St. Bartholomew’s Church, Shapwick, Blandford
Tonight on this cold late November evening, a congregation of music fans gather at the atmospheric St Bartholomew’s Church in Shapwick near Blandford for a one off special. Dorset musical pioneers The Two Man Travelling Medicine show are celebrating the 10th Anniversary of their debut album “Weeding Out The Wicked”, with a performance playing the album in full.
The buzz of the audience is intertwined with support band Kolumbia FRL sound checking and from some of the riffs played, you get an idea where the band’s influences are from. Kolumbia FRL are a young teenage three-piece band that TTMTMS frontman Mark Lyons has taken under his wing and giving them the benefit of his considerable knowledge. The band have already been in the studio with Matt Black at Hangover Hill in Wimborne, with plenty of positive noises arising about the early talents. Tonight the trio are playing an acoustic set using 6 & 12 string guitars, bass and a cajón, with their set primarily featuring their original tunes with one exception.
Kicking off with “Falling Over You” the guys show themselves to have some great musicianship with some nice harmonies and guitar work. The best thing that comes across from them is their enthusiasm for what they are doing. To be honest we see very few young bands in this area and to see a band like this flourishing is a joy, especially as they are performing their own self created original material.
The band take a brief detour from the originals to pay their respect to Stone Roses bassist Gary “Mani” Mounfield who tragically passed away recently at the age of 63. We are treated to a fine uplifting and crowd pleasing version of the classic “Waterfall”, I didn’t have the heart to see if they could play it backwards as on the Stone Roses album. The band’s final song “I Want You” is their strongest featuring some catchy melodies and chorus, it’s clearly a crowd favourite. The three lads take their bows and are rewarded with a big round of applause that echoes around this old building.
The Two Man Travelling Medicine Show are a band that have thrilled audiences on a variety of stages over the years. The collective led by Mark Lyons have released three fine albums to date Including “Going Nowhere Fast”, “Folkedelia” and “Weeding Out The Wicked”, which is the subject of tonight’s performance. As I said at the time of the release, to me Mark is like a Jeff Lynn (ELO) type character who surrounds himself with great musicians to bring his ideas to life. The band features long term collaborators Steve Wareham – Vocals/Percussion, Martin Giles – Vocals/Guitar, Rob Volwes – Bass, Charlie Waygood – Drums and Alison Jay – Violin. Also for tonight only; a couple of local faces in the form of expert strings man Andy Jack Ratt (The Sporadics/The Jack Rats/Sixteen String Jack) on Mandola and multi-talented instrumentalist Olly Hopper-Pay (The Hops, Freefall Collective, Systema, Clams, PXR5, Snail Chasers, Vocal Minority, Burg) on Cello. Sadly the big personality of the band, banjo player Brad Watt cannot be with us tonight, but he is definitely here in spirit!!
When the band start to play these tunes, flutters of recognition start flooding back and some of us start to sing along with them too. They open with “Winter Walks”, a tune that leads us along the frozen pathway, name-checking English poet John Clare and American singer; songwriter, actor and social activist Harry Belafonte. That “Tick Tock” ear work nags easily in your head before the controversial “Rat In The Palace” (thankfully the Rat has now moved out of his Palace) rattles cages. ” “I Read Magazines” is one of the first tracks I heard by the band and within the first few listens the track was emblazoned on my brain and never forgotten.
The creator of these is a true music fan for sure and every now and then influences slip out. The Beatles for sure have made a big impact on this songwriter, but by far not the only impact, there are certainly plenty of twists and turns to enjoy. “The Serial Killer Song” is a strange little ditty about a serial killer that went on a dating game show. Though the lyrics seem a little ambiguous, the subject matter is actually a true story. The instrumentation comes from a bygone age and has a Skiffle feel about it. “Country Singer Theme Park Wonderland” is a favourite from the record and one the band clearly enjoy too, featuring a real infectious Americana-style vein running throughout its length.
Andy and Ollie subtlety make their mark without changing the tracks from the original creation style and I must say again I’m sad not hearing the chuckle of Brad Watt’s Banjo tonight. After the album comes to its conclusion the band treat us to a run through of two brand new tracks: the first “You’re All I Need” dedicated to Mark’s long suffering wife and the politically charged “There ain’t No Money in Peace” with lyrics that speak the truth. No matter what your political view, you can’t help but agree with the observation. After the bands one and only cover by the Beastie Boys and a spirited version of “Float” the band take their bows. Tonight has been a celebration of TTMTMS being around for 10 years and everything they have achieved and the pleasure that they have brought to so many.
Mark Lyons – Vocals/Acoustic Guitar
Seb Hartley – Harmonica
Rob Volwes – Bass
Charlie Waygood – Drums
Martin Giles – Guitar
Aison Jay- Violin
Olly Hopper-Pay – Cello
Andy Jack Rat – Mandola
Set-Lists
The Two Man Travelling Medicine Show
Winter Walks
Tick Tock
Rat In The Palace
Won’t Let Me Be
The Serial Killer Song
Lose Your Step
The Museum Of Me
I Read Magazines
Country Singer Theme Park Wonderland
Circling The Airport
The Hammer By The Window
Tightropin’
The Two Man Travelling Medicine Show
You’re All I Need
There ain’t No Money in Peace
Float
Fight For Your Right To Party (Beastie Boys)
Snakes a Snake
Kolumbia FRL
Falling Over You
Reach Out
Waterfall (The Stone Roses)
Blue – Instrumental
I Want You
Videos
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/TheTwoManTravellingMedicineShow
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583233695779
Article by David Chinery (Chinners)
