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The Six Bells, St Albans[Pub]
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 Shepherds Rock... Deaf Shepherd on Fri 18th Jan 08 | |
   ... not an ailing rural Building Society but rather a frequently-observed and lovable phenomenon which takes place around St Albans, Herts. Last night they were in traditional British timbered pub The Six Bells, all real ales and gorgeous barmaids - ok, not so traditional then - on the banks of the Ver where some people barely have two hundred thousand or so to rub together - but they are very nice people nonetheless.
The Sheps are one of the mainstays of the local pub music scene, gigging voraciously all year... a four-headed rock jukebox dispensing Fleetwood Mac (old and older), REM, AC/DC, Floyd, Tull, Peppers, Free, Zep, and small but very golden nuggets like Handbags and Gladrags, and May You Never (John Martyn - had you forgotten how much you like that?). They always had a communication problem, because only singer/guitarist Steve was not called Dave, so one Dave chose the obvious alternative - "Chuck" - well he is on the wrong planet - and another emigrated, which may seem a bit extreme but it made way for guitarist Gavin ("Gavin") to take up electric bass, a highly successful move because he plays tunes with it instead of standing in a corner going Thump. He also sings Stairway to Heaven and has a very melodious voice, which you don't expect from a bearded bear-looking bloke. Non-bearded bear-looking bloke Steve slips naturally and without mimicry into the vocal styles of the original singers. Class fool/other-worlder Chuck does lots of filling and fiddly bits with an array of.. um... things from his planet.
Occasionally-bearded bearish Dave, by elimination (of the other Daves) must be the excellent drummer and, blow me, the others actually listen to him, so he must be good.
Steve's missus sang one number, which was not an indulgence. She has a good voice. I didn't catch her name but I know what it wasn't.
The throwaway musical high spot of the evening for me was BOC - Death Don't Fear the Reaper - which they slipped in third. Such a breath of fresh air, just like the original was when it came out. Cruelly short, though - could you play it twice? | |
| A music fan, Sat 19th Jan 08 | |
 Love and tears Swanvesta Social Club on Sun 8th Jul 07 | |
 300 members of the community that is the 6 Bells in St Michaels balmed in the enchanted garden that has previously experienced all kinds of nationalities of music on the first dry summer sundae of 2007 and took in the wave that is the Swan Vestas.
Oftimes Cuba mix "Camp Road", the feel embraces the quartet to the left of the stage who pogo Latino and the octogenarian dancing with the girl with 1980's shoulder pads through to the masses with heads bobbin' 'n' knees throbbin'.
Smiles smiles smiles as the alcohol courses and the rhythm section perfects the art of perfection. This is the best sound in St Albans now and will be for some time to come.
Those who experienced it are still reliving it a week on. If you build it they will come! Sublime. | |
| Giovanni Santiago, Sun 15th Jul 07 | |
| Really good night Deaf Shepherd on Fri 21st Apr 06 | |
| First time I saw them - I was delighted by the quality of the gig and the atmosphere at the pub, which was packed up but a few people (including blonds) could still manage to dance at the front. I really enjoyed the evening. | |
| A music fan, Tue 9th May 06 | |
| Stop, Look and Listen Turtle Soup on Sat 9th Jul 05 | |
Some innocent bystanders (by-drinkers?) tonight might well have thought: "Oh no, another duo. More folk. More songs in 4 chords played with unnecessary enthusiasm in a tired genre". Indeed, the mere sight of a guitar and a beard had one loud agnostic heading for the garden where he, content to brag to his attentive chums about how cheap his jeans were, missed the best free performance of spine-tingling, unassuming, uncategorisable music ("fock" - warning - contains rock and folk) going on in the entire world this warm and clammy July evening.
It's a bizarre sight: beefy, orange-bearded guitarist swiping huge forearm at a set of strings that responded with the sweetest, tenderest tones... a swell of emotion from the hair-raising Ms Kempster's vocals on which rode boundless, perfectly placed intervals... while her graceful touch on the keyboard rolled their songs snugly into bite-sized, fresh picnic treats that would be a pleasure to consume again and again. Steve's gentle harmonies provoked some in the audience to search for the third, hidden, band member. It's not uncommon these days for acoustic duos to cover some (very decent) pop and rock songs from the charts, at which we all relax and think "at last something with a tune, that's fun, recognisable and I can relate to". With Turtle Soup you're treated to the shocking added ingredient: that the songs are all original.
Three cheers for new acoustic crossover - it is very alive and very well. | |
| Mac MacLaren, Lemonrock Editor, Tue 12th Jul 05 | |
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| Venue details last updated 19 January 08, gig/event details last updated 15 May 08. |
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| Page first created on Lemonrock 27 April 05. |  |
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Olde Worlde pub next to another great Olde Worlde pub, The Rose & Crown, which also does great live music. Are you spoiled or what...
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