Argh! I just printed off 2 pages of sing-along songs on green paper for the green shirt crowd at my festival gig this weekend in Dublin. Dublin, Georgia, that is. I sure hope those folks they're busing in from the retirement community appreciate it! And I'm going to sing (I *never* sing) in front of a predominantly sober crowd, which is why I'm making them sing along with me. Actually, this promises to be a fun gig, if a little hokey. (no, a lot hokey.) The organizers are very excited about getting some Real Irish Music (tm). Well, as real as it gets around here. They'll get plenty of jigs, reels and harp airs in between Danny Boy and Wild Mountain Thyme.
And at least I'm not in Savannah contending with 400,000 people puking green beer in the streets. Yeah, 400,000. I'm not kidding. http://www.savannahsaintpatricksday.com/
Well, not everyone is *puking* that green beer. I sure feel more secure with this hero protecting my country: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0320062tank1.html
On the other hand, he may have found another line of work since last year.
I was in Savannah last weekend playing Irish music, and it was quite pleasant, though I had to leave for home before the Sunday session, alas.
You'll be doing a good thing for them anyway, Tracie. We just did a retirement community gig this afternoon - before the snow got too bad up here. I brought along sheet music for a few Irish-American songs just in case. When our little concert of Irish dance tunes ended, they (not us) requested the usual and sang along to Irish Lullaby, Harrigan's and When Irish Eyes, etc. I said we had to beat the snow home when one requested Danny Boy, but she'll hear it next time if we go back. It made them extremely happy, and I don't feel ashamed a bit by that. Bye the way, some even got up and danced to the jigs and reels; so they were listening to the real stuff as well. Have a great time making your audience feel good tomorrow!
Let us know the next time your in town Tracie ...We have a very good/ friendly session group... *NOTE* Most all the Irish families I know in Savannah march in the parade then go off to private gatherings of friends and family...It is truely the one weekend of the year your not going to find locals in the pubs..Everyone is home behind locked doors...
No, seriously, I'm with 'morning star' and the oldies. It is a good thing you do, and in the right spirit, for the 'craic'... We used to make regular visits to such homes, and on such holidays, and we also threw in a bit of wheel chair dancing. Give "Haymaker's Jig" a go with wheelchairs, a 'kick', I guarantee you...
I'm smiling, and I'd much rather face that crowd than risk slipping on green puke. 700, 000 pretending (however removed) their Irish ~ AAAAAAA!!!
The amazing thing about music (and song) is that, no matter how "bad" the mind becomes, the music remains! I worked in a long-term care facility for a number of years, and I still occasionally organize musicians and dancers to entertain at homes.
Some people have no idea what day it is, cannot even remember their names, but they DO know every word to a song! Music is great therapy, and a wonderful gift to bring to those who wouldn't have access to it any other way.
Savanah
No offense, but in Chicago we get to do engage in St. PAt's revelry for an entire week.
St. Pat's Weeks starts with the South Side Irish St. Pat's Parade. Supposed to be the biggest outside of Dublin. Maybe that's a typical Chicago 'Windy' City legend! The barkeepers on Western Avenue Live for it. Last Sunday the amateurs started drinking at dawn (as did many pipers!)
Then today, we dye the Chicago River Green (no kidding. The Plumber's Union has been doing it for years) Rumor has it that Dublin has copied that tradition. Someone please correct me if I am wrong on this.
And the Downtown St. PAt's parade which start at noon Chicago time goes all afternoon.
Over a week of drinking, carousing and whatever by anyone who can get half the letters fight when asked to spell Ireland.
I did my only gig last week the day before the amateurs took control.
Savannah..
The festivities actually begin in the middle of February. With a event every weekend, heading all the way up to St Patricks Day...
So have fun in your snowclad frezzing 0 below Parade!
Question?
Is that why we are covered up with Chicago Police Pipers down here marching in the Savannah parade....The high today is 65 degrees...
Mad! ~ Well, while I was living in Dublin, and travels through since, thank the powers that be, I've never seen the Liffy green except with the bloom of unsavoury things... You wouldn't want to 'add' anything to that soup. An engineer friend had the business of running pipes under it and aerating it so that the fumes wouldn't overwhelp people crossing it over bridges on foot. That was back awhile, but we did regularly see the bodies of things floating down it to sea...
'In my days' ~ OUCH! ~ The St. Paddy's Day Parade in Dublin seemed to be mostly visiting Americans... It was the only place to go if you wanted confirmation that there were Kelly Green leather shoes in the world, and that Americans were daft...
