Pig's Ear 20/6/09

And now for something completely different.
Hot on the heels of the rock n roll stylings of Toxic Bob's show the previous week, Kent based folk act Pig's Ear trottered along(look, there may be a few of these porcine type puns in this review, I can only apologise) the A12 to the Angel.

A distinctly different musical propositon to the poisonous Roberts, Pig's Ear proceed to hog pretty much all of the main bar with their set up, which included musical instruments which numbered greater than the amount of chords that some regulars are able to manage on guitar alone. For those interested, the instruments observed in use included : guitar, fiddle, mandolin, various recorders, oboe, appalacian dulcimer, bongos, drums, bodran, washboard and of course, voice.

In a bacon hot Angel, the 'Ear produced a tight set high on musical ability, but with the emphasis firmly on cracking good songs that you could grunt along with. With Songs ranging from traditional songs(including originating-in-Suffolk tune 'The Crow'), the covers to a pleasing number of their own compositions, all with some high standard banter which at times sailed a little too close to the wind(the words 'free' and 'beer' were heard at one point) for Kevin's liking and when the band eventually decided to rind things up at around 1130, those attendant could consider themselves well entertained.
Cheers to Sue, Lyndsey, Keith and Grant for a great night and gammon back up to Suffolk soon.

Here's some pictorial evidence of the night.

Many folk songs tell of the Little People. Here they are.

A crasser person than me would probably have made some kind of humourous crcak about 'this young lady made herself very popular by virtue of her ability to blow anything'. But not me.

Pigs Ear, not performing 'Freebird'.

For those who were wondering, THIS is an appalacian dulcimer.

Playing in venues as small as the Angel can sometimes be fiddly.

The band brought with a of CD's for sale which a number of regulars took an interest in.

Bongobongobongobongo!

Packing up the gear took almost as much time as the show. Any rock band that moans about having a lot of kit to carry should have seen the amount of stuff the 'Ear brought with them.

It never rains but it's Porous

The crib season may be long finished, and the new one a good 6 weeks away but the Angel's crib players are still busily honing their skills for another tilt at achieving midtable resoectability. On any given night you're likely to see one or two regulars taking a few for their nobs.
Wednesday 17th June was no exception to this, with the one notable difference that 5 members of the regular side were in competitive action for the coveted in-house cup.

A round-robin system of play employed, producing a lengthy tournament in which, at 11:45, Patrick 'Porous' Currie was eventually declared in-house champion for 2009 with a clean sweep of his rivals, losing no matches and conceding only two games in total.
CPiB was fortunate enough to be at the scene to interview the champ who's words on winning were 'Where's the bloody sanwiches then?'.

The evening was also notable for the late appareance of senile delinquents Sid, Lionel, Doug, Richard and a very 'chatty' Doods Suttle, who lent his vocal 'encouragement' to the assembled players. It appears that the gang had been into London to the Imperial War Museum(Doods apparently in disguise, in case he was recognised and arrested for avoiding call-up) and followed this excursion up with a meal in Cafe Marsala in Melford.

CPiB can reveal exclusively that, according to Richard, that their green chicken curry is apparently 'bloody lovely'.

Forthcoming Happenings.

Occasionally, CPiB will make the online equivalent of an outside broadcast, but it's unheard of to promote events at Other Pubs.

If I was going to do that I'd call this blog 'pubs wot I like' or something.

However, as the organisers are all Angel drinkers and it's a good cause I'm featuring this one.

As you can see, Sinatra(or at least a very competent imitator,) will be playing the social club on July 4.
Tickets are ten pound a go and will include an actual sit-down meal, complimentary drink and raffle with some SERIOUS prizes. Tickets can be procured from Kevin and Paula down the Angel or from Nigel at the Social Club, all proceeds going towards a Senior Citizens' Summer supper as organised by Glemsford Angels.

For more information, contact Paula at the Angel, Nigel at the Club or chat up Fiona should she be in.

For additional stuff about Glemsford Angels you can go HERE and for more about the Sinatra night click HERE to download the event poster

Notes and Queries part 2

the next missive to land in the CPiB inbox was this enquiry from Team Porous.

Hiya!

