Thanks for the tip Twang.
The Stacey Earle / Mark Stuart gig at Twickenham Folk Club had been in my diary for a couple of months. Unfortunately it was set for the 9th May, a Sunday night. I'd been totally undecided whether to go or not. The venue is South West London while I live in North London. As late as 3 o' clock I was undecided. The GLW isn't a fan (I don't understand why, as it's usually the sort of thing she likes but she's seen and heard them), she just wanted to know if I was going. Then I read your piece above and your Night Out With... which made up my mind.
It was a lovely gig. I couldn't understand the small venue (about 50 people and that was just about capacity) but relished the intimacy. The crowd was as attentive as anyone would want. Unfortunately, especially later in the evening, the sound of Harlequins fans in the main part of the pub got more and more raucous.
Stacey's story about getting the phone call that her son had been killed in Iraq and then 45 minutes later getting the call to say it was a mistake was really moving. The song she wrote as a result, which she dedicated to most mothers who never get the second call really touched me.
When I was waiting to go in I got a chance to speak to Mark about his guitar style which often sounds like two guitars playing (the first time I saw them at The Borderline I was looking for the other guitarist). He said playing that really forceful bass line under the melody came from listening to Merle Travis and someone else whose name I've forgotten, practising a hell of a lot and having to have that bit extra when he was starting out as a solo artist.
So thanks again for the giving me the nudge. They are off to Bristol next, so to any of The Massive down there, let me echo Twang's recommendation and get yourself out there.