The Small Ballroom, Newcastle
Thursday November 13, 2014 :
Fraser A Gorman had the difficult job of opening for the eclectic CW Stoneking alone. To his credit he won the crowd over with some witty banter and self deprecating humour that ranged from kebabs and Newcastle locals to the joy that can be gained from purchasing his tea towel merchandise. By the end of his set he had won over the slowly growing crowd.
CW Stoneking comes from another world. He is not of this time. Everything about him seems to have a vintage authenticity. He is completely dressed in white apart from a blue bow tie. His speaking voice is a southern sounding drawl. His hair is carefully slicked down. In fact Gorman mentioned in his opening set that he had wondered about the genuineness of Stoneking’s stage act – only to find that CW was dressed in exactly the same attire when they met at the airport – and he noted bemusedly that he was also smoking a corn cob pipe.
Right from the opening song, ‘On A Desert Isle’, the music tonight transported the entire audience to another era and place. In no time at all the Small Ballroom was transformed into a boho style pre-war den of iniquity. Stoneking yodeled, crooned, barked like a circus ringmaster and played fluid, jazzy lines on his gold Fender Jazzmaster that completely negated the need for a horn section. His trademark banjo was sidelined – and he only pulled out his trusty steel resonator for a couple of solo tunes. He wooed the crowd into singing along or to laugh with him at his fables of falling into the hands of scientists and pygmies whilst travelling in Trinidad.
Paul Kelly’s daughters provided perfect backing vocals (yes – THAT Paul Kelly) – shrieking, wailing and dancing while occasionally playing percussion or even clarinets. The drummer and double bass player both solidly provided the perfect musical landscape for Stoneking’s rustic, traditional approach. Stoneking holds centre stage though in this quintet and played a set peppered with old faves and new songs. Standouts being ‘The Zombie’ and ‘Get On The Floor’ featuring stinging, bluesy guitar solos and as the night drew to a close the melancholic lament of ‘Jailhouse Blues’ saw every audience member dreamily singing along. Tonight Newcastle’s local music lovers jitterbugged, danced the Charleston and soaked up every last note of the CW Stoneking Travelling Show.
Reviewer: Roger Thornhill