The scene: A stage at the end of the room, dressed, as always, in an old dark-red rug. Next to it, a battered leather sofa waits to be relaxed upon. Giant, Triffidic flowers are scattered around, wedged above speakers and sellotaped to mic stands, and archaic lanterns cast stained-glass colours across the room. Behind the dais, an acoustic guitar leans against the dark brown curtains, waiting...
This night is Dom's night at The Platform, the long awaited showcase for one of PAS' regulars and favourites. With him is Tallulah, an SG-wielding songstress and provider of the lanterns and massive flora. With her is Colin, a banjo player without - and this is important - without a beard! That's surely one of the signs of an impending Apocalypse.
16 And in the house of Met, one shall arrive, and cast shadows upon a stage; 17 He will come with another, with his weapon of choice, and he shall wear no beard. 18 And his weapon shall go plinkety plonk a plink plonky plink. Revelation 20:16-18
This bluegrass intro made for an interesting start to the night, although, unfortunately, Colin only did one song. He was assisted by Tallulah, who then took over the stage with her dynamic rock style, and proceeded to stomp her way through the set with her fantastic voice and riffs. Soft, gentle licks crescendoed to clunking chords and back again, all in the name of song.
"Can you tell me / Where do we go from here?"
So sings the Schegg in Starting Over, one of his vast repertoire of songs. A good question, it seems, but Dom knew exactly where he was going. He stalked over to his guitar, which is, I should mention, covered in stickers such as the Bat-signia, an advert for Chang, what appears to be some sort of Oriental cherub, a random Asian dude with a gun and the obligatory various nude women, and strode back to the mic. Flat-capped, plimsolled and bearded (what a coincidence, eh?), he began to play.
The prolific singer/songwriter didn't stay on for long, only for about seven songs, but the only thing I really need to relate to you is the reaction of the audience at the end of his set. Perhaps "rapturous" would best describe it, in keeping with the Biblical themes of this feature, and, indeed, his banter. One of those evangelical types got on Dom's tube train on his way to the Met, you see, and Dom felt really bad for laughing at him. Not a mocking laugh, he hastened to add, more of a nervous one, but a laugh all the same. There is a verse from the Bible which should put his mind at ease, though:
26 And David said, "The man that was is accustomed to that which was. 27 And one that worries for what was done is no more kempt than a snake. 28 Anyway, that was a stonking set." 2 Samuel 7:26-28
The Platform is part of the
Portobello Acoustic Sessions, and is held every Wednesday night from 7:30 at The Metropolitan bar, Westbourne Park.
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The PAS Diaries: The Platform Presents Dom Scheggia
