WELL! AFTER ALL THE EXCITEMENT of the previous month’s guests, The Acme Band, Degsy (Derek to his face) comes up with Tom Travis and his Band, euphemistically known as “Friends”! Of course everybody knows Tom or should do so, anticipating a full house, your fearless roving reporter set of early to ensure a good spec, not realising that I would be lumbered with writing about it.

I was a bit worried on entering the Commercial for down the corridor was a large cloud of blue smoke. But on closer inspection it only turned out to be Bev Williams having a crafty drag before the show began in the non-smoking Clubroom. Anyway we all settled down for the pick and when Derek had had enough of us we were told to shut up and then he introduced us to the main act.

The band comprised Tom on guitar and vocals plus three up and coming lads, ‘Johnny’ Hulme on banjo, Chester’s own Chris Lee, on bass and young Tommy Degney on mandolin and Dobro. Just as the show was about to begin, however, we suffered a hiatus in the form of Big John the Landlord rushing in with a mobile ’phone crying “It’s for Chris Lee!” Chris promptly took the call and accepted a booking for his band, Full House! Of course, it exasperated nearly everyone present but personally I thought it was the coolest thing I’ve seen in years! Imagine Elvis doing something like that on the stage, or a news-reader on the telly - the mind boggles!

Tom Degney, Tom Travis, Chris Lee and ‘Johnny’ Hulme

But at last we were ready to start and Tom T belted out a succession of favourites in true TT fashion. Songs included such fail-safe favourites as Doin’ my Time, Darkest Hour, Molly and Tenbrooks, Stepping Stones, Walking in Jerusalem and threw in a couple of his own compositions, Cattle Feed Blues and Bad Man Billy Ralph. Tom went out on a cracking finish with Please Don’t Wake Me Tonight and John Hardy.

It must have been about halfway through the programme when the Band began to get more than somewhat restive - not TT.,I hasten to add - and the darker side of their nature became readily apparent. The gleam in Johnny Banjo’s eye was quite sufficient to create a current of alarm and send the organiser in the direction of the bar in order to pacify their demands. Of course living in such a genteel area as Skelmersdale, I wasn’t used to such behaviour and was quite shocked, but I really must practise saying “Where’s our free pints?” through gritted teeth, because it seems to work.

In conclusion I must say that I found the night very enjoyable - Tom was at his best, with terrific backing. Although there was a good very appreciative audience, it was a great pity that more people didn’t turn out to this heavily-promoted Showcase. If we really care about the music then we have to support clubs like Chester or we’ll lose them and that would be a shame.

Chris Wilson, Skelmersdale.

[ Tom at Chester 1996 | Chris Wilson Interview ]

Updated 23rd Jan 1999