RoryI met Rory just before his Naeba Shokudo performance started. He struck me as a genuine guy, just as indicated on the Don’s preview piece. Kinda genuinely happy that I’d be watching.

The rain started a few minutes in, and built up steadily. Good thing? It certainly made for a more intimate show, as everyone crowded into the postage stamp size undercover area at Shokudo. I wanted to catch Rory at some point this weekend, and had decided this would be the pick. I think this kind of thing is best enjoyed in a small space.

McLeod differs from your typical singer / songwriter in one critical aspect: he sings about real experiences he’s had. A bit like Seasick Steve, but without the years of literally riding the rails. Here are stories about girls he went to school with. About dancing in the line during the miners’ strike. A song for Betty, Rory’s grandma, which will apply equally to Agnes, grandmother of a heckler in the crowd. About marriage. About divorce. About his conception. Though I expect his memory here may be based on heresay.

He opts between guitar, harp, and spoons. Simple percussion stamped out on a board. He talks us through each song, an explanation at the start tells us what to listen for.

But it’s a friend I run into here that provides the real explanation for McLeod’s appeal tonight. The crowd is building up as John Fogerty lets out not because there’s some shelter. No, this is a planned stop for many as a natural progression (or at least a happy accident) from Fogerty, a perfect accompaniment. This offers the same sort of enjoyment, but up close and personal.

The crowd has spread well beyond the confines. I sure am glad I got an early berth.

写真：横山正人