Flyers

Rip It Up, Issue 13, 1 July 1978, Page 16

Flyers

Ken Williams

Flyers with Beaver Exchange Tavern, Parnell Saturday night, buckets of rain, not fit for man nor beast. First impression of the Exchange is not promising, the lounge is a reminder of pubs past, shades of dream and chrome, coloured lights a stab at some vague idea of modernity, a peculiar shaped room akin to an elongated kidney. But, if anything, the room which is effectively divided into two distinct sections is an asset. It’s the antithesis of the vast lounge at the Windsor across the road. It’s small and relaxed, a good atmosphere for an otherwise charmless barroom. A good venue for those who want to listen to the music and one where the performers need to keep on their toes. But there are no clinkers this night. The Flyers must be among our best two or three bands, tighter than ever before. Since Midge Marsden departed for Australia, the Flyers have taken on Paul Clayton on guitar and Murray McNabb whose roots are in jazz. McNabb’s keyboard maturity adds palpable depth. The music is more jazz tinged than before Midge’s interest in blues and Western swing seems to have gone with him but

the repertoire is largely that of the old Flyers, songs by the Meters, Ned odd original, and their trademark, "ft Should Have Been Me," this time allowing for economical and tasty solos by McNabb and Clayton, who was playing his last gig with the Flyers. Richard Kennedy, whose guitar is as fiery as he is deadpan, is growing in strength as a vocalist, but the centre stage must fall to Beaver, a sublime singer with the sonority of an alto saxophone in flight. Her technique seems effortless, her taste impeccable. My personal highspot of the night was her ‘‘Working the Swing Shift.” The band is tighter than ever and the addition of Murray McNabb is so right. The departure of Midge Marsden has meant a loss only in a sense of fun. ‘‘A musical shuffler,” he called himself, but his looning, foot-wide grin was a sure sign of a good time.