TOWER OF SONG

this music bar borrows its name

from a leonard cohen song

his face adorns the walls

part of a giant mural that features the greats of rock

lennon

dylan

hendrix

et al

segments of the revolver sleeve

paul's unsmiling face peering out nonchalantly from a pillar

i can't believe it's taken me so long to find this place

it is for music aficionados

not for boozers

not for loud groups of mates out to get plastered

the sound system is clear and bathed in dreamy reverb

it allows no casual interruptions

the lights are low

but the spotlight illuminates the artist

staring out into the blackness

it is difficult to make out the audience

it puts you in the zone

alone with your voice and your instrument

but in touch with the punters

who can hear every nuance of your sound

the genial owner tom jams along with several performers on his digital piano

he is already in my good books for offering me an ale on the house

when i popped in the night before

tonight bill is organising the rea river roots club

he runs a tight ship

a strict diet of two songs per artist

each of whom is summoned to wait in the wings

to take the stage as soon as the previous act finishes

there is an extended set for the special guests - easy street

whose guitarist expertly coaxes his gibson

into bluesy cascades of melodic sound

when my turn comes

i manage to fluff the first verse of radioactive

but importantly don't let it throw me

like it did one night at the prince of wales

and i fare better when properly debuting the great game

the echo makes it sound strangely like the audience is joining in with the choruses

perhaps they are

there is a lovely variety of artists

two acapella acts

one male

one female

singing songs of sadness and beauty

an eccentric old irish fellow

banging away manically on a bodram

a technically accomplished and muscular classical guitarist

and towards the end

a couple of morose-looking chaps

one plonking away on a ukelele

the other stepping up to the mic hands in pockets

to harmonise on the choruses

plaintively bemoaning the loss of public libraries

the nhs

even our social bonds

to 'the big society':

'and when it's gone it's gone

when it's gone it's gone

then it's gone'

heart-wrenching

and absolutely unforgettable!