The Strawbs' concert was held at the Unitarian Universalist Church which is a beautiful older sanctuary with stained glass windows and woodwork. The venue has a friendly loose vibe where people are inclined to chat with strangers sharing stories of when and where they saw The Strawbs and/or John Wesley Harding who opened for the Acoustic Strawbs. John is an author, singer and songwriter with over 15 albums to his credit. His music draws from a broad range of genres including blues, folk, rock and soul. Harding introduced The Strawbs stating that he was a huge fan of the band and what a great tour it's been for him to be playing with them. The Strawbs took their seats each equipped with a different colored acoustic guitar.

"Good evening," greeted Dave Cousins who said that we would be going "on a journey through space and time". First to a pub in West London. It was a Thursday night in the late 1960's and you would have heard "The Man Who Called Himself Jesus". It was a composition of sung and spoken words with the guitars adding accents to the story.

"The Weary Song" was next. This was the opening track from their second album and Dave mentioned that they have made about 35 records or so and joked that its going to be a very long evening. The three guitars and vocalists blended well on this time-tested song.

Opener John Wesley Harding joined the Strawbs for the evening's encores.

Cousins continued to tell The Strawbs' story mentioning the White Bear pub and the stars that played there. He also recalled recording a record in Copenhagen with a singer called Sandy. The song named after the city was reflective painting rich pictures of that time in their lives. Dave mentioned that some of their material was written about the world and things going on around them in particular the violence in Northern Ireland and Sunday Bloody Sunday. "New World" featured hard strumming with Chas playing lower bass notes enhancing the darkness of the piece.

The Strawbs' set took fans through a timeline of their history and music with Dave adding commentary along the way. Each member had a role. Cousins was the leader and storyteller. Cronk was in charge of adding base lines and occasional sound effects and Lambert handled more of the technical guitar leads. Dave also alluded to the many member changes that had taken place in the band over the years.

"Rick Wakeman left us to seek fame and fortune with Yes and got it. When he left we thought about packing it in but ended up in the West Country" said Dave. While out in the country songs were crafted and the band ended up staying together for the time being. "Benedictus" from that period featured Cousins on lap steel accompanied by the other two strumming acoustics.

Dave talked about touring and one of their most successful albums which was Ghosts. The title track was spirited with multiple musical exchanges and elements. He also mentioned that the band had charted in South Africa with the song "Cold Steel" performed with Cousins on the banjo with Dave and Chas on guitars.

With comments about the change of seasons, The Strawbs performed a pleasing version of "Autumn" with Lambert adding bird sounds to the acoustic blend. They closed the set with a lively "Lay Down".

The opener Harding joined The Strawbs for their encores. They played John's "Lady of the Highway" with Lambert adding sentimental slide to the classic. They finished with "Will Ye Go" a traditional Scottish song with Harding adding harmonica and vocals to the mix. Thus, ending the evening on a good note.

Dave Cousins has been the leader, singer and most active songwriter of Strawbs since their founding.

Dave Cousins came out to introduce John Wesley Harding proclaiming that the musician has loads of songs and dares to tackle Starbucks and Dylan. John came out armed with an acoustic and thanked Dave for the great introduction saying he loved The Strawbs. For his first song, John took on Dylan and perhaps the church by singing the hook line that he can't "Make Love to Bob Dylan". The risqu and perhaps risky tune was sang at the alter of the chapel. Harding also performed his new track about Starbucks, observing how chain stores build over places where mom and pop once prospered.

John is well respected for his lyrics and his set showcased an insightful and interesting range of songs. John has collaborated with many including Ray Davies of The Kinks. The two wrote "In Paradise" and John performed the piece acoustically. In addition, Harding had two friends join him on stage during his set. The first was a female vocalist (Meghan Riley) from the area. They sang back and forth sharing perspectives from a person and a bird. The vocals and prose were pretty. The other artist was Dave Lewis. They performing the poignant "Wreck On The Highway" by Bruce Springsteen.

John also shared stories of his career. He sang about going from the bottom to the top and back down again in a peppy yet poetic piece. John closed with "Save a Little Room for Me". The song combined the harmonica, singing, strong strumming and softer moments. Harding gave a nice shout out to the Outpost volunteers and community service. He was available after his set to sign products and to say hi to his fans.

Outpost in the Burbs is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building community through cultural programs, music and service. Since its inception in 1987, Outpost has hosted over 350 concerts including such well known acts as Roger McGuinn, Richie Havens, Dar Williams and the Gin Blossoms. Please visit http://www.outpostintheburbs.org for a list of upcoming concerts and events.

ACOUSTIC STRAWBS ARE:
Dave Cousins - guitar, dulcimer, banjo, vocals
Dave Lambert - acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals
Chas Cronk - bass guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals

John Wesley Harding at the Outpost in the Burbs in 2012.

Related Links: For more information on THE STRAWBS and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links - Strawbs | John Wesley Harding | Outpost In The Burbs