Willowen/Tom Clements/Nick Tatham
August 20, 2012Chaplin’s Cellar Bar, Boscombe, Bournemouth
Willowen are quite possibly the hardest working local band in the Bournemouth area, not only do they regularly gig at local venues, they also work very hard to get themselves out there by travelling to lots of different venues around the UK. Tonight is a special gig as the band are launching the brand new 4 track EP called “Monster” which was recorded with the help of tonight’s support act Tom Clements. The EP shows a good deal of maturity for the band with a new ever evolving surf folk sound. There were three support acts lined up, as “Coke Can Jack” have sadly had to pull out due to illness we have now just two.
The first of these is Bournemouth’s very own Nick Tatham, a regular here at the Cellar Bar and someone who can entertain audiences with just his voice and an acoustic guitar, Nick plays a delightful 25 minute set which contains mostly his self written original own songs with an R Kelly cover thrown in for good measure. Nick was diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome in his early teens and finds music one of the best ways to communicate. It is so obvious from tonight’s performance that Nick has so much great natural talent, which he has taken turning a negative situation and found a positive solution which I am sure will inspire others. Nick gigs regularly in and around the Bournemouth area on a regularly basis, if you get the chance please check him out you won’t regret it.
Next up we have Tom Clements a great singer song writer from Shaftsbury who takes to the stage with a confident smile, Tom as well as being a solo performer, he has performed with bands, played as a session musician and has also produced music. He seems to literally to live just for music, his passion clearly shows in his performance. Tonight’s he delivers some top class faultless vocals coupled with some really skilful guitar playing including some clever special effects. As well as some great original well written songs such as “Promises” and “I Don’t Know”. Tom performed by request from someone on the audience a stunning version of “Sultans Of Swing” by Dire Straits ending his set on a real high with everyone in the place just standing, listening to something really special, needless to say as the song ended the place burst into a noise of cheers as Tom left the stage.
Willowen are part way through a tour taking them all over the South and west of England including a trip to London along with a few festivals along the way. You have to hand it to them, they are doing everything they can to get their sound out there. Tonight a decent size crowd have turned out on a Monday night, Willowen don’t disappoint with a great varied show performing songs from their latest EP, the band kick off with their opening number “The Story”. The band seem to have a new found confidence within their performance, with the show including a couple well chosen covers including KT Tunstall’s “Black Horse & Cherry” which shows off Jasmine Watkiss’s impressive vocal skills, and a cover of Katy Perry’s California Girl’s including a guest rapper who provides an interesting addition to the song. They even managed to include a brand new song called “My Life’s Mine” which furthered showed the great progress made by the band, George, Jonny and Jasmine really have something special going on here, maybe just maybe one day all their hard work will pay off.
Set List Willowen
The Story
Right For Her
There’s A Monster Living In My Paddling Pool
Drowsy Maggie
Black Horse & Cherry Tree (KT Tunstall)
You Said Hush
My Life’s Mine
California Girls (Katy Perry)
Pink Sky
Dan’s House
Hippy Vampire
Videos
Band Links
http://www.facebook.com/willowenuk
http://www.tommymusic.co.uk
http://www.nicktatham.com
Videos and Review by Dave “I’m A DJ Don’t You Know” Chinery (Chinners)
Pictures by Jon “I’m Tired” Musselwhite