The Session at 20
By Pete Clemons
Music is one of the world’s most beloved and widely consumed art forms. It is a medicine and can get us through all kinds of things. But have you considered how incredibly hard it is to create, especially when multiple musicians are involved ?.
There is a huge list of challenges to navigate if you happen to be in a band. And I am guessing that even those involved in that band fail to consider the potential pitfalls when starting out. After all, all the musicians want to do, is to simply create create music.
Additionally, and especially over the last 20 years or so, music has become more competitive. For starters you just have to look at the changes in consuming music. In that time we have gone from the physical format to the stream and download.
Then there were the venues. At the turn of the century Coventry had The Skydome Arena, Jumpin Jaks, The Colosseum, Fatties and many others. We also had The Dog and Trumpet which was iconic to a lot of bands who were just starting out at that time. It was particularly relevant to The Session whose first 9 gigs were at the D&T during 2002. Since then they have gone on to play getting on for almost 500 gigs and festivals across the country.
The Session are an original band from Coventry and consider themselves a funky folk rock fusion band. They have produced 5 albums of original songs. A 6th is very close to completion. And May 2021 will see The Session pass through the very significant 20 year milestone.
But there is so much more to this band. Down the years The Session, who were formed in a house in Earlsdon - directly opposite the High Street, have graced the main stage at Godiva Festival. During 2016 they supported The Charlatans. Additionally they have also shared the stage with Simon Fowler from Ocean Colour Scene and Star sailor front man James Walsh. They also won the local award for the most hard-working gigging band in Coventry and Warwickshire in 2017. And throughout the existence of The Session there has been a steady stream of musicians passing through the band.
With that in mind I gave founder member, Dean Macdonald, the unenviable task of trying to remember all of the names of those who had been involved with The Session during those 20 years. And he came back with the following list: Tom Meek , Andy Burnam, Matt T, Shaun Stenton, Ian MacDonald, David MacDonald, Rich Taylor, Daz Taylor, John Spencer, Fred 'Dubber' Waight , Dean MacDonald, Sheryl McClean, Tom Harris, Ciaran Corkery, Dave Chambers, Mark Adams, Iain Macdonald, Stephen Booth, Keith Eardley, David Richardson, Keith Harris, Martin Wilkins.
Additionally I wanted Dean going right back to the very beginning of the band: The Session are fronted by vocalist Sheryl McClean. The original line up was 7 musicians. They were siblings Sheryl and guitarist Dean Macdonald. Cousin's David Macdonald on keys and Ian Macdonald on guitars, drummer Rich Taylor, 'Bingo Bongo' Dave Richardson on bongo's and Congo's and bass player John Spencer.
John Spencer left during 2004 and Dave Chambers replaced him on bass guitar. 'Even though Dave is not an original original we think of him as an original because he has been in the band 17 years now. And, of the originals bingo bongo Dave Richardson, Shez McClean and myself are still remaining' confirms Dean Macdonald. Finally it is also worth mentioning Iain Macdonald who is father to Sheryl and Dean and who played harmonica on some of the records. Iain was never a member of the live band.
Finally I pushed Dean MacDonald for a biography and he came back with the following:
'The Session was formed in May 2001 but we never made our first recording until January 2002. It was an album called 'Live at Woodbine', which was Woodbine Studio, in Leamington Spa with the great Johnny Rivers.
The album was, in fact, 9 live takes in order to save the band money. Some tracks really still stand out today but many of them are wishy washy and, if I’m honest, it’s an album I kind of distance myself from. In those days our bass player John Spencer wrote many of the songs for that album. I think I penned 4 out of the 9 songs and, let’s just say, it’s not an album I re visit very often. That said, there is some nice stuff on it like the 'Song Birds'. Check it out on YouTube. That is a cracker.
Our second album is kind of my thinking is our first. That’s when we started to take it seriously. The second album was recorded during 2004. John Spencer left the band, halfway through its creation, and moved to London. So I was on my own to complete the writing. That album has about twelve songs on it. John contributed three songs out the twelve and his three were crackers. That album I really rate and it was called 'Time Will Pass You By'.
Our third release is one of my favourite session albums. It was called 'Trailblazing in the Art of Ego' and that was released during 2007. This was followed by 'Stamp Out Reality' during 2009. That album possibly contains all of our big gigging songs on it. For me it’s a complete no filler album in terms of liking the songs to this very day.
We then made the 'Hail the Renegade Express' album around 2013 and then, rather than make further albums, we waited and gathered a series of singles. We have since released 7 singles and all of them will be on our next album this summer 2021. That’s our history really. The 6th album is just one song away from completion'.
'Live at Woodbine', 'Stamp Out Reality', 'Hail the Renegade' and 'Trailblazing' were all recorded at Woodbine studios with John Rivers. 'Time Will Pass You By' was recorded at Planet Studios with the late Jim Meikle. The forthcoming album was recorded with Matt Waddell at 14 records, in Leamington Spa, and one song called 'Resonation' was with Roger Lomas'.
Dean Macdonald is incredibly gracious in his praise for those who have helped him with The Session, a band that he is, very rightly, so proud of. During our chat he continued: 'I think it’s worth pointing out that, out of all the members who have come and gone, then John Spencer Is still my best friend to this day. He was a massive part of that band and without him then I don’t think it would have happened. During the very early days he pushed the gigs, he booked the studios and he booked the practices.
