Latest Updates - The Songbirds

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Comment by Shadnor SUBS:

"A packed house saw The Rapiers get the show off to a cracking start with Shadoogie. Superb version of The Savage, vocals for Baby My Heart and Dance On. The Songbirds back Billie Davis for Johnny Burnette's Dreamin' and Bobby Darin's Dream Lover. Her hits follow: Angel of the Morning, Tell Him and I Want You to Be My Baby, finishing with Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? After the interval Jet Harris is on with The Man With the Golden Arm. Into Jet Black and Gonzales. Talk of Tony Meehan and into Scarlet O'Hara. Jet is playing as good as ever: Nivram, Sleepwalk, Apache, Applejack. The Songbirds join Jet for Duane Eddy's Dance With the Guitar Man to great effect. Theme for Something Really Important, Diamonds, FBI with all the kicks!"

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Comment by Shadnor SUBS:

Mention Jet and The Rapiers to Attract Punters
George Weston of Chepstow presents a fan's eye view of the Me and My Shadows action last night in Coleford, Gloucestershire. Then adds a dollop of common sense for all concerned.

The boys played a blistering set... Jet [Harris] was on his usual form, with his sardonic, dead-pan humour, pretending to forget what he was going to play and then going for it, big-time, note-perfect, playing a Jaguar, a Precision Bass and a Strat.

Billie Davies was unfortunately unwell and was sadly unable to perform.

The Rapiers were spot-on with everything they played, doing The Shads stuff plus some good ol' rock 'n' roll, including material from Buddy Holly, Johnny Kidd & The Pirates and even Screaming Lord Sutch! All in all, a very good gig indeed!

One thing rankled, however. The only reason I found out about this gig was on [the MSN Shadow Music] forum. There were no advertisements in the local papers and the audience was therefore smaller than it could have been. Also, the website for the venue and the tickets just said Me and My Shadows, without mentioning Jet or The Rapiers. Marketing point follows: If you want to attract the punters, say who you are on the adverts!

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Comment by Shadnor SUBS:

SPECIAL REPORT: Go-Go Rapiers at Fareham
Jet Harris, Billie Davis and The Rapiers
Ferneham Hall, Fareham
9 October 2007

By Rob Bradford

Another cracking show.

Rapiers Fast Finish

As ever, The Rapiers, this night with Dave Lawes on rhythm, set the tone for the evening with a fantastic opening quartet of numbers. With their new dark suits and brand new patent winkle-picker shoes, they really looked the part as they always do—immaculate. And Shadoogie never fails to disappoint. All the usual choreography was there and the guitar sounds were to die for. Colin Pryce-Jones's restored, revamped Meazzi echo really produced the goods during a blistering The Savage.

The whole group were on top form and Dave's relentless rhythm proved that he has lost none of his playing abilities. The Rapiers are indeed fortunate that, following the tragic loss of Wayne Nicholls, they can call upon the superb contributions of both Dave and Neil Ainsby. Furthermore, there are few drummers who can recreate the playing style of the late Tony Meehan. John Tuck is one such drummer and See You in My Drums was outstanding. As well, Nathan J. Hulse's bass playing is all too often taken for granted, so I should note that his performances are exemplary, absolutely spot on.

The Rapiers finished with an electrifyingly fast Buckleshoe Stomp.

Billie Davis On

The group, augmented by keyboards, provided brilliant backing for Billie Davis.

Billie is one of the few '60s Girls still touring and she puts lots of effort and energy into her vocal performances. How great it is to still hear live versions of Tell Him and the poignant Angel of the Morning. Billie also has a clever medley of Dreamin'/Dream Lover that works well. Or how about Dusty's Little By Little or The Shirelles' Will You Love Me Tomorrow and a superb (Your Love Takes Me) Higher And Higher.

The Rapiers always pay great attention to detail when accompanying other artists and it's fascinating to watch.

Jet Harris on Form

Jet Harris has been performing on stages now for just over 50 years, but let's never take his shows for granted. A reminder, it was only in 1999 that he returned to performing in theatres on a regular basis, the real start to his latter-day renaissance.

Jet had the Ferneham audience in hysterics with his customary deadpan comments and witty one-liners. Plus, Jet is really playing well. He inspires The Rapiers and they inspire confidence in him. All the customary classics were there: Diamonds, Scarlett O'Hara, Applejack, 36-24-36, Nivram, Theme for Something Really Important, Dance With the Guitar Man, The Tall Texan, Jet Black, Gonzalez, Wonderful Land, Apache, etc. The audience loved it.

Before I forget, Billie's vocal duo The Songbirds added immensely to the evening with their attractive appearance, stage presence and excellent vocal harmonies in both Billie and Jet's sets.

Tony Meehan Tribute

Jet earned a well-deserved standing ovation. But there was another bonus for the audience.

First, some background. Many fans know Jet has been recording a brand new CD, The Journey, which should be ready for Christmas. Last year he released two advance tracks (San Antonio/Ignition) as a limited edition CD/vinyl single. Meanwhile, the aforementioned Richard C. is a lifelong Jet/Shadows fan. A while ago he submitted a track that he'd written to Jet for consideration. "I was both humbled and delighted when Jet told me that he wanted to record my little composition," said Richard.

