Jeff Parson’s review of Nick Harper gig last night in Cottingham.

Posted on by Opher

Nick Harper at The Back Room, Cottingham 15 October 2021 My first foray as a gig-goer in the post-lockdown period was a visit to the lovely Back Room in Cottingham, which has been refurbished by owner and guitar hero Paul Sutton. It was most heart-warming to see that the venue has been treated to a high-quality makeover and that Paul has committed himself to continuing to provide a classy small venue in our locale.I first found out about Nick Harper through my friends and bandmates Rich and Lou Duffy-Howard, who have been promoting gigs for Nick in these parts for many years now. Rich would often tell me that Nick was coming to Hull and that I ought to see him. Foolishly, I never did, until Loudhailer Electric Co were offered a chance to support the great man at the Masonic Hall, Filey, as part of the town’s Folk Festival in May 2017.To say that Nick blew me away is an understatement; I immediately berated myself for having missed several past chances to catch him in action and resolved that whenever possible I would be at his future gigs in our area. Since then we had the good fortune to support him again, this time at Hull’s Adelphi, when he appeared with the Wilderness Kids to promote the album Lies, Lies, Lies in December 2017. This was another revelation, hearing him play electric guitar in a band setting with the superb material from his current record interspersed with career highlights.Further sightings were at the much-missed Kardomah in March 2018, and a further Leco support at O’Riley’s in April 2019 as part of his 58 Fordwych Road tour. Then, the world changed and for a while it looked like live gigs were a thing of the past; I was vexed. But then, another tour was mooted and once again Rich and Lou brought about a visit to our area from this elemental performer.Words like “amazing” and “awesome” have become so devalued in popular culture as they are employed to describe what are actually quite mundane things (“I went to the shops today”; “wow, that’s awesome!”), that I hesitate to use them in connection with Nick’s endeavours. I know he is also uncomfortable with the word “genius” but all three of these words can easily (and accurately) be applied to the man. To be a brilliant guitarist is fairly commonplace, and there are plenty of brilliant vocalists. There are also many brilliant songwriters and performers. However, to find brilliance in all four of these areas in one person is actually quite rare. Nick has brilliance in everything he does, whether it be his virtuoso guitar playing, his mind-blowing vocal dexterity and range, his incisive and intricately-crafted songs, or his masterful relationship with his audience. He is a consummate performer in every sense of the word and I feel privileged every time I get to sit and watch him do his stuff.His appearance at the Back Room was another tour-de-force, a bravura performance containing many spine-tingling moments. The set included the usual mix of fan favourites (he responded to audience requests), personal favourites and new material. Despite an obvious throat problem he was never less than superb, played for two hours plus without a break and treated an attentive audience to a heady mixture of glorious music and stand-up comedy. I know he won’t thank me for this, but in my book, he’s a genius. I can’t wait until the next opportunity to see him presents itself. Thanks again to Rich and Lou for bringing him to East Yorkshire, and to Paul Sutton for providing us with his superb venue and wonderful hospitality.

4Stewart Harper, Lou Loudhailer and 2 others8 commentsLikeCommentShare

Nick Harper – some of the old rogues from twenty years ago!

Posted on by Opher

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Back in the days of yore when magic abounded in the land, when all was shrouded in the mists of ageless mystery and the world yearned for a saviour, a Jedi of mythical potential stepped forth.

‘What the hell am I doing here?’

He proclaimed, blinking in the bright lights.

There in the fantasy swirling fogs of befuddlement on the Costa del Humber the lone knight strode forth with knees slightly tremulous and girded the fabled dispeller of silence to his chest.

In voice clear and fragile he further bewildered a huge mob who had assembled to ask why with his bending, flickering fingers, vocal pronunciations and assemblage of phonetics.

A roar went up for on that knight, despite lack of manger, a new hope was sprung forth to save us from the gloom of corporate control.

Our reluctant hero had suffered his first exposure to the harsh world outside and taken the first teetering steps of a long journey in search of a grail that was ever found. Every journey begins with a first step, it was always thus, and this was it.

Many a poor fool lays abed at night chastising themselves for missing such adventure. They hold their manhood, or womanhood, cheap and cry lackaday, for they were not there then, neither can they recreate the magic of such an incarnation, for the egg only hatches once.

Yet of those stout fellows who assembled on that battlefield of yore, a handful still live to tell the tale, a tale that grows ever longer in the telling and is adorned and embellished with yet more wondrous acts of valour and endeavour.

And on this morrow they once more assembled to pay homage and were captured in Merlin’s pixels for all time. These are but a handful of the many who exulted on that memorial day. Yet they are strong, firm and resolute (If a little greyer and more wrinkly) and hold forth for many a battle more.

The Jedi still stands tall and mighty and dispenses spells to audiences. His troupe still breathe the firmament and stride in his wake to guide the beast that is termed train, strain the melody and deign to gather the phrases.

Who knows what the future holds for they too are shrouded in mystery.

In brief – the picture is Opher, Tim, Nick and Karl. We were there at that first gig in Hull. Eddy and Rich were also here but eluded us for the photo. Not to worry.

For wondrous are the ways of the world and there are many worms still to vanquish, beasts to battle and epic odysseys to be carried on. Without such embattlement the forces of evil will swamp us all and steal our souls.

I leave you with a call to arms – rise up all who can still dream and slay the beast that is mammon (metaphorically) so that we may have life unfettered and a world to live it in!!