GO GREEN. HAVE AN ACOUSTIC NIGHT.

WHITBY NOW FUNDRAISER: AUGUST 19TH AT THE RESOLUTION
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The trouble with these things is they start too early. I turned up just a tad after nine, and I'd already missed JAMES WALES out of Yabbadabbadoo doing his solo set. He said he'd done some of his own songs as well, which I for one endorse wholeheartedly. If somebody could review his set for Poppitywatch I'd be most grateful. Even if James reviewed it himself, I'd be most grateful because it would be slightly subversive and a bit unusual to have someone reviewing their own gig. Especially if they were a bit disappointed in the choice of songs.
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As we walked in JON HORNE was belting hell out of his electric guitar doing a rough around the edges version of Picture This in a most unDebbieHarryesque way. The song was all the better for it. Sometimes songs need to be pulled apart, put in a bucket and given a good shaking up, before being tipped out and kicked round the stage.

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Also Jon treated us to Whole Wide World by the mighty Wreckless Eric, a songwriter of no mean talent. Anyone who pens lines like 'I could be lying on that sun soaked beach with her / Caressing her warm brown skin / And then in a year, or maybe not quite / We'll be sharing the same next of kin' is more than qualified to butter parsnips in my kitchen.

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Which brings us to Jon's own songs. No compromises. Heartfelt and raw. I could describe their thoughtful lyrical twists and turns, the two intertwining storylines running through Jack London, or the conjouring up of the fear of IRA bombings in 1969, but instead I thought you might like to judge for yourselves. Click on the song titles below to magically hear the tunes coming out of your computer speakers (as long as you've got the volume turned up a bit).

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AMERICAN WHISKEY LIVE

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JACK LONDON LIVE

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I have to admit that I've never been a massive Beatles fan. I mean they've written some pretty good songs, but so have a lot of other people. How many times do we have to hear bloody Imagine? I also have to admit that I'd never been a huge HIGH TIDE fan either, until tonight.

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Somehow, like one of those distance runners in the Olympics that suddenly manages to find a sprint finish from somewhere to take the Gold, High Tide stormed the finishing line with flying colours. I don't know what they did differently, but there was an edge to their performance. I think they enjoyed it too.

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Not too many Beatles songs, and more of their own. They did Gothenberg of course, but also one called something like Two Of Us. Immaculately played, superbly sung and really affecting. I believe they were giving us something of themselves, and it was very satisfying to see.

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Someone mentioned that Liam's somewhat longer hair now looks a bit like Noel Fielding's off The Mighty Boosh. Apparently its a cult comedy show with a zany, surreal element that all the young people are 'into' these days. Give me Sid James in a Carry On Up The Khyber on a rainy afternoon anyday. That'll do me thank you Squire.

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MARK OUT OF FRAGILE was without his chum and co-cospirator, who is known as Sally Ann Out Of Fragile. Apparently she lives on a farm and a bridge across a river had been washed away so she was stuck there, and may indeed be still there now, destined to dwell amongst the beasts of the field and to live off mangold wurzels for the rest of her life.

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Mark did a short solo set, the highlight of which, for me at least, was a display of slide guitar playing of the highest order. The highest order!

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As well as doing a short set, Mark also wore shorts. He had a shortcake biscuit immediately after he came offstage, and then proceeded to drink shorts all evening. He is obsessed by all things short and is the head of the Whitby branch of the Ronnie Corbett Appreciation Society.

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I've never seen The DTs, but I've had them at regular intervals ever since I started doing this flaming blog. LEAFY AND JAMIE out of the aforementioned DTs treated us to a set of songs, with Leafy standing at the mic and dancing about whilst Jamie sat down and played the guitar.

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All the songs were expertly rendered covers, but Leafy threw an unusual one in the mix to catch us out and open our consciousnesses up to a new dimension, man. It was a Hip Hop song. She wanted the lyrics to come over because it meant a lot to her, in fact I'm sure she said it was one of her all time favourites. Can't remember the title, but the word suicide was featured. Gulp!

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I asked why they exclusively did covers. Leafy said their own songs were too personal. The campaigne continues.

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Marvellously brash and dedicated to profitless chicanery, PANDA LASAGNE donned acoustic guitars in true Folk Week style. Except for the bass player, who donned a throbbing electric mutha of a bass with 2000 volts going through it and sparks flying from the pickups. Well, you're allowed to bend the rules a bit, aren't you?

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The Pandas were amazing. They probably felt a bit uncomfortable, but it added a palpable edge of uncertainty to the event. The song lyrics were clearer than ever and the solos were offbeat and quirky. I take my hat off to them, much as you have to do when going into Rosie's, but thats a different issue. They pulled it off and they made my night.

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The one about James' Dad was particularly good. More serious tunes would not go amiss.

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Two Panda Lasagne tracks were recorded on the night, and they're corkers. I'm saving them though as an interview with the lads is due to appear soon. I'll put them with that. Stand by your beds!

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MARK LIDDELL had regaled us with an effortless version of the curry eater's lament Ring Of Fire earlier in the evening, and it was left to him to round the proceedings off with Pearl And Dean style adverts for various businesses in Whitby. Popwatch takes a dim view of the commercialisation of popular culture, and I can tell you if any Popwatch contributors dare try it on, they're dead meat.

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Speaking of meat, Lander's Butchers of Baxtergate offer a full range of beef and pork at competetive prices. Lander's, your local purveyor of fine meats.

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Thanks to Jean again for the wonderful photos. Unfortunately I was unable to use the ones of Leafy and Jamie because they were hidden behind mic stands and music stands. Either they're very shy, or Jean cocked it up a bit. I wouldn't like to say really.

Sorry about any exclamation marks Jon!