‘our special correspondent in the day after tomorrow reports’

so the time-traveller in h.g.wells’ the time machine is mocked. it’s a book of the type tale told at a dinner table. (it’s also a very slim book easily fitted into the pocket of a coat).

horsemouth was off to a gig in south london (acoustic anarchy at waterintobeer) - his friend lou crisfield was playing, as were air is blue, martin howard, s&m.

martin opened it (despite a cough) - once again birds, love, death - at the ornithologist’s arms excellent again (name dropping kroptkin), then two songs by s&m, then a woman called alex played (ukulele and voice) songs of a picaresque newcastle wake up in the lost and found, love, break up, such like. well played and well sung (horsemouth liked the flick with thumb, flick with forefinger uke playing technique).

then lou crisfield - starting with a song about her father teaching the kids to play guitar (some nice bluesy hammers on here), then, if horsemouth’s memory serves in the pines (leadbelly or bill monroe?) on the banjo (an instrument that can only approximately be tuned... allegedly) , a gillian welch number, a number in praise of mutual friend milly (also known to about half the audience). 

air is blue - a duo - alternating guitar and acoustic bass - the woman sang, she had a very nice delivery which seemed to manage the difficult trick of being in pitch and being spoken at the same time. the bass came in at some nice unexpected places.

and so back home (a bag of chips on the way to soak up the beer - for yes horsemouth had become over enthusiastic and drunk too much beer). later horsemouth goes to a.n.other gig (busy weekend) - so more reports tomorrow. tomorrow he works (wednesday he works). saturday the anniversary of the death of alice coltrane.

april 13th (end of term) horsemouth’s own gig down at water into beer.