Saturday 23rd November 2024

 

Woke around 0800. Got up and made tea. Feeling better this morning…though still got the sinusitis. We walked up to Yerbury Farmer’s Market in the drizzle…wind starting to get up as the eastern fringe of Storm Bert hits London. Bought a loaf and walked home via Nags Head Market. Cooked a hearty brunch. Worked on some Dylan harmonica. Aki nipped out to Boots to take a look at their stock of electric toothbrushes. Phoned ma and pa...they seemed in fine fettle, though were hunkered down out of the snow. Warmed up the last of the chicken curry with dal, and some pitta bread, followed by a Waitrose apple tarte tatin with cream. Caught a bus to Finsbury Park, and a train to Moorgate. Weather inclement, but the wind wasn't too bad, and it was relatively warm. Walked from Moorgate to the Barbican. Did some browsing in the gift shop before taking our seats in the main Hall for this evening's concert with the Take Me To The River All-Stars, a number of musicians and songsters who had come over from New Orleans to give London a taste of their exuberant music. Aki's old pal, Jon Cleary, got things underway on the piano, with a couple of Dr John numbers, before the band came on. The band was fronted by Cyrille Neville, now getting on a bit, but still fantastic...his son on drums, and a nephew on guitar. I was expecting more of a show...the poster inferred colourfully dressed Mardis Gras dancers, but it was just the band, and to be honest they struggled to create the Louisiana swamp vibe among the Saturday night London crowd in the big hall. But we got up and had a bit of a jig about in front of our seats...especially enjoyed the encore, a rendition of Take Me To the River, an old favourite. Caught a No.153 bus from Moorgate afterward, which dropped us a few yards from home...