February 12th 2009...WOODY THE STRING MAN
Tonight Woody was making his third appearance at our club tonight but regrettably it was his last as he goes to live in Spain in May this year. As before, his show was filled with great vocals and excellent musicianship predominated by uptempo numbers with only the occasional slower song. Once again there was a lovely mix of old and new as this evening he started with Steve Earle's, Galway Girl, Billy Ray Cirus', Trail Of Tears, and Jim Reeves', Yonder Comes A Sucker. Cyril Insley
April 17th 2008... WOODY THE STRING MAN
Following the impact of his last show ( 21st June 2007 ) on our members, it was inevitable Woody would be invited back for another concert at our club. Tonight was such an occasion and again we were witness to a display of excellent musicianship and great vocals just as exciting
and entertaining as before.
Starting with an opus from his favourite singer, Woody delivered Steve Earle's, Guitar Town, Merle Haggard's, The Old Man From The Mountain, Dave Dudley's, Six Days On The Road, and another of Steve's gems, Devil's Right Hand, which was covered by the great Waylon Jennings.
Songs flowed freely all night, some old, some popular, some not so, but all delivered in fine style. Examples included, Alan Jackson's, Chattahoochie, Boudleaux and Felice Bryant's, Rocky Top, a hit for both the Osbourne Brothers and Lynn Anderson, John Denver's, Grandma's Feather Bed and Take Me Home Country Roads, Glen Campbell's, Rhinestone Cowboy, which he dedicated to his mum and a song I had not heard before, Hank Williams III's, Pills I Took.
All the songs were accompanied by a Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, Fiddle or several of these instruments, confirming Woody's prowess with them.
To bring this fine show to a close, Woody chose two country classics, Hank Williams, Jambalaya and Stan Jones', Ghost Riders In the Sky, as an encore, which earned the richly deserved applause our members afforded him
Cyril Insley
June 21st 2007 WOODY THE STRING MAN
Over the years we have had lots of great shows here at the Northern Renegades but, according to lots of our members and this reviewer, tonight's concert was one of the best ever, and the reason for this was the Huddersfield entertainer ' WOODY'. He gave us super vocals, brilliant instrumentation, both served with humour and an easy rapport with his audience, and a lively, lovely personality to boot. His music career started when he was only seven years old, when he learned to play the violin. Aged eleven he took to the trumpet as well and at fifteen taught himself guitar and fiddle. He has been a member of youth orchestras, supported Morris Dancers, and has been a professional musician for fourteen years approximately, in various combos, full time for the last ten. Three years ago he began to get more involved in country music whilst in a duo in Spain and as well as performing solo he is a member of The Prospectors ( duo ), The Booze Brothers ( duo ) and Hank Muldoon and the Hangovers, a five piece band. Woody freely admits to preferring and performing older country music, but this does not prevent him venturing into so - called ' New Country' naming Steve Earle as one of his favourites. He began this evening's concert with a 1969 country No 1 for Sonny James, Running Bear, a hit here for Johnny Preston ( written incidentally by the Big Bopper). As usual it took two or three songs before the dancers ventured on to the dance floor and they soon filled it to the Tractors',Baby Likes To Rock It, Don Williams', Tulsa Time, Tom Paul Glaser's, Put Another Log On The Fire and Willie / Waylon classic, Good Hearted Woman. However the climax to act one was a superb rendition of Steve Earle's, Johnny Come Lately, for which he variously played Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo and Fiddle whilst singing. Woody's second session gave us a better opportunity to witness his versatility and expertise with the aforementioned musical instruments. I especially enjoyed Stuart Hamblen's 1949 hit ( I Won't Go Huntin' With You Jake) But I'll Go Chasin' Women, the Eric Weissberg / Steve Mandell charter in 1973, Duelling Banjos, which brought thunderous applaus, Y'all Come, a hit for its writer Arlie Duff in 1953, and Hayseed Dixie's naughty, The Moon Shiners Daughter. For his final spot, Woody continued his exellence of the first two and special mention must be made of his rendition of the Travelling Wilbury's, End Of The Line, a medley, The Deadwood Stage, Bonanza and Yellow Rose Of Texas, Charlie Daniels', The Devil Went Down To Georgia, the Ervin Rouse composed, Orange Blossom Special, Stan Jones', Ghost Riders In The Sky, which included a great comic verse, and his final encore of the evening, Cigareetes and Whusky and Wild, Wild Women, a hit for the Sons of the Pioneers in 1947. On several occasions Woody took the opportunity to leave the stage and wander amongst the audience and behind the bar, whilst still playing and singing, all adding to our members enjoyment and admiration, whose tremendous applause was so deserved. This is one show that must be seen by anyone who enjoys and appreciates talent and excellent country music. I, for one, look forward to Woody's next appearance here, which cannot come too soon. Cyril Insley Top |
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