I played for an old-folks home yesterday and really enjoyed it (I think they're the best audience because it's very often easy to convince yourslef that they aren't listening so you become less inhibited as I often do) but they will never ever fail to tell you how amazing you are and how much they thouroughly enjoyed and then tell you about their grandkids that played the violin in such and such orchestras (if you're under 20 or so).
Of course, my mom runs a singing group at the home and they all sang afterward, but it was worth the set list (Rosie O'grady, Who threw the overalls, Harrigan, When Irish Eyes, Irish Lullaby, and of course the inevitable Danny Boy) to see how happy it really did make all these people.Really great.
I spent most of the day jamming with the local group in a bar in a nondescript town in Michigan. The population of this town triples each St. Patty's day and the bouncer strictly adhears to the fire marshal's rules. He even made sure three people left so as to count for my guitar and dulcimer! Up tight owners here. Anyhow it was interesting that 75 percent of the band left for other engagements or a less crowded venu within 3 hours. Wall to wall people including a guy who kept knocking my dulcimer around with his big arse isn't the way to enjoy St. Patty's day. I ended up leaving early. Now I can say I've been there, done that.
Play the stuff that people enjoy. I would rather bring a joyful tear to an oldster's eye with a favorite song, than leave them cold with a lot of technically brilliant flashy stuff.
Bless me Father, for I am about to sin...
Bless me Father, for I am about to sin...
Argh! I just printed off 2 pages of sing-along songs on green paper for the green shirt crowd at my festival gig this weekend in Dublin. Dublin, Georgia, that is. I sure hope those folks they're busing in from the retirement community appreciate it! And I'm going to sing (I *never* sing) in front of a predominantly sober crowd, which is why I'm making them sing along with me. Actually, this promises to be a fun gig, if a little hokey. (no, a lot hokey.) The organizers are very excited about getting some Real Irish Music (tm). Well, as real as it gets around here. They'll get plenty of jigs, reels and harp airs in between Danny Boy and Wild Mountain Thyme.
And at least I'm not in Savannah contending with 400,000 people puking green beer in the streets. Yeah, 400,000. I'm not kidding. http://www.savannahsaintpatricksday.com/
Well, not everyone is *puking* that green beer. I sure feel more secure with this hero protecting my country:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0320062tank1.html
On the other hand, he may have found another line of work since last year.
I was in Savannah last weekend playing Irish music, and it was quite pleasant, though I had to leave for home before the Sunday session, alas.
The St. Patrick's Day count(y) down has begun!
# Posted on March 17th 2007 by Tracie
Re: Bless me Father, for I am about to sin...
Have lots of fun, Tracie! Older folks make for a grand audience.
# Posted on March 17th 2007 by morning star
Re: Bless me Father, for I am about to sin...
Actually, they're expecting 700,000+ in Savannah by tomorrow. Where were you playing last weekend???
# Posted on March 17th 2007 by irishfiddler32
Re: Bless me Father, for I am about to sin...
You'll be doing a good thing for them anyway, Tracie. We just did a retirement community gig this afternoon - before the snow got too bad up here. I brought along sheet music for a few Irish-American songs just in case. When our little concert of Irish dance tunes ended, they (not us) requested the usual and sang along to Irish Lullaby, Harrigan's and When Irish Eyes, etc. I said we had to beat the snow home when one requested Danny Boy, but she'll hear it next time if we go back. It made them extremely happy, and I don't feel ashamed a bit by that. Bye the way, some even got up and danced to the jigs and reels; so they were listening to the real stuff as well. Have a great time making your audience feel good tomorrow!
# Posted on March 17th 2007 by vonnieestes
Re: Bless me Father, for I am about to sin...
Let us know the next time your in town Tracie ...We have a very good/ friendly session group... *NOTE* Most all the Irish families I know in Savannah march in the parade then go off to private gatherings of friends and family...It is truely the one weekend of the year your not going to find locals in the pubs..Everyone is home behind locked doors...
Have fun with your show...!!!
# Posted on March 17th 2007 by lamh trom
Re: Bless me Father, for I am about to sin...
Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn...
No, seriously, I'm with 'morning star' and the oldies. It is a good thing you do, and in the right spirit, for the 'craic'... We used to make regular visits to such homes, and on such holidays, and we also threw in a bit of wheel chair dancing. Give "Haymaker's Jig" a go with wheelchairs, a 'kick', I guarantee you...
I'm smiling, and I'd much rather face that crowd than risk slipping on green puke. 700, 000 pretending (however removed) their Irish ~ AAAAAAA!!!
