Formative Music

Do you remember the precise (or even rough) moment in time that solidified what it is that attracts you to certain music, or particular musicians?

Something about listening to all of the Soul Boy talks on YouTube lately had me thinking about this. My brain likes to disappear down its own rabbit hole now and again and though the end result isn’t guaranteed to be a good one, in this case I’m left with a moment of clarity.

I was 7 years old when I bought my first vinyl single (yes, I’m that old). It was “Rapture” by Blondie. I think I’d seen it on Top of the Pops and was quite literally enthralled by it, so that weekend my parents took me to buy it.

The first album I bought is far more embarrassing, but to be fair I was even younger and it was very much a passing phase. That album was “Making Waves” by The Nolans. Here's a quick sample from that album:

I know. Believe me I know.

So many people have some very cool first album stories, but not me. I like to think I've made up for it since then though!

You’ll be relieved to hear I think I only played it around three times. Not long after that misguided spell with The Nolans, my uncle gifted a vinyl copy of “Regatta de Blanc” by The Police to me. I prefer to think of this one as my real first album (denial much?). I still love it to this day, it’s an absolute classic.

Of course like most people, the music my parents listened to was a huge influence on me, my Dad especially. At 3 years old I was obsessed with Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” thanks to him, and we shared a love of music right into my adulthood which stretched to anything from Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin to Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, Talking Heads and many more.

But the one moment that I think shaped what is now the single most important thing I look for in seriously good music came from a place you wouldn’t expect. I didn’t even know who the musician was, but that man had a profound impact on me.

I’d have been 10 or 11 years old. By then I was living in South-West London, but my step-Dad had family in Hull. We were visiting family there, and had decided to have a day out in the seaside town of Bridlington. This would have been around 1983/4. As is fairly common at seaside places, you could take little boat trips along the coast, and sometimes these boats had (mostly very bad) entertainment on them.

Well this boat was different. This boat had what sounded to me at the time, one of the best musicians on the planet. You know sometimes you just hear a certain perfect combination of notes, played in a certain way, that somehow manages to hit you right in the middle of your soul? For the young me, this was one of those moments.

So I sat down in front of him, utterly transfixed, as he played out his one man show with a passion and gusto I don’t think I’d witnessed before. I noticed a painted sign next to him that read "The Brid Fiddler". It was probably the first live performance of music I’d ever seen (it was the 80’s and we were very far from rich, there were no concerts in my childhood). I can’t remember what the songs were other than they were folk songs, or even what he was singing about, but I do remember the conviction he performed them with.

This man played and sang like it was his only purpose in life, as if he, specifically, had been plucked from the soul bank and placed into his own pre-destined musical path. It was obvious he truly enjoyed what he was doing. It almost seemed as though while playing he was on his own joyful little planet, to which there was definitely an invitation extended but he didn’t seem to care much if you accepted it or not. He'd play on either way, and I admired that.

Even if only 10 or so people were on board and less were actually listening, he still gave the performance his all. The music was the only thing that mattered, or at least that's how it seemed to me. Little me was star struck, and I remember begging to take another trip on that boat every day until we went home. Alas, it wasn’t to be, but that memory has stuck with me for over 40 years.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for music that’s just a bit of fun and accompanies a good time (I love metal after all!). But the music that I truly feel and respect is that which stems from passion, belief, lived experience and conviction, no matter the genre. I don’t mean political necessarily, but heartfelt and genuine. That’s the stuff that lights my fire and I think I have that lone, largely unheard of but passionate musician to thank for it.

He also set me up well to explore all kinds of genres, so my tastes have always been eclectic from a fairly early age. It wasn’t too long after that day on the boat that I fell in love with Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, The Pogues, AC/DC, Pink Floyd, Fairport Convention, Cat Stevens, U2, Dire Straits and a whole load more. My friends at that time were busy listening to Wham! and even worse, Bros (still makes me shudder to this day!).

Fast forward (many years) to 2023, and I found Ren. I don’t think anyone would argue with me when I say that although obviously very different, he embodies all of the qualities of that lone fiddle player. I knew Ren was a big deal as soon as I heard Hi Ren! and have been following him closely ever since.  It was via Ren that I found The Skinner Brothers in July, 2024 and instantly fell in love.

If you’re reading this, I’m sure you already know, but the passion, conviction, lived experience, is all there and a whole load more besides in the music of The Skinner Brothers. The SB's refusal to be tied to any particular genre is heaven sent for me - it’s not the genre that’s important necessarily, it’s the soul behind the music. Using genre to help give meaning to a song? That’s a stroke of genius, and one that I think Zac employs so well that you barely even notice.

If mainstream music is your passion, all power to you. I'm not judging (much). For me, it’s mostly full of hollow, plastic dross, churned out to appeal to as many people as possible. It’s made to be general entertainment rather than art.

I like art.

You can find The Brid Fiddler here. At least I'm fairly sure it's the same person. I daren't listen in case my cherished memories are shattered and it turns out I was viewing things through rose tinted glasses. Maybe you could have a listen for me and let me know (gently!)?