Did we pass Roy Porter sitting at a bus stop in Hintlesham at about 12.30 on Friday, or does he have a double?

(We were going in the other direction.)

A word of advice here. NEVER ask the man himself this question. He'll only reply with 'Oi don't drink shorts boy, but if yer buyun' I'll hev a pint'.

Moving in the opposite direction however, is recommended.

Notes and Queries part 1

A number of questions have recently landed in the CPiB inbox.

First up we have Confused Of Stanstead:

Angel dogs.......could I just be sure of the rules of entry please. Is the dog allowed alchohol? How many times must the dog have visited the Angel? If the dog has done 'number two's' in the pub itself - is that grounds for disqualification? Will there be a section for hamsters?

1. Only if doesn't make a noise and try to start any trouble.

2. To be classed as truly local, the animal in question should have racked up the dogy equivalent of 30 human years, just like every other bloody incomer.
3. CPiB once took in a dog that cocked it's leg up the fruit machine. You're probably on safe grounds here. Kevin will probably blame it on Hector or Henry.
4. CPiB welcomes all kinds of pub attending animals to it's pages, be they dogs, cats, hamsters, in fact anything up to and including Neil Searle.

13/6/09 Toxic Bob

June 20th saw not only Toxic Bob's Angel debut, but their last ever public appearance as a group. No reason has been cited for the split, although the time-honoured 'musical differences' would be a fairly safe bet given the occasionally ragged nature of some of the song intros.

A fast-paced set of rock standards interspersed with the odd curve-ball such as a high paced thrash through Bad Company's 'Feel Like Makin' Love', The Who's mighty 'My Generation'(complete with 'improvised' bass rolls from Tommo in place of John Entwhistle's immortal 4-string rumblings) and quality closer in the Tenacious D's awe-inspiring 'Tribute'.

What else?

Some (mostly) solid musicianship from the assembled players(including drummer Sean, who apparently has been playing for 22 years - he must be knackered), some inspired banter between crowd and band and a ridiculously charming frontman in the form of Bob. Oh yes, and they played 'Freebird'.

Here's some photos.

Bob, with his cousin the mouth organ. Our Monica, if you will.

This photo has not been ruined with 'redeye'. This man is possessed by the SPIRIT OF ROCK.

Drummers: Difficult to take pictures of.

This man is not far away, he's just very small.

The TB fans club. Bobbits?

Get yer 'air cut.

'Be you Angels?'

'Nay. We be men. ROCK OOOOOOOON'

Them Bones

This image recently arrived in the CPiB inbox.

As you have not had much to put on the blog, thought you might be able to use attached photo.

Steve

Yes boys and girls, this is what Glemsford very own Six Million (Zimbabwe) Dollar Man had removed from his leg joint.

Cheers Steve, it's just what I kneed.

Breaking news: Clive Coleman's Quiz Team ringer revealed.

Time creeps up, just like your underwear.

He's not swallowing a badger folks, this is what being a grandparent can do for you.

In other news, Lovely Fiona's Shop Of Lovely Things is due to have its grand opening TOMORROW(13/6/09).

Bring yer wallet and buy something nice. You'll be helping make your community that bit nicer.

The last two recent quiz night saw a new set of contenders enter the fray, in the formidable shape of Clive Coleman and wife Lynda, son Ben and not-quite-daughter-in-law Michelle. On their first outing in May's quiz, the newcomers trounced the opposition to win the main quiz.
They were less lucky in the June quiz, being defeated by rejuvenated perennial winners Simon Says.

The beer round was won by Chas's Team(buggered if I can remember the name of his team), who scored big in the Wimbledon themed Beer Round. Any suggestion that Chas has been spending his time perusing young ladies in short shorts in an effort to revise for this quiz are mere lies. Quizmaster Kevin assures me that the only person who has prior knowledge of quiz questions is him.

Dogs Of The Angel part 634 - Grace.

Nowadays guide dogs for the blind are a fairly regular sight, hearing dogs for the deaf slightly less so.

Grace has the unique distinction of playing the role of 'thinking dog' for Brian Mann.

Sadly she's also a Greyhound, a long on good nature and patients but short on brain.

Hey ho.

Grace's favoured bar snack is 'any one of those niscuits from the jar on the bar please'.