The Washboard Resonators @ The Globe, Newcastle - Nov. 3

Martyn Roper (guitar, banjo, banjo ukulele, harmonica, kazoo, whistle, vocals); Jack Amblin (washboard, percussion, bells, bones, jug, kazoo, whistles, handcuffs*, tap board, vocals)

For the last few years Martyn Roper and Jack Amblin have toured up and down the land, abroad too, in pursuit of a long lost era of storytellers, troubadours, vaudevillians, whistling hobos and the like. This evening the Washboard Resonators pitched up at the Globe on Railway Street on the first night of a twelve date tour. The question arose: Who would our duo appeal to? The jazz fan? The vintage blues aficionado? The alt-country, old timey type?

Snappy dressers both, Roper and Amblin take their business seriously whilst at the same time having lots of good ol' hokum fun. Opening with Sweet Georgia Brown the signs were good. The Sreamlined Rag wooed the jazz fan, Down by the Riverside appealed to the righteous, Isn't This a Lovely Day to be Caught in the Rain? (from Top Hat) featuring Jack Amblin's vocals surely appealed to all. 

Resonator guitars are an arresting sight and when played well they sound great. In the hands of Roper they sound just that, great! Big, bold, loud, you could hear him comin' on down the line. Amblin strapped on his washboard and found time to bang, hit and blow sundry other things, juggling them all as if in a travelling circus. As the evening drew to a close, perhaps the question remained unanswered as to who the Washboard Resonators appeal to. Perhaps they've several constituencies, tailoring their set from town to town. Next time they're in town, go check 'em out. And 'next time' just happens to be next month at Bobik's (that's upstairs at the Punch Bowl on Jesmond Road) on Sunday 12th (3:30pm).                      

* Don't ask! Russell