MEET
THE BAND..... MEET
THE BAND.....
Paul Barry Wade Jones Wayne Parsons Don Fudge Reg Williams
THE BAND :
Front man for the group. lead singer and plays rhythm guitar. Of all the members, Wayne is certainly the one who opens the line of communication between the band and the audience. Witty, charming, with a down-home sense of engagement, he reads the audience quickly and adjusts the selections to suit those in attendance. Often, he gets personal in a humorous sort of way, especially when he spots local people who share his sense of humour. Most in attendance will tell you the front man and his crafty interaction with them makes for an entertaining evening. Few have that uncanny gift of analyzing a crowd and quickly working with them to produce an evening of music delight. This will be of no surprise to people who know Wayne Parsons because of his long time involvement in the music business. Starting at an age when he wasn't old enough to play in bars and being part of a number of successful bands in just about every aspect of the business (Rock and Roll, Country, to name two) it is little wonder the he adjusts so easily into the role he now plays with ANCHORS AWEIGH.
Magical bass guitar player who contributes handsomely with in classic love ballads and songs of reflection. His experience in harmony gives the band that professional sound and his humorous chirping from his position on stage always adds to the humour and extends the stage antics of the front man to new heights, often resulting in boisterous laughter. Paul has been in the music business for a very long time and it shows. Often doing solo acts, he has quite a reputation both in his musical ability and his soothing vocals.
The closest any member comes to being a crowd favorite. From his position on the stage, the audience is quickly attracted by Reg's antics of facial expression, bottom-of-the-belly laughter and his donning of particular garments to bring a song's subject to life. He contributes immensely to the bands good humour and his accordion playing, especially his pumping style, is always appreciated by those in attendance. It is said that Reg Williams plays the accordion like a man on a mission. This becomes even clearer when the band opens with a traditional Newfoundland favorite, coaxing all in attendance to take the floor in droves. His use of the harmonica, with its blending sound, gives an added treat for the listener, especially when playing those well-known tunes that stir the emotions. In traditional Newfoundland music, no instrument gets the attention and no instrument entices people to dance quite like the accordion. This instrument has long held a special place in the hearts of music lover in this province, and it is natural that the player of the accordion would attract special attention. Most would agree that Reg Williams represents this traditional sound in his own unique fashion.
The traditional Newfoundland flavour of ANCHORS AWEIGH, through such well-known renditions as The Rose in her Hair, Music and Friends and others, is vintage Don Fudge. Well known among locals for his rhythm guitar playing and harmony, Don has that peculiar voice that projects every word of a song and when he sings the audience is captivated, absorbing every word. He sings in such a matter-of-fact tone that visitors sense the song is well-known, even though they may be hearing it for the first time. If there id one band member that personifies what the band is all about, it is Don Fudge. Witty, as always, and with that twinkle in his eye, the visitor can easily sense his sincerity and conclude, quite accurately, that here is a man who thoroughly enjoys what he's doing.
Although the band enjoyed modest success when it consisted of a foursome, there is no doubt in anyone's mind that when Wade Jones joined in 1999, it was obvious to regular visitors to "Pub Night" what the band had been lacking: a strong lead guitarist who could enhance the sound immensely as well as contribute with harmony and song. The Whimsical introduction of the "ugly stick", (a display of mops, bottle caps, and other items attached to a broom handle-like stick giving a scarecrow -like appearance) has quickly become a crowd favorite, especially among visiting patrons. Mr. Jones' oral presentation along with the "music" the instrument provides, makes for a delightful skit. The flashing camera bulbs and the jockeying for pictures is testament as to just how much this act is appreciated.
The storytelling, wit, and the creative musical insertions provided by Wade Jones, changed ANCHORS AWEIGH from being just another band jamming at a local pub to a very serious musical act that would pride itself on its musical quality.
Written By : Darr Cullihall
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