When John Spencer left to work in the city of London it was not personal but I think he regrets it to this day although I would never say that to him. He misses music. I would say all of those past members each created something great for The Session but John was the main man at the outset. Finally it can’t be right if I don’t mention my uncle, Martin Wilkins (Butch). He managed the band from 2002 until about 2012. He was brilliant for us. Finding the gigs, organising artwork for gigs and posters and just getting our music out there. Be lovely and only right if I mention him in any bio. He is still a big part of us now although he no longer manages us. But he still comes to all the gigs with his wife Loz'.
For all the reasons above, and my reason for such a long and detailed introduction, is that I wanted to stress that keeping a band going for 20 years nowadays is extraordinary. For me it really does show the dedication to, and the determination of, those involved in it. Even during lockdown those involved have remained very busy writing and promoting new music.
As The Session enter their 21st year you can join them live on 17 July at The Arches Venue when, hopefully, live music begins to return to some kind of normality. Nowadays, and for a number of years, The Session contain a total of 5 band members.
Sheryl McClean (vocals & percussion), Dean MacDonald (vocals & guitar), Dave Chambers (bass guitar), Fred 'Dubber' Waite (lead guitar) and 'Bingo' Dave Richardson (drums).
John Spencer left during 2004 and Dave Chambers replaced him on bass guitar. 'Even though Dave is not an original original we think of him as an original because he has been in the band 17 years now. And, of the originals bingo bongo Dave Richardson, Shez McClean and myself are still remaining' confirms Dean Macdonald. Finally it is also worth mentioning Iain Macdonald who is father to Sheryl and Dean and who played harmonica on some of the records. Iain was never a member of the live band.
Finally I pushed Dean MacDonald for a biography and he came back with the following:
'The Session was formed in May 2001 but we never made our first recording until January 2002. It was an album called 'Live at Woodbine', which was Woodbine Studio, in Leamington Spa with the great Johnny Rivers.
The album was, in fact, 9 live takes in order to save the band money. Some tracks really still stand out today but many of them are wishy washy and, if I’m honest, it’s an album I kind of distance myself from. In those days our bass player John Spencer wrote many of the songs for that album. I think I penned 4 out of the 9 songs and, let’s just say, it’s not an album I re visit very often. That said, there is some nice stuff on it like the 'Song Birds'. Check it out on YouTube. That is a cracker.
Our second album is kind of my thinking is our first. That’s when we started to take it seriously. The second album was recorded during 2004. John Spencer left the band, halfway through its creation, and moved to London. So I was on my own to complete the writing. That album has about twelve songs on it. John contributed three songs out the twelve and his three were crackers. That album I really rate and it was called 'Time Will Pass You By'.
Our third release is one of my favourite session albums. It was called 'Trailblazing in the Art of Ego' and that was released during 2007. This was followed by 'Stamp Out Reality' during 2009. That album possibly contains all of our big gigging songs on it. For me it’s a complete no filler album in terms of liking the songs to this very day.
We then made the 'Hail the Renegade Express' album around 2013 and then, rather than make further albums, we waited and gathered a series of singles. We have since released 7 singles and all of them will be on our next album this summer 2021. That’s our history really. The 6th album is just one song away from completion'.
'Live at Woodbine', 'Stamp Out Reality', 'Hail the Renegade' and 'Trailblazing' were all recorded at Woodbine studios with John Rivers. 'Time Will Pass You By' was recorded at Planet Studios with the late Jim Meikle. The forthcoming album was recorded with Matt Waddell at 14 records, in Leamington Spa, and one song called 'Resonation' was with Roger Lomas'.
Dean Macdonald is incredibly gracious in his praise for those who have helped him with The Session, a band that he is, very rightly, so proud of. During our chat he continued: 'I think it’s worth pointing out that, out of all the members who have come and gone, then John Spencer Is still my best friend to this day. He was a massive part of that band and without him then I don’t think it would have happened. During the very early days he pushed the gigs, he booked the studios and he booked the practices.
When John Spencer left to work in the city of London it was not personal but I think he regrets it to this day although I would never say that to him. He misses music. I would say all of those past members each created something great for The Session but John was the main man at the outset. Finally it can’t be right if I don’t mention my uncle, Martin Wilkins (Butch). He managed the band from 2002 until about 2012. He was brilliant for us. Finding the gigs, organising artwork for gigs and posters and just getting our music out there. Be lovely and only right if I mention him in any bio. He is still a big part of us now although he no longer manages us. But he still comes to all the gigs with his wife Loz'.
For all the reasons above, and my reason for such a long and detailed introduction, is that I wanted to stress that keeping a band going for 20 years nowadays is extraordinary. For me it really does show the dedication to, and the determination of, those involved in it. Even during lockdown those involved have remained very busy writing and promoting new music.
As The Session enter their 21st year you can join them live on 17 July at The Arches Venue when, hopefully, live music begins to return to some kind of normality. Nowadays, and for a number of years, The Session contain a total of 5 band members.
Sheryl McClean (vocals & percussion), Dean MacDonald (vocals & guitar), Dave Chambers (bass guitar), Fred 'Dubber' Waite (lead guitar) and 'Bingo' Dave Richardson (drums).
Above - The Party's Over - The Session
Above - Birds - The Session
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