Sorted & Dead Men Walkin, Pennar Hall – November 2023
“The main impetus to village hall building came after the First World War with a national drive to develop social and educational provision in rural areas…the building or improvement of a village hall was quickly seen to be the most effective way of bringing all interests in a village together. Swelled by the desire to provide a lasting memorial to those young men who gave their lives…more halls were built between 1919 and 1929 than in any subsequent ten year period.” ACRE Network website.
Pennar, a salubrious suburb of Pembroke Dock, may not be a village as such but it does possess a wonderful community hall run by a hard working group of volunteers and this year the hall is 100 years old.
As part of the celebrations, a ‘dance’ was held there last Saturday which attracted a capacity crowd to hear the sweet sounds of Sorted and Dead Men Walkin.
Many community halls in Pembrokeshire have been recipients of much needed refurbishment funding but unfortunately, whilst improving the structure and facilities, it often has left the halls devoid of their charm.
That’s not true of Pennar Hall – it has received funding I believe but the essential character of the building has been preserved – from the Deco-esque frontage to the wonderful A-beamed and wood lined interior flanked by an impressive stage and balcony, it is a most welcoming edifice in which numerous community activities take place.
And so to last Saturday’s music.
Opening act, Dead Men Walkin, have undergone several changes of personnel over the years; on this momentous occasion the band consisted of Sid Colson (vocals/mandolin/ acoustic guitar) and Mike Cook (vocals/melodeon). Confined to the dance floor with no PA, it was hard for the duo to be heard over the general hubbub (it never ceases to amaze me that people pay good money to hear musicians then talk all over them; it’s disrespectful and hey, they’re missing out on having their spirits uplifted). Dead Men Walkin weren’t phased and I suppose it was party time after all. They played a delicious short set of mainly traditional folk tunes with great verve and good humour, ending with Loudon Wainwright III’s “Dead Skunk In The Middle Of The Road”. They can be heard in quieter circumstances playing at the Hall’s Folk Night every Friday.
A short break ensued then it was time for Sorted – a seven piece Ska band that is highly popular all over west Wales. And for good reason because it is a tight, accomplished, energetic and exciting fun band.
Their repertoire is drawn mainly from the Two Tone inspired revival of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s – think Madness, The Specials, and The Beat – though they also played songs harking back to the early days of Ska when Prince Buster et al were in their pomp.
The band members looked good too – dressed in pork pie hats and two tone clobber. Though those hats were swapped for the obligatory fezes in the second set when they mashed up Madness’s “Night Boat To Cairo” with Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs’ “Woolly Bully”.
Inevitably perhaps, the singer and sax player descended onto the dance floor, where the wild, groovy party goers were dancing like they were trying to avoid that dead skunk, to form a conga line which the singer led wriggling conger eel like out of the hall into the dark, windy Pennar night. I believe most returned safely; I can’t be certain as I’d remained seated, I’ve got a ‘knee’ you know.
All too soon it was over. The lights went up to reveal the hall’s patrons drenched in sweat and beaming with joy. One of the organisers, Liz Cook, said to me “gee, that was great, I’m off home now to top up with Ibuprofen”.
That’s how they roll in Pennar. Sorted for knees and gee whiz.
bbskone 