# Posted on March 17th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Bless me Father, for I am about to sin...
The amazing thing about music (and song) is that, no matter how "bad" the mind becomes, the music remains! I worked in a long-term care facility for a number of years, and I still occasionally organize musicians and dancers to entertain at homes.
Some people have no idea what day it is, cannot even remember their names, but they DO know every word to a song! Music is great therapy, and a wonderful gift to bring to those who wouldn't have access to it any other way.
Ditto to the last line by "ceolachan" (above)!!!
# Posted on March 17th 2007 by Ceolagusrince
Re: Bless me Father, for I am about to sin...
Savanah
No offense, but in Chicago we get to do engage in St. PAt's revelry for an entire week.
St. Pat's Weeks starts with the South Side Irish St. Pat's Parade. Supposed to be the biggest outside of Dublin. Maybe that's a typical Chicago 'Windy' City legend! The barkeepers on Western Avenue Live for it. Last Sunday the amateurs started drinking at dawn (as did many pipers!)
Then today, we dye the Chicago River Green (no kidding. The Plumber's Union has been doing it for years) Rumor has it that Dublin has copied that tradition. Someone please correct me if I am wrong on this.
And the Downtown St. PAt's parade which start at noon Chicago time goes all afternoon.
Over a week of drinking, carousing and whatever by anyone who can get half the letters fight when asked to spell Ireland.
I did my only gig last week the day before the amateurs took control.
# Posted on March 17th 2007 by zippydw
Re: Bless me Father, for I am about to sin...
Savannah..
The festivities actually begin in the middle of February. With a event every weekend, heading all the way up to St Patricks Day...
So have fun in your snowclad frezzing 0 below Parade!
Question?
Is that why we are covered up with Chicago Police Pipers down here marching in the Savannah parade....The high today is 65 degrees...
# Posted on March 17th 2007 by lamh trom
Re: Bless me Father, for I am about to sin...
Mad! ~ Well, while I was living in Dublin, and travels through since, thank the powers that be, I've never seen the Liffy green except with the bloom of unsavoury things... You wouldn't want to 'add' anything to that soup. An engineer friend had the business of running pipes under it and aerating it so that the fumes wouldn't overwhelp people crossing it over bridges on foot. That was back awhile, but we did regularly see the bodies of things floating down it to sea...
'In my days' ~ OUCH! ~ The St. Paddy's Day Parade in Dublin seemed to be mostly visiting Americans... It was the only place to go if you wanted confirmation that there were Kelly Green leather shoes in the world, and that Americans were daft...
# Posted on March 17th 2007 by ceolachan
"Overwhelp!" I love it, of course I meant "overwhelm", but I like the "Welp!" in that slip-up...
# Posted on March 17th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Bless me Father, for I am about to sin...
I played for an old-folks home yesterday and really enjoyed it (I think they're the best audience because it's very often easy to convince yourslef that they aren't listening so you become less inhibited as I often do) but they will never ever fail to tell you how amazing you are and how much they thouroughly enjoyed and then tell you about their grandkids that played the violin in such and such orchestras (if you're under 20 or so).
Of course, my mom runs a singing group at the home and they all sang afterward, but it was worth the set list (Rosie O'grady, Who threw the overalls, Harrigan, When Irish Eyes, Irish Lullaby, and of course the inevitable Danny Boy) to see how happy it really did make all these people.Really great.
# Posted on March 18th 2007 by possumawesome
Re: Bless me Father, for I am about to sin...
I spent most of the day jamming with the local group in a bar in a nondescript town in Michigan. The population of this town triples each St. Patty's day and the bouncer strictly adhears to the fire marshal's rules. He even made sure three people left so as to count for my guitar and dulcimer! Up tight owners here. Anyhow it was interesting that 75 percent of the band left for other engagements or a less crowded venu within 3 hours. Wall to wall people including a guy who kept knocking my dulcimer around with his big arse isn't the way to enjoy St. Patty's day. I ended up leaving early. Now I can say I've been there, done that.
# Posted on March 18th 2007 by jrathbun
Re: Bless me Father, for I am about to sin...
Paraphrased old saying about drinking around St. Pat's Day in the US probably also applies to some of the gigs.
"Best Left to the amateurs. The Pros stay out of the way until the holiday has run its course."
# Posted on March 18th 2007 by zippydw
Re: Bless me Father, for I am about to sin...
Play the stuff that people enjoy. I would rather bring a joyful tear to an oldster's eye with a favorite song, than leave them cold with a lot of technically brilliant flashy stuff.
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by AlBrown