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IVAN DREVER - Fan Reviews |
A PDF file of a review from the courier from November 06
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Duncan and Ivan at Strartherrick Hall Had a rainy and foggy journey to Stratherrick Hall, dog and all as we knew if we left her in the house and fireworks went off she would try to dig her way out. Arrived at the hall in good time and could hear the fiddle and guitar in the background as we took the dog a wee walk before going in. Had been at this hall once before to see the fantastic play The Accidental Death of an Accordianist which rates as the best play I have ever seen. Were given a very friendly welcome by Hugh the organiser and chatted to him for a while. We had a friend with us who had driven all the way from Norwich to come to the gig with us. It was his first time seeing Duncan and Ivan live so we let him choose the seats. Needless to say I was very pleased when he chose to sit in the middle of the front row. The stage was along the side of the hall with three long rows of seats in front of it. This was excellent as it made sure everyone had a good view of the musicians. Just after 8pm they came on stage and welcomed everyone, Duncan said it was the 4th night of their world tour and they would start by playing a nameless tune of Ivan's (I think he composed it during the tour in May) Ivan added that tonight might be the night he found a name for it then Duncan added they would follow it with the 2.40 from Vigo a tune written by Angus Grant from Shoglenifty on the back of a motorbike on the way to the airport. He had quickly written the tune as he thought it might be his last chance as the motorbike driver was driving very recklessly. This was followed by The Piper and the Shrew, then Ivan sang The Viking Bride. This was followed by a new instrumental set which I really enjoyed then Ivan said he was going to sing Rolling Home and it had a very difficuly chorus that he would teach everyone. When he was teaching it he pretended to forget the words as they were so hard. Next was the beautiful Johnny Cunningham tune Night In That Land and Duncan said he knew he always told this story but he was going to tell it again anyway and it was the story of Johnny curing his homesickness for Scotland by eating a nice greasy pie in a cold shower. I think there might have been a fast set next ? The Rizla then Anada Pa Gael the lullaby written on the bagpipes.Ivan told a joke about a man who went into his local pub at the same time on the same day every week and ordered three whiskies, sat at a table, drank them and left. Eventually the barman's curiosity got the better of him and he asked him why he did this. The man replied that he had two brothers one in America and one in Australia and that they both went into their locals at the same time he was in his and did exactly the same. This was their way of remembering each other even though they were miles apart. A few weeks later the man went into the bar as usual and only ordered two whiskies. The barman was a wee bit concerned and waited till the man sat down at a table then went up to him and said I see you only ordered two whiskies tonight I hope everythings o.k. The man it is don't worry it's just that I've stopped drinking!!!!! Then they played two reels just before the interval. Ivan's wife Linda was in charge of selling the c.d's and she also had some of the jewellery she makes for sale. My frind asked me to go and advise him what c.d's to buy so ended up with The Orkney Years 1 and Redpoint. Tea and coffee was aslo on sale---typical no alcohol the night we had a driver!!! The second half started with Ivan playing The Grey Funnel Line then Duncan played the beautiful Mangersta Beach at the start of another set. Then Ivan sang one of my favourite songs from his days in Wolfstone the beautiful Song For Yesterday. Next it was The Gentle Light That Wakes Me with Duncan as usual complaining about Phil Cunningham waking everyone to get it recorded, followed by a toe tapping fast set. I have to say the audience were great during the gig. There was no unnecessary noise and the last noted of every tune and were allowed to die away completely before people started to clap. Two young men were in charge of the lighting and they made an excellent job. They also had a slide show going at times with pictures of Duncan and Ivan taken when the were recording the D.V.D. of Long December Nights and a few taken when they were much younger. Ivan was wondering who the handsome young men in the pictures were!! Ivan sang I Will Be there which is another one of my favourites. The lyrics are lovely. Duncan said he had had loads of phone calls that day one after the other and his phone was still ringing just as they were ready to leave but he thought he had better answer it. He said it was his Uncle Don a lovely old man then said he would get told off for calling him old anyway he told him a "true" story and he was going to tell it to us. A man was sitting on a plane and he
fancied a gin and tonic so he politely asked the stewardess if she would
bring him a gin and tonic------she just ignored him so he was sitting
wondering what to do when he heard a parrot sitting on the shoulder of a man
in front of him shout to the stewardess hey you fat face will you bring me a
gin and tonic now. Much to his surprise the stewardess went straight away
and brought the parrot a gin and tonic. The man thought so that's how it's
done so he shouted at the stewardess hey fat face bring me a gin and tonic
now and she did. The parrot shouted for Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels sorry I mean El Caballo Blanco was played preceeded by the story of the traffic jam near Madrid and the Barrel brothers and how one of them had a car and couldn't drive while the other could drive but didn't have a car and now the one who couldn't drive can drive but you would never know he could as his driving is so bad. Ivan sang a song I had never heard him sing before I can't remember the name of it, he said he just fancied singing it there and then. It was good. Clueless started the next toe tapping set and that was the end of the second half. Duncan and Ivan got up and took a bow then sat down again. They said they had given up going off as they knew they would come back on anyway and they were getting too old for all that walking on and off. The encore was the usual Bonnie at Morn followed by Foxhunters. I know I say it every time but I will say it again they get better andbetter every time I see them. They just seem so in tune with each other no words need to be spoken it is all done with nods and smiles and it works every time. They stod up and bowed and waved again and I took a picture which I have put up on the site too. Duncan looks as if he is spinning a plate on his finger and Ivan seems to have lost something!!! I'm looking forward to the next tour alreadt. Morag CONTACT : info@ivandrever.com |
