Bill
Bill has always been reluctant to discuss his musical antecedents. We know he has some connection with Acker Bilk but possibly just fitted a radiator for him. We know he likes Jazz from the 20's and 30s. We know he's from Bristol and started playing drum with Chinewrde before switching to melodeon (possibly simply to annoy the then melodeon player.)
Claimed for years to have a 1904 Gibson Mandolin from his grandfather, no one really believed him until Steamchicken formed and he turned up with a cheap roundback that had been hanging on a Jenny Crop's wall for many years.
It turned out not only could he play it; but in the style of 1930's black string band/jug band players. Check out "Pick a Bale of Cotton" on the "Never Mind the Dots CD".
Also turned out he can also play piano but only using black notes. "Chicken and the Gridiron" on the CD is one of his. It's worth watching out for him attempting to transpose his keyboard at battle speed; can be fun if he hits the wrong button.
Playing with Bill is a little like hot air ballooning; you're never really sure where you're going to land. An instinctive musician he occasionally plays the same thing twice, but never on purpose.
Eye contact is vital in a live band and Bill is the master of non vocal communication; see if you can match the caption:
Go Faster Slow Down Last time through
Your soloMore Mandolin
in the fold back please
Band Members
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Ted |
Matt |
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Bill |
Will |
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| Andrew | Mandy |
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| Simon | |
