Oysterband

Have just joined lastfm and discovered your group. Big fan of the Oysters and am going to see them in Knighton on December 9. Cant wait. Anyone else going or seen them recently. Would love to hear from other folkies (old or young)

Was there the other week when they played in Reading. They were fantastic but a very different set than usual, lots of songs off the new unreleased album. Just a pity that the seats sell out before the standing these days I would prefer a more lively crowd!

The Oysters are great, and live they are gods... Never seen a bad gig.
I just love them! ^^
And I know them since I was maybe four years old.
I hope the gig in Essen will be good. :)

Heres a review of a gig I went to In April. It appears on my journals but I have never posted it to your group.
Hope you like it. I'm off to see the band again in Bilston on Monday - anyone else going?



The Oyster band Voices tour had been billed as a gig which would allow the band to perform some of their tracks which don’t usually get an airing on stage. As well as this we could expect stripped down versions of some of their more popular songs and a smattering of very old traditional tunes.

The band are regular visitors to Birmingham and would have therefore known that the folk audiences in these parts are not the easiest to enthuse; particularly an all seated one without a glass in their hand.

John and the boys walked onstage looking just a little apprehensive as barely audible applause rippled around the hall. True to form the band were almost totally dressed in black, with the exception of Alans’ blue jeans. With a black stage floor and black curtain behind them the sombre mood was complete.

I had assumed that there would not be a drummer, but Lee, sitting on what looked like a wooden box began proceedings by tapping away on it. It may have looked like a wooden box but it sounded exactly like a full set of percussion instruments. After a few moments the band were into the first number. I think this song was from the forthcoming album and the audience’s attention was immediately captured.

After two songs John told us what the tour was about, and what we could expect. His nervousness had gone – as soon as he hears himself he knows he’ll be O.K. He introduces the next song – Blackwaterside – and my fears for the evening completely disappear. This is probably my favourite Oyster song. Mr Jones was really getting in to it, flexing arm muscles, pouting lips, looking directly, from behind those trademark shades, for Nigel and Karen. This was the song that really set things rolling. John’s vocals, Ian’s beautiful playing and the harmonies of the whole band. They all can play and they all can sing. They know hundreds of songs and so do their fans – what was I worried about.

Over the next 2 hours – with the traditional Birmingham interlude – we witnessed a special performance. There were several tracks from the soon to be released album which were well received but it was the songs from yesteryear which the band most enjoyed playing. Songs which John said they hadn’t played for years. Molly Bond, Geordie, Moving On, Bells Of Rhymney were brilliant and other highlights were John Barleycorn and If You Can’t Be Good. The other songs I can remember were: Oxford Girl, Hal An Tow, North Star, The Story, Fiddle Or Gun and the one which starts “ In 1649”.

Alan and Chopper each had a turn on lead vocals, Chopper in particular has a great voice. Amazingly John managed to remain seated throughout. Surely he is the only man who can pose and strut his stuff from a seated position. This man really is a master of his craft. His voice is full of emotion, and his enthusiasm for the tradition obvious. He loves to share tales with the fans and banter with his band – not in a dreary Martin Cathy manner or a childish Phil Collins way. No this is genuine and all the better for it. I can even forgive him the shades indoors.

The gig allowed me to appreciate how hard working and together the band are. We were only 2 rows back and it felt like we were in amongst them. Lee Parties is a much underrated member. His wooden box was in fact a Cajon – popular in South American music. He sat crouched over it for the whole evening and a blind man would have sworn he was sitting at a drum kit – fantastic. Alan Prosser on guitar appeared a little nervous to start with, but again Blackwaterside seemed to settle him down and from then on he had a great time. Chopper on upright bass, guitar and harmonica. was brilliant as usual, though I thought his boots could do with a polish. The most understated performance came from Ian on fiddle and accordion. Understated but not lacklustre. His playing is beautiful – just beautiful. John completed the rich sound with his excellent accordion playing.

The gig ended with the traditional encore the band singing unaccompanied, harmonising to perfection. They took our applause which was somewhat more rapturous than at the beginning and we prayed for more. But this was the MAC not Knighton, and we have rules in Birmingham.

The band were gone and that was that. All that was left for me to do was to come up with an account, and express my feelings.

OK this wasn’t Knighton I knew it wasn’t going to be. I was sober and a little uncertain what to expect. But that could be said of the band. This lasted for two songs and then we all (Band and audience) had a great time.

As a bit of a folk noob, I've just picked up the albums The Shouting End Of Life and Meet You There, what else should I look out for ?