Ireland Music
Ceol agus craíc - you’ll see that written everywhere and it’s Irish for music and good times. The two go hand-in-hand and, until you’ve experienced a bit of her music, you haven’t experienced Ireland.
Sean’s Sunday session
Due to a certain hospitable pub in Ballinahown I happened to be in on Saturday night (and a good few hours of Sunday morning, actually) I was not up early on Sunday. The mobile rang into my aching world at around half one with the bean on the other end of the line.
“Any chance you’re up for the session?”
I made the kind of noise a wounded animal on the Serengeti might make as it succumbs to its wounds.
“Late one last night?”
Another groan as my brain caught up with the reason for the bean’s call. With a superhuman effort I managed speech, “Pretty empty down there?”
“Yes indeed.”
I debated wallowing in my misery in a darkened bedroom or sucking it up for a few tunes down in Sean’s. I closed my eyes and the room began to spin a bit. Feck it.
Date: July 31st, 2007 |
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5 Finger Discount at the Stables in Mullingar
So, last night the bean and I in our capacity as Five Finger Discount packed up the wagon and headed out to The Stables in Mullingar to play an evening of music.
It was a bit of a thrown-together affair and the bean and I were debating on the trip up whether we should split the evening between our original material or just jam a few cover tunes. As it turned out, we did a bit of both.
Date: July 27th, 2007 |
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Sean’s Sunday Session
Another week, another Sunday in Sean’s Bar.
It was a lively, if sparsely attended, session. I left around 3pm to trade the instruments for a munchkin (just up from her nap), figuring to give wifey a break and munchkin a chance to enjoy a little music. What I didn’t figure on was an Australian television crew arriving on the scene. They were from Australia’s Seven Network filming for their The Great Outdoors show.
Date: July 23rd, 2007 |
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The Fabulous Bonker Boys
One of my initial firsthand impressions of Ireland and her music scene was attending some Fabulous Bonker Boys shows.
The Fabulous Bonker Boys are a collection of frighteningly talented, hard-playing, hard-drinking Irish musicians covering a range of Celtic music with rock ‘n roll sensibilities. Not the sort of band you want to meet in a dark alley, the Bonker Boys are fronted by the powerful, bullhorn-voiced Jock whose head is overflowing with everything from traditional ballads to Thin Lizzy.
Date: July 19th, 2007 |
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Kerbside in the Castle
This past Saturday I think I had one of the most exhilarating musical experiences of my life.
Just look at the schoolmaster and I and all the RAWK in the picture to your left there - awesome. Cheers to local photographer David Walsh for a great shot.
To put it mildly, our gig in Athlone Castle this weekend went very, very well. Wifey had cautioned me that she’d be getting dolled up for the concert, so I realised my usual high-class and fashionably elite t-shirt and jeans combination mightn’t suit. Yes, I sadly lack any sense of personal style. This being the case I consulted the mighty fashion oracle that is ciachicken. It was with a mischievous grin and great relish that she doled out her advice.
And so it was that I found myself, guitar in hand, clad in rented black tux and dickie bow backstage. My contribution to said look was to forego any footwear, prompting the MC to comment,
Date: July 16th, 2007 |
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Kerbside at the Passion Lounge
You may recall that last month we (Kerbside, that is) played a show in Tullamore at a monthly event called The Passion Lounge Sessions. Well, true to their word, the lads down in Offaly have edited the video of the evening and selected one of our performances to make available on mySpace videos. While I don’t think it was the best number of the night (aren’t we always our own worst critic?), I was surprised it didn’t come off too bad:
Kerbside at The Passion Lounge Sessions
Date: July 29th, 2007 |
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Shack Session
Ireland was showing her fine July weather so, although I had been looking forward to a walk out shackward yesterday evening, it was behind swishing windscreen wipers that I sat on my way to the Shack.
I got there a bit early and was joined by VE, who was swinging in for one after a rehearsal with Agitated Radio Pilot. He brought along his new Irish bouzouki along and I was, again, tempted with the thought of getting one for myself.
Date: July 25th, 2007 |
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The Shack Session
For the first time in ages I almost didn’t attend this week’s Shack Session.
There I was, lying on the couch after a good feed feeling exhausted from early mornings and lack of sleep. It wasn’t that I forced myself to go, it wasn’t that I convinced myself it would be worth it - it was like someone told me I should. Never one to ignore such whisperings, I reluctantly gathered up the instruments and wifey obligingly provided a lift out.
It was looking a bit bleak at first, what with just me and the instruments on the bench and not a sign of anyone else.
Date: July 19th, 2007 |
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Sean’s Sunday Session
After my Saturday night I awoke Sunday morning with a grin on my face and an itch in my fingers to grab the guitar again as soon as humanly possible. This could be why this entry has not one - not two - but THREE, count ‘em, THREE mp3s!! Booyah!
Date: July 18th, 2007 |
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Filmore East rocks Athlone Castle
They might not have been the band listed on the tickets. They might not have been able to start playing as early as advertised, but last night Filmore East, a Moate-based blues/rock band took to the just-erected stage in Athlone Castle and became the first rock band in Athlone history to play in the castle.
I know it’s a bit dark, but look at that photo there to the left - the lit stage, the lights shining on the river Shannon below - what an awesome venue for a concert.
Date: July 14th, 2007 |
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