southern Fried open-mic next year!

After an impromptu lesson on scales, modes and sight reading with my college lecturer Jason Wotherspoon, bass player in Pete's band, it's time to take our seats for Beth Nielson Chapman set.  Tonight Beth is playing with Irish musician Ruth Trimble who is a bit of a revelation.  Ruth provides backing vocals and harmonies, keyboard and bass accompaniment, percussion and if that wasn't enough plays bass drum with her right foot at the same time.  She really does an awesome job of making Beth's back catalogue of songs sound even better, and what songs!  Beth has been covered by Willie Nelson (leading her to run a red light when she heard him on her car stereo) and Elton John and has recently recorded with Olivia Newton-John and Amy Sky.

It's an incredibly strong set but one of the highlights for me was the haunting "relationship in peril" song You're Still My Valentine.  With it's arperggiated guitar, beautifully plaintif vocal from Beth and soaring harmonies from Ruth it reminded me of an early Brian Wilson ballad.  Other highlight for me where the life-affirming rendition of All That Matters is How We Love and of course a rip-roaring This Kiss.

The first thing that strike me when Loudon Wainwright III takes the stage with banjo player Chaim Tannenbaum and mandolin(and sometimes fiddle) player David Mansfield is how pleased he seems to be here.  He is greeted by an audience member shouting "welcome back" to which he replies "it's good to be back" and you can tell he means it.  This good natured bonhomie carries into the show with a running joke about plastic surgery on his buttocks, good natured chiding of Chaim for missing his flight to Britain, "I thought we were leaving on a different day" he remarks sheepishly, and ribbing the audience for not buying his Grammy award winning album.  I have to admit I do not own said album but will remedy that soon!

Loudons song choice this evening suits me down to the ground.  Things get Michael Marra's Hermless is stupendous... a poetry of the everydaystarted with the anti-love song, the ridiculously catchy Unhappy Anniversary soon followed by the wry and dry Old and Only in the Way.  We are also treated to a cover of Dundee songwriter Michael Marra's Hermless which is really a stupendous song, it's lyric a poetry of the everyday.  This segues deftly into a reading of  Scrambled Eggs a story from Loudon's up and coming book which is as entertaining, well observed and funny as the best of his songwriting.

The second half has a couple more great covers including the The Old Dope Peddler a Tom Lehrer song that puts a different spin on your friendly local drug dealer with its lines:"He gives the kids free samples, because he knows full well that today's young innocent faces will be tomorrow's clientele."  We also get a lovely rendition of America The Beautiful by Chaim with pointed emphasis placed on the "Till selfish gain no longer stain the banner of the free" line.  Not aimed at any orange President in particular that one!  Speaking of Trump the show ends on a rousing singalong rendition of Dead Skunk and me and my friend Norrie grab a sneaky wee IPA and discussion of the performance at the Old Ship Inn before heading up the road.

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Find out more about the Southern Fried Festival here!