If you've never been to St Bonaventures, I'd recommend it. Its got to be one of the most eccentric live music venues around. The layout is fairly normal for a social club - stairs down to a large room with a low stage and a bar at one end. Lots of chairs and tables. But its the people who occupy the place that grab your attention. There's Bob, the evil murderer from Twin Peaks. There's the guys who's head is on upside down. And there's your uncle Frank and Auntie Doris, just out for a quiet drink at the local social. Weird.
As I walk in, support band THE REDLANDS PALOMINO are into their penultimate number, which sounds pretty good. They have a great girl singer from Wales with a truly wonderful voice and an acoustic guitar which makes her look tiny. And a brilliant lap-steel guitar play - and I'm a real sucker for those things.
The last song is a knockout.
Then there's a very short break, after which GINA VILLALOBOS and guitarist Ben Pringle wander aimlessly onto the stage and do a bit of tuning. Gina starts to talk, mentioning something about a gig in Leeds where they told her to stop talking and get on with it. But no one here minds, they just chat back. Then finally Gina and Ben get going, instantly moving up through the gears with a series of simple but wonderful country-tinged songs. Gina has one of those Rod Stewart throaty growls that I personally would give anything to possess. The two guitars work really nicely together, so simple yet very effective. Later on they're joined by the two Palominos who add vocals and lap-steel to great effect, even though I get the impression they only met Gina yesterday..
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This makeshift band runs through a selection of songs from her album Rock and Roll Pony, and everyone has a thoroughly good time. There are lots of comments about the weirdness of the English lifestyle, which only Americans in England can get away with. Then more songs. I wish I knew them better, because I reckon I would have enjoyed the gig even more, but the utter simplicity of it all makes them easily accessible, so it really doesn't matter.
And then I make my way quickly out of the club, before I'm dragged into a back room, drugged and then chopped up to make next week's curry...
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