October 10th saw the first Acoustic Night at The Cask Club, with Scarborough’s Beetlebug, Bristol-based former Scarborian Jabez, Hull’s Tymisha and London-based Luka.
You know, Friday’s at The Cask Club, underneath The Cask & Keg are becoming something of an event, and I’m here for it. Of course I mean spiritually and physically, as I was actually there on Friday, and because I was there, I can tell you all about their Acoustic Night.
It’s worth noting, if you weren’t there, then you truly missed out on a display of talent and songwriting that you won’t just find in any old seaside town.
Let’s dive in shall we.
Talking to the promoter, Luke Mackie, about the night and how it was put together, I think he encompassed the whole vibe pretty well. He said “Everyone’s from Everywhere.” I liked that. So much so that I wrote a note to remember to write that down, so also well done me for reading my notes.
He was correct however. Everyone is from Everywhere. We’re all a beautiful mix of generations of adventures and connections. Leading us to wherever we may go next.
That is what the night was about.
Beetlebug opened the evening.
In short, stunning. Just a beautiful collection of songs. She has mastered the art of capturing an emotion, and allowing it to breathe on stage, in front of you. It feels very intimate, almost like you’re being told a deep secret.
Her use of different meridians and major/minor feels throughout are intricate and well crafted. I liken Beetlebug’s offering to a spring garden. It’s a beautiful amalgamation of all sorts of wonderful things in one, so many stunning textures and inflections, melody lines and ear candies. I’ve always been a fan of vocal turns and runs, Beetlebug executes them with ease and not to excess.
Just a truly lovely set that had you silenced for 30 minutes throughout. To speak would be to miss a moment, and I don’t think anybody wanted to miss a second of this performance. Highlight for me was some Joni Mitchell as well, just hauntingly beautiful and a good comparison for musicianship and craft I think, it didn’t feel out of place or like it didn’t fit within the vibe and setup of the performance.
Next up, all the way from Bristol, is Jabez.
I know what you’re thinking…
“Jabez? How do I even say that and what does it mean? It sounds so alluring and seductive.” And to you it’s his middle name. I know that, because I overheard him tell someone outside the front door. The more you know…
So JABEZ [JAY-bez/] I have known for many a year. He’s been on the scene for as long as I’ve been around, that’s for certain. Back then he’d play the Saxophone with his equally talented Dad Jez. Jezbez? Anyway.
Since then Jabez, muggle name David, has been storing away a strong collection of heart wrenching originals. I have my favourites of course, such as “Man In The Moon”.
Friday saw Jabez take to the stage second. After the initial intimate set, I can’t think of anyone better to shift the mood than Jabez. His folk music feels fused. I hesitate to call it fusion, or World Folk. But there does often feel like a Spanish heat underneath. It’s potentially the chord usage, or the phrasing of the lines, or the fact that Jabez is half Spanish and shouts at me when I miss pronounce “Paella por favor.” It’s hard to say, all I know is that I dig it, big time.
Jabez is the unequivocal master of dynamics. He has the power to project lines without a microphone. This gives him so much room to play with the different levels of tension with ease. Creating massive moments that ring all around and hit you in the chest, to suddenly dropping everything a beat later and allowing a small voice to rise through that. It really aids in punching home his big choruses.
I always ask Dave if he’s written anything new, and if he’ll perform it whenever I have the pleasure of his company. I do this because I’ve always admired his craftsmanship of a song. The way he uses passing chords or sharps and flats to glide you through the sections is masterful.
If you see his name, somewhere, anywhere, just go. Go and grab a nice glass of red wine, sit with a loved one if you can, and just take it in and allow yourself to open up a little bit. I promise this man will nurse you back to whatever your best looks like. If nothing else, you’ll have sunk some vino and listened to some absolute belters in a beautiful seaside town.
Onwards to Tymisha, travelling all the way from Hull for this one. See, are you starting to get why I opened with the whole “Everyone’s from Everywhere” bit. It’s starting to make sense a little more now isn’t it? You just thought I was being a silly goose, but no, there is in fact planning that goes into these reviews, I make notes and generally read most of them.
I had heard of Tymisha before, as she has done some live sessions in The Lounge at Beckview Studios. I’d never been in the room though. What a foolish mistake.
Tymisha’s voice is a powerhouse exhibit of technique and stamina.
Think big vocals, with a rippingly beautiful falsetto that appears to kiss mars on the cheek it goes that high.
Everything feels fuelled with emotion and a quiet contentment that comes with hindsight. Lyrically beautiful. Melodically special.
If Tymisha decides to come back to the coast, please get yourself down. Or travel, actually. I can recommend travelling, to wherever she is, so you can experience what we all got to experience.
Lastly, Luka, who came up from London. Because, say it with me, “Everyone’s from Everywhere”.
Luka’s voice is like something from a fairytale. Think, Gregory Alan Isakov vibes, mixed with some Lizzie McAlpine. Just very raw, emotional songs. The guitar sits as a warm blanket for the lyrics to rest on, it never does too much or is too loud. If the guitar is the water, trickling down, then the lyrics and vocal performance are the rubber dinghy going down a river rapids. You know you’re safe, but you’re in for a thrilling 30 minutes. All of Luka’s stuff felt personal and connected. Like us as an audience were allowed full access to her diary, but instead of angsty teenage lust, there’s well curated lines of poetry.
I hope she returns, I’ve never seen her before, and now I’m a fan.
The whole night was, simply put, just beautiful.
It’s not often among a line up of 4 that 3 of them are women, and even rarer, women doing original music. It’s just not something that we often have the pleasure of here. I hope it continues, I hope it is nurtured and grown. What I experienced on Friday was a storm of intimacy and delicacy in music. There was tension, and danger and power rippling throughout the entire evening. It is not something I get to experience all that often. I felt very privileged to be in the room with such great artists.
Links:
Beetlebug: Facebook : Instagram
Luka: Tiktok : Instagram:
The Cask and Keg: Facebook : Instagram
