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Lee Fisher revels in a rare full band performance from one of the North East’s most beloved songwriters
Image: Nev Clay & Band by Lee Fisher
The Bard Of Longbenton has been a quiet fixture on the Newcastle music scene for decades, appreciated by those in the know, a songwriter’s songwriter. Everyone from Steven Adams to Richard Dawson has sung his praises. But over the last couple of years, gears have shifted, albums have appeared, actual nationwide dates played. And now, for what I think might be only the second time, Nev Clay is performing with a band!
A hugely packed Cumberland Arms (where else?) is treated to an acoustic solo set first, a few songs and a lot of reminiscing – about buses and flags and poetry. It’s as charming and affecting as ever, especially when he closes with recent heartbreaker Rescue You.
And then the stage fills up, to bursting point. There’s Richard Dawson and Sally Pilkington from Hen Ogledd, Phil Tyler from all the bands, Robin from The Last Path, Gary Lang from St James Infirmary, Cath Stevens from the Cornshed Sisters, and David Scott from Bargain Classics (we were one collapsed stage away from wiping out a significant chunk of the Tyneside music scene). And with Nev upfront, looking proud and humble all at once, this remarkable collection of humans gave us some of the highlights from the man’s considerable back catalogue.
We got I’ll Remember Until I Forget, Leaving Do and Gracious In Defeat. A room stuffed with friends and collaborators cheered and laughed and basked in the sheer loveliness of these songs. There was weeping for sure, at any number of moments in a songbook full of ache and pain and love (the raised voices on All You Start Will End provided my personal breaking point). The music was full of sweet harmonies, gorgeous guitars (Tyler in particular serving up some fine Richard Thompson flourishes). It ended, inevitably, with a long, insistent, powerful take on Cuddy’s Cave that at times sounded like Sister Ray and Here Come The Warm Jets, and everyone cheered extra loud for the Cumberland Arms reference. And then it was done. And everyone in that room knew something very special indeed had taken place. I can’t believe it won’t happen again, but it was an absolute honour to be there this time.
