Saturday night in Polperro
Sneaking away from the parents, we decided to hit the town in Polperro, the small fishing village in South Cornwall where we were staying the other week.
We head to pub number one. W. has heard that Richard James is playing there that night and is convinced that we should visit – just in case it is the same Richard James who is the Aphex Twin. Of course it isn’t. But whoever this Richard James is, he is incredibly popular and we can’t get in the door.
Pub number two advertises its wares on a hoarding outside: ‘Half price Stella during half time – we show ALL the matches’. The place is empty. We decide to follow the advice of the absent crowd.
Pub number three sports a ‘rock guitarist’ as their main attraction and as there seems to be more than two people in there and this is the only pub left in town, we head straight on in.
In the corner, the rock guitarist struts his stuff. Imagine the type of guitarist who refuses to give in to old age and hair loss, who cites his musical heroes as David Gilmour and Gary Moore, has a wardrobe crammed with identical black jeans and black t-shirts and who is proudly fighting a long running battle against ‘the man’ and the hairdresser, and you’ll be able to picture exactly the kind of rock guitarist that I mean.
The rock guitarist is thoroughly immersed in some complicated fretwork and is oblivious to the world. Which is good – at least someone is enjoying themselves. The audience clearly aren’t. Two elderly ladies sit with small glasses of wine carefully placed in front of them and look at their fingernails, a middle aged couple silently glower at each other in another corner, a younger pair frantically ignore each other, talking with other more interesting people via text, a possible contender for town drunk holds up the bar, ‘entertaining’ the bored barmaid with apparently well-worn anecdotes.
We have a great time though. The others may not be appreciating the rock guitarists impressive ability to insert lengthy solos into songs you never knew had them, but we do. Let me tell you, it takes talent to transform Bryan Ferry’s ‘Let’s Stick Together’ from a 3 minute pop song into a 10 minute anguished Pink Floyd style epic.
Gradually more people start to drift in and enjoy the music. Sadly though just as the place reaches the critical mass required for ‘a good time’, it is the end of the rock guitarists shift and he packs up. So do we.
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:35 pm
I had an enjoyable Friday night in Polperro a few December’s ago. I recall the Blue Pete being a nice pub. We spent quite a while watching darts amth in another one.
June 3rd, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Yes, the Blue Peter was the crowded pub we couldn’t get in to. Perhaps the rock guitarist was playing in the darts one? It’s a lovely village though, I could have spent a lot longer there…
June 3rd, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Oh fab. Did he do ‘Parisienne Walkways’, or is that a silly question?
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:37 pm
I can’t remember if I’ve been to Polperro – but the guitarist is very familiar – I think I’ve seen him in a few places.
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:33 pm
glad you had a good time what was the beer like?
June 3rd, 2009 at 6:06 pm
ISBW, I’m lucky enough never to have knowingly heard ‘Parisienne Walkways’. I don’t think he played it though because we recognised most of his material. This allowed us to play a great game guessing what rock classic would come next and how long the solo would be.
PM, it’s Polperro in the picture. It’s just down from Looe, but far nicer. John Betjeman seemed to think that it was already a bit too touristy (in 1937!) but I would definitely recommend a trip. I think the guitarists name is Bob something. I suspect he is a regular on the south west’s gig scene.
BLTP, glad you asked. The beer was excellent. Because we were close to St Austell most of the beer we sampled came from there. I fell in love with Tribute (which ISBW says is available at the Golden Eagle in Marylebone(!)), but also liked their Proper Job IPA and Sharps Eden. No idea whether you can get them here, but must be somewhere. Our local does Cornish Knocker which is good too – tastes even better in Cornwall. Oh and Betty Stogs which won best bitter at the CAMRA beer festival last year, but I hadn’t had before. Sorry, you did ask…
June 3rd, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Beer fans:
http://www.skinnersbrewery.com/
Skinner produce both Cornish Knocker and Betty Stogs ‘award winning’ ales.
Guitarist fans:
http://www.bobsouth.com/
This HAS to be him.
Must go and finish work now…
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:25 pm
i think the ipa they sell in ms is tribute relabelled if you want to relive your hols
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:04 pm
sounds a winner! Got a name?? he’s BOUND to have a website, myspace page or somat… i’m up for a 15minute version of The Locomotopn like you wouldn’t believe!!!
Welcome back!
P
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:44 pm
BLTP, do you mean Marks and Spencers? Really?
Piley, I think it is the guy above. Actually, having just clicked on his MP3 jukebox and listened to his ‘Summer of 69′ I can assure you that it IS him. I am disappointed though that is only includes his more ‘traditional’ numbers.
June 8th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Ha! That picture on his website is exactly how I’d pictured him in my mind’s eye. I find it quite reassuring that there are still blokes like this earnestly trudging round the pubs, though I’m sure the novelty would wear off if you had to sit through it every night, or even once a week…
June 8th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Hoops, it was like watching an episode of Saxondale come to life. Which is kind of reassuring I suppose.
By the end of the night some people were really getting into it – so I’d like to think that he has a cult following in the local area.
June 10th, 2009 at 1:49 am
I’m glad you had a good time. I enjoyed reading this post. I hope you are having a great week so far. Cheers!