Page 18 - The Cormorant Issue 24 Crest Publications

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Rocking All Over the World
Cdr Tom Trent
I’M NOT SAYING THAT the only reason I wanted to do ACSC was so that I could guarantee a year of playing once again in a rock-n-roll band... After almost 20 years in the RN the talent in the Services never ceases to amaze: mention that there is a rock band in the offing and the initial eyerolls give way to talent creeping out of the decks and bulkheads. Often music is very private, or people think they aren’t good enough, or their mates will laugh at them. It’s just like sport: the ability of the experienced players can intimidate those who want to have a go. And playing live music isn’t for everyone, but it is a skill that needs to be learned and honed and not only needs a minimum level of musical acumen but also the desire to show it off on stage.
However – just like sport music is not only a brilliant way of breaking down work barriers. It’s not just a good way of getting to know people, it’s not just a good way of developing teamwork and collaborative working, it’s also just really good fun! And if people enjoy listening to it, then all the better. Over the years in the Service I have played with countless incredibly skilled players and countless ‘newbies’ who want to learn the craft and bring unburdened enthusiasm.
Amongst the highlights, bands have included Shite Hawk Down, Battle Rhythm, Dire Straits Transit, Duncan Disorderly – all have been outstanding fun!
So it was particularly sad to see the latest casualty of the pandemic and the ‘new ways of working’ might be the beacon for 2020-21 – the ACSC Band! How can you jam when you are miles apart? People will lose interest, they’ll drift off, it’ll run out of steam. I’m delighted to say I couldn’t be more wrong: we have been going strong as a band for nearly 4 months
yet have never met face to face. We have a set list but have never played. How has this come about? By having a brilliant and diverse team, from semi- professional soul singers, to first-time vocalists and all of us bonded by music and a desire to socialize in any way we can whilst remote. We get together once a week, talk tunes, talk nonsense, catch up on ACSC stuff, compare syndicates.
Every Tuesday evening drinks are supped over Teams and chat is had. And – very dangerously – boredom of being at home and with constant wifi, purchasing yet more kit is all too easy. We are all getting used
to it and I agree, it might not seem the rock and roll lifestyle some of us signed up for (life has changed since I started playing at 14 and later hucked my kit from grotty rehearsal studios to pubs, bars, weddings and clubs in the North East). The ‘studio’ for me is now an ACSC remote learning study/recording space where the temptation to turn the video and audio
off during an SRA and pick up a guitar is just too tempting at times...
DRP oddly absent from this photo...
What’s the plan for ‘The (Feel) Good Operation’?
For now we are all practicing our set list in isolation with an optimistic hope that one day we will indeed jam together and perform as a band before ACSC
24 disperses and real life returns. And we are getting stuck into recording software and attempting perhaps a bunch of songs to enjoy in the future – who knows! Stay tuned, pop-pickers...
The Feel Good Operation:
Lt Col James Cartwright – Vocals
Nic Foreman – Vocals
Wg Cdr Chrissy Ashton – Vocals
Wg Cdr Dan Roberts – Vocals
Cdr Hannah Mckenzie – Flute, Synth, Keys, Vocals Lt Col Paul Hammett – Bass
Lt Col Toby Hamnett - Drums Cdr Matt Bradley – Guitar Cdr Tom Trent – Guitar
(And indeed they did go on to perform live, at the End of Course party! - Ed.)
End of Course party entertainment
“We have been going strong as a band
for nearly 4 months yet have never met face to face