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Escape the RELS (Boxing Day Open Mic)

Escape the RELS open mic with Old Man Pie

Boxing Day may be named after the tendency for arguments and fights to break out among family relatives who have outstayed their welcome through Christmas.  So I made my final open mic an opportunity to ‘escape the RELS with Old Man Pie’.  And if the relatives all got along, they could come too!

After the excesses of Christmas there were doubts whether people would want to venture out on this wet and windy night in Holmfirth.  But it seemed people were up for a good night out and Cellar 88 filled up with post Christmas cheer.  Old Man Pie kicked off with a couple of gypsy tinged pieces including a current favourite of mine (ahem) called ‘I Was Odd’.  

Then the pie guys made way for Mike from Brighouse, and a slimmed down version of the excellent Anarchy in the Ukelele who brought us .. well it had to be done .. Santa is a punk rocker.  Dee Dee Ramone may turn in his grave!

The young band Folkus (above) also made a welcome return to my night and played a wonderful set of reels and songs.  Folkus hail from Barnsley and were a tough act to follow.  That job fell to Jimmy Andrex from Wakefield who recited poems over a looped sample.  You might think that sounds pretty naff reading it here, but the neat mix of humor and beats went down a treat.  Malcolm and Jacob followed with a couple of self penned items and a cover of Wild Wood by Paul Weller.

Old Man Pie played a half hour set and I got over excited, like it was Christmas or something.  It was difficult to hear my guitar above the full drum kit, but we belted out some pie classics and got the placerocking, finishing with an eclectic piece all about prescription drugs.

Greg Paul provided some blues, Petra provided the poetry, Terry provided some banjolele and Jacob Fullalove made a welcome return with a very poignant song which touched everyone’s hearts.  Twelve months worth of open mics was almost done and came to a lovely chaotic end with every musician in the place jamming along to Bad Moon Rising and me giving a big shout out to everyone who had supported these nights, the audience, the musicians and performers and the management/staff at Cellar 88.  Thank you so much and have a wonderful 2014!

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[Managed to get a rare picture of Kayti (below) from Cellar 88 who has also worked hard to make these nights something special .. long may they continue]