Its setup for a low key affair with three chairs, three acoustic guitars and three microphones. It’s so low key that after getting on stage Norman and Joe clarify whose round it is and Norman trots off to the bar to get the beers in before re-joining Joe on stage.
They start right in with a couple from their fine new album including Poor Annette who is name checked later in another song. They then alternate between Joe Pernice and Teenage Fanclub songs with Norman often backing Joe up on a child’s xylophone to great effect.
They really start to hit their stride with the harmonies perfectly matched when James Walbourne, the exceptionally talented guitarist who seems to crop up at so many shows we go to joining them on stage to take on the guitar solos. Tech problems with cables and amps plague James but he perseveres often playing the guitar high in the air flamenco style up to the microphone ditching the amp completely.
Good banter between the two obvious friends and various stories shared with audience including one about a member of the congregation at a funeral dying. The night is filled with false starts, forgotten lyrics, forgotten chords but it all adds to the relaxed laid back feel and does not detract from our enjoyment.
James leaves stage left and the two trade their own songs for another half an hour with personal highlights of the Fannies Mellow Doubt complete with harmonised whistling solo and Overcome by Happiness. The night ends with a cover of the Zombies Butchers Tale and it’s all over.
We leave with a warm feeling of witnessing two great songwriters with impressive back catalogues just playing a bunch of songs for both their and our enjoyment.