Month: June 2025

(Thanks to Banana Steve for this review)

Ever wondered what ‘For Richard’ or ‘Nine Feet Underground’ might sound like unplugged? Wonder no more. Pye Hastings, Geoffrey Richardson and Mark Walker are re-arranging songs from the Caravan catalogue and playing them as an acoustic trio.

Last night at the Sound Lounge in Sutton was, according to them, their second outing as a trio. I’m pretty certain it was their third (after The Firkin Frog in Herne Bay, 10th November 2024 and Trading Boundaries, Sheffield Green/Uckfield, Sussex, 23rd March 2025). Maybe the north Kent gig was only a toe-in-the-water tester? Anyway, two wonderful sets with a beer break in between (the venue was rammed and it was virtually impossible to move or get to the bar when the trio were playing – great for listening, not so good for ageing bladders). I’d be guessing at 150 plus fans?

I’d first heard an acoustic version of ‘Smoking Gun’ on a YouTube clip recorded at the pub in Faversham/Herne Bay and liked it immediately, then sometime later a version of ‘Ride’, I think it was, with a raga-style intro. The original ‘Ride’ has always been a favourite, ‘Smoking Gun’ much less so. Probably like for many fans, the early albums are indispensable, then it’s the law of diminishing marginal returns with a few pearls here and there. Times and styles change and musicians need to make a living but those AOR/MTV-style later albums generally leave me cold but the songs resurrected acoustically last night are all, without exception, winners. ‘I’ll Be There For You’, ‘Farewell My Old Friend’, ‘If Better Days Are To Come’ moved me almost to tears.

Of course you won’t get those powerful ‘Pearl and Dean’ explosions on the old favourites nor the labial Grumbly Grimblies (their hands were full at the time) but neither will you miss them. Geoffrey Richardson on viola does a splendid job building up to all the climaxes. ‘Love To Love You’ had a wonderful Latino feel. Even catchier and as up-lifting than the original. 

First Set: I’ll Be There For You, Dead Man Walking, Grey And Pink, Golf Girl, Smoking Gun, Love To Love You, Spare A Thought, For Richard, Place Of My Own.

Second Set: Who Do You Think You Are, Farewell My Old Friend, Every Precious Little Thing, The Dog The Dog, If Better Days Are To Come, Cold As Ice, Best Thing In My Life, Chance Of A Lifetime, Backwards/A Hunting We Shall Go, Nine Feet Underground.

Encore: I’m On My Way

I’m unclear in my mind (and they probably aren’t either) whether they are Caravan Acoustic or Acoustic Caravan. I get the impression it doesn’t matter that much. Highly recommended if you get a chance.

Banana Steve