YAA Gig at the Ridings, 28th February 2025.

by Phil Barr videos/photos Barbara Fisher Joe Fisher

    A frosty Friday morning in late February with blue skies and the sun shining brightly as the tentative new shoots of change were peeping through in the ranks of the Wakeylele band. With David unavailable on this occasion Pop had bravely volunteered to step into the breach supported by a very healthy contingent of players. However, the Keep Calm message on our, at present, deputy leader’s sweatshirt didn’t quite tell the whole story as when I asked his permission to nip to the toilet before proceedings began, (to be on the safe side) he said he was quivering like a jelly. At this point I also sensed a presence above our heads and when I glanced up, I’m sure that I glimpsed what reminded me of a drone together with the makers initials on its underbelly: DB – but I kept this to myself. 

   Eleven o clock arrived and the time had come as Pop called out the beats to the Wakeylele Medley and we were away.  Not surprisingly   there were a few minor adjustments in timings as we adapted to a fresh frontman but the experience of the group together with Pop’s all round competence  meant that these were soon smoothed over and normal service resumed with appreciative applause from the floor throughout the first set of well-honed songs including the aptly titled I’m a Believer The collective spirit within the group was typified by Mags turning out despite an extremely troublesome knee and Thelma surviving a recent triple somersault in the stalls of Wakefield Theatre during a Johnny Cash tribute act. No doubt the coffee she then spilt down her front today but mostly onto the floor was partly a result of the trauma of the aforesaid incident although such was her precision, (as with her uke playing) that she managed to avoid spilling a drop onto    the flowing strands of her immaculate white scarf. I must also mention Elsie’s elegant outfit at this time set off by some pop art boots which shamed some of the men folk’s dowdy appearance, myself included and whilst on the subject of clothing I couldn’t help but notice that the advert relating to M &S women’s underwear next to its food department cleverly used the term understatement which was hopefully the opposite of Wakeylele’s first half performance 

 With a welcome break arriving, a team of cleaners were able to mop up the perspiration from our leader’s area as the group dispersed to all parts of the Ridings with just the suggestion of a satisfied expression on one or two faces as Pop, no doubt looking to seek to gain an advantage in the popularity stakes gave us five additional minutes to the normal half hour granted by David. The time was obviously well used as on the resumption of proceedings Pop had the confident look of a great white shark compared to his earlier jellyfish, his Wakeylele battle cry probably being heard from as far away as Sandal Castle. There was no looking back after that apart from the odd auditory problem during one or two of the introductions and I got a new perspective on how difficult it can be from the back to judge the general sound of the singing and playing, compared to being at the front. Also, as David often says, Mags is central to the rest of us keeping in time and today was no exception as she was quick to adjust to the required timing as was Val who again showed her worth. Sue’s powerful voice was another bonus as a reference point for those of us at the rear.  As for the individual songs On the Road again went down a treat and the concentrated efforts to get it right on Sit Down

was something to behold, there being an audible sigh of self satisfaction/ relief on its completion. The Union of Different Kinds suffered an initial stutter but recovered strongly to the end and so the early afternoon soon concluded on a strong note with huge cheers especially from Chris in his accomplished role as band cheerleader. 

   And so, the new seeds were sown with much deserved back – slapping and handshaking for Pop in this very gradual transitional period for Wakeylele. As this was happening, I again had that uncanny feeling that the drone was back, this time briefly opening its undercarriage to reveal what looked like a flour bomb but after a micro second the doors had closed again and instead two of its arms extended and two metallic thumbs pointed upwards before the whole thing whirred off happily in the general direction of Crofton. 

   Those who follow football will know that Liverpool had a very successful and charismatic manager called Jurgen Klopp who was a hard act to follow – in fact Arnie Slott has done equally well so far and looking for an analogy you could say that, applied to our team, Pop has ‘slotted ‘ in well on today’s evidence, (boom – boom). Thanks to everyone as well as Pop who kept the ball rolling, including David who I understand offered helpful advice at Tuesday’s rehearsal, Dave F for double checking car reg numbers, Barbara for the videoing and family and friends for supporting us once again. 

     Next up is an afternoon gig at Inwood Care Home, Horbury at 1:30 for a 2p.m start.