At Ferneham, Jet reappeared (on lead guitar) with Paul Rumble on acoustic guitar and Nigel Hopkins (Jet's producer/arranger for the new CD) on trumpet. Jet was clearly nervous as he explained that the rest of the instruments were on the original studio track, which would, in effect, be used as a backing track. "We thought that it would be appropriate to dedicate this to Tony Meehan," said Jet. He then announced the title Song for Tony.

Pitted against Paul's delicate acoustic figures, the rising and falling backing track soundscape and Nigel's thrilling, piercing and haunting trumpet playing, this track was a musical eulogy for Tony, Jet playing with the style and sound of 1963. Jet was nervous, but that gave his playing real edge as he clearly poured his heart and soul into the performance. It was genuinely moving, a rare moment when instrumental artistry becomes a living expression of emotion. God rest you, Tony, and God bless you, Jet.

What an evening.

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Comment by Shadnor SUBS:

Rain Didn't Dampen Rapiers Somerset Show
Me and My Shadows
Somerton Arts Festival, 13 July 2007

By Ralph Gowling

Audiences decide whether a show is good, bad or indifferent—and the rapturous reception given to the Me and My Shadows team throughout the gig at Somerton in the cider county of Somerset on Friday night said it all.

It was a rain sodden night and the organisers of the Somerton Arts Festival had pitched their marquee for the event on the edge of a sports field that became more and more, well, sodden. But that did not dampen the spirits of the capacity 250-strong crowd—the show sold out well in advance—or Jet Harris, Billie Davis (who brought her Welllingtons, see image below), The Rapiers and The Songbirds.

Inside the marquee, the rain that has plagued this year's summer was forgotten and the crowd lapped up the show. There was even some Searchers audience-type singing along and pointed fore fingers in the air when Billie and The Rapiers did When You Walk in the Room.

Two notable faces in the audience were Phil Kelly, virtuoso lead guitarist with Bruce Welch's Shadows, and Beat magazine editor David Parker. I nearly gave Phil his marching orders until I recognised him when he and his party headed towards the entrance to what passed for the dressing room just as Billie and the girls were about to change into their stage gear!

Gents Vote Thumbs Up

The Rapiers usually do half a dozen numbers in the MAMS shows but Somerton got the bonus of a rollicking full hour of rollicking Rapiers numbers—from their all-so-polished Shads stuff to their powerhouse vocals.

Trust me, when you line up at the urinals in the gents during the show, you usually get some of the most honest appraisals of a show alongside you. The verdict? The Rapiers went down a storm on a rainy night!

Billie_boots

Billie D. Gets Edgy

Billie, The Rapiers, now joined by keyboard man Paul Matthews, and The Songbirds were on next, and they have raised the bar of late. They are tighter as a unit and Billie's numbers now have real edge. I Want You To Be My Baby is a belter of a standout and won her wild applause. John Tuck's drumming on this really gets the audience going too.

Tell Him, Angel of the Morning and Higher and Higher went down a treat and Billie was clearly enjoying herself, stepping off the stage and going right up to the audience to sing and banter. When she asked if they would still love her tomorrow, back came a cascade of wolf whistles and shouts. Cue for her closing number and a lengthy ovation.

When You Walk in the Room vocals won many over, but it was the wonderful "Shadowy" lead guitar work of Colin Pryce-Jones that caught my attention and other bedroom guitarists. Everyone knows the Rickenbacker sound of The Searchers hit and some may heard the heavy, almost thunderous chords, on the rival Billy J. Kramer and The Dakotas version when Mike Maxfield and Mick Green shared lead guitar duties. It is always interesting to hear different takes on a number and this one does it for me.

Billie noted that while The Searchers enjoyed a hit with the number, it was written by her friend, the great singer-songwriter Jackie DeShannon.

Jet on Form

The night was capped by Jet and I personally haven't seen him play better than nearly two years ago at Fareham. That night Jet and The Rapiers were simply electric and Somerton got a taste of it when they move up that small notch that makes the difference between a great performance and a knockout.

Wonderful Land won huge applause. Not much you can say when the audience reaction says it all. They loved every minute, including Jet's legendary humour. "You MUST come back next year!" was the simple comment of a fan who greeted Jet after the show.

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Comment by Shadnor SUBS:

06 May 2007
Bromsgrove Off
Crikey!

Word just in from Rapiers HQ: "Jet Harris has pulled out of tonight's 'Me and My Shadows' concert at the artrix Theatre in Bromsgrove because of a hand injury, so the show has been cancelled."

No word yet on whether the date will be rescheduled.

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Comment by Shadnor SUBS:

Farnham Maltings Off
"Me and My Shadows" gig at Farnham Maltings in Farnham is a non-starter, cancelled and being rescheduled, in part "because the theatre's Website has been registering a blank page for the show, causing confusion among fans", says our source.

New date: June 8. 2007.