Jebbers : on a wave of sound
What separates success (or recognition) from relative anonymity?
I've blogged about this before especially in relation to the music of singer-songwriter Tom Russell, who veteran Beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti rates as the very best around and whose album 'Hotwalker' is one of the most enthralling this century.
I've recently read two books of poetry which received major awards : Kate Tempest's 'Brand New Ancients' (winner of the Ted Hughes Award) and 'Physical' by Andrew McMillan , which won the Guardian First Book Award.
On the one hand, it's great to see young poets emerging on the scene with vital things to say ; on the other, I have to say that their work doesn't always inspire.
Tempest is much stronger on cd, where her couplets lend themselves to an original London rap and although 'Brand New Ancients' is remarkably similar to her album 'Everybody Down', on the page it loses impetus, the rhymes sometimes strain and there are very prosaic passages.
McMillan's book works much better and his open form perfectly complements the subject-matter of gay relationships.
The overriding influence of Thom Gunn is evident and acknowledged.
What was lost for me was the real sense of other people. The many 'you' characters he addressed did not come alive and , like Tempest, his language does become stodgily prosaic at times.
While both are by no means bland, I have read other books which are just as deserving of acclaim , but have had only limited praise ; such as Jon Tait's 'Barearse Boy' and our own Phil Knight's 'You're Welcome to Wales!' , the funniest book of poetry I've ever read.
Attending Open Mic nights gives an insight into grassroots verse and while it is thriving, it can also be straitjacketed by rhyming couplets.
Pam Ayres and Betjeman have a lot to answer for!
I know that my friend from 'up the Winch' Dai 'The Rhyme' Davies would disagree and cite Idris Davies and Harri Webb at me endlessly, but most of these versifiers need to read more poetry and better to begin with the likes of McMillan rather than Tempest.
In poetry, the subject-matter can be a significant factor and McMillan's candid depictions of gay love and Tempest's street cred are highly apt and topical for our times.
Being cynical, it would probably need a revolution in Cymru to make our poetry more widely appreciated!
That Merthyr is now the centre of a cultural uprising can be witnessed particularly in venues like The Imp and The Crown : two poles of our High Street, not opposites but hubs.
Last week I attended the acoustic night at the latter and it was an inspiring evening.
I was there to support my friend and comrade Jamie Bevan, Welsh language activist and also singer-songwriter, whose set was being filmed for 'Heno' on S4C (to be broadcast on the 19th).
Jamie's folk music has a traditional feel to it, even when he's singing about wild nights drinking in Merthyr. It's rhythmic and engaging, with catchy choruses.
Like many performers he produces his own ep's to sell at gigs. Welsh record label Sain haven't signed him up........ yet.
There was so much talent on display at the Crown, it's hard to do everyone justice, but I'd like to single out a singer-songwriter based in Swansea called Jebbers. who has an ep called 'Run With Wolves' and another on the way.
Like Jamie, she depends very much on flogging self-produced ep's and on it she's joined by bassist Dai C. Thomas and drummer Phil Hann.
The ep does not do justice to her wonderful live performance and the production makes her voice sound a little 'thin' at times.
Listening to her live, the vocals are full and riding the waves, as she does off The Gower so often. In fact, a number of her new songs deal with surfing, but never in the twee Beach Boys way.
There were many highlights, but outstanding songs were the opening one 'Run With Wolves' and final one , which I think was called 'Paper Man'.
Everyone was in awe of her set and saying - 'She'll make it!'
Yet, there is no guarantee. I have seen poets and singers as good as any prize-winners who have never been signed up.
Who you know and being in the right place.......money to bring out your own work........sometimes, just saying the kind of things people want to hear at a particular moment in history......all these can contribute to making it.
However, I like to make a plea......search for those who dip and rise, somewhere out there, towards the horizon.
THE GREAT UNSIGNED
There are those whose names
are top of every list :
shared, liked and many clicks.
They adorn magazine covers,
are interviewed on Breakfast TV ;
are bought by you and me.
Then, there are countless others
who perform at clubs and open mics,
unknowns who startle and surprise.
Voices and imagery, tunes and tones,
rare as red kites used to be
glimpsed from mountain roads.
They peddle pamphlets and ep's
financed by jobs or families,
their swoop and glide extraordinary.
When disillusionment with the famously bland
is so much sludge in your mind,
remember these, the great unsigned.
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