Phantom Button's query about session politics has generated interesting and enlightening discussion. I would be interested in how sessions start . When did your session get off the ground, by who, and under what circumstances.
jtrout, I've started a few sessions around here & I'm delighted to say a couple are still going strong (touch wood!)- after 8 years!
I started the 'Springhill Bar' Session in Portrush by just going in one afternoon & speaking to the owner, explaining who I was & how I was deeply involved in Traditional Music in the town.
I explained that I was teaching Traditional Music to children in an old Bingo hall, just along the road, every Thursday evening & also an adult class in the college in the town, plus I was also teaching 'the music' in the three local primary schools.
Then I simply asked him if he fancied trying a session every week .......... & he went for it!
In the other, the 'Smuggler's Inn', Bushmills, I was teaching the owners daughters in school, so I called in & suggested a session every Saturday night - & once again, 8 years on, it's still going well.
I have tried others in the area & some have worked well & lasted for a few years while others just never really get off the ground.
I think it helps a lot if the owners are sympathetic or better still really interested in the music, although it can work too, even if they are not.
But good old lady luck, plays a part too.
Of course you need at least one person who is dedicated enough to come every week & also to ensure that there are always musicians there 'every week' to keep it going, even if they can't be there themselves!
There's nothing p*ss*s a pub owner off faster, than musicians who only turn up - when they can be bothered, so if you can't 'guarantee every week' then I wouldn't bother even starting one!
........... & all that, before you even get into ye olde "Session Politics"!
Hope that's the sort of answer you were looking for jtrout?
The one at our local started 30 years ago when Kevin Keegan lived here. He and Joe Cooly got the ball rolling, and many of the local hippy bluegrass musicians never seemed to look back. You can still find some of them coming out for a tune to this day.
At some point after the loss of Kevin and Joe the session lingered as a volunteer session. Eventually it died out until the publican began to support it by hiring a couple of musicians to anchor it... or prime the pump more like. (one of them was me) Now the session has expanded to include Tuesdays as well as Sundays and there are rotating hosts. This was a big improvement because everyone has their own way of doing things and all of the strong players get their chance to call the shots... or not call the shots if that's more to their preferrence.
I doubt we'll ever be able to come close to the magic that those two fellas created... but we try. Sure the session got going with them, but a lot of credit has to go to the publican who's been supporting the music and keeping it going for the past 21 years. If it weren't for his personal affection for ITM the session there would have ended decades ago.
The pub we play at has advertised the sessions for some time, but I think interest has waxed and waned over time. When I moved here last year, it took me a bit to find the place (easy enough), then to generate enough interest to start collecting musicians. We've got a core of three or four who are pretty steady (when we're in town) with another couple who drift in and out as they're available to play. Additional musicians from the St Louis side come over at least once a month and participate, too, so it's a rollickin' good time!
We have fun and the patrons enjoy the music.
We also meet at someone's house about once a month to go over some "problem tunes" and read new music that we can play at our sessions.
That's where we're at right now. The pub owner is grateful we're there, but I'm going to have to start asking him if he can at least foot the tab for a drink or two per member for the night (heck...what with the business that comes in because there are musicians visible in the front window!!).
I hijacked someone elses session over as they wanted to play 3 tunes then talk for an hour. I wanted to play tunes by the hour - they were happy to let me.
Yes PB, I feel really lucky to be able to hear such great playing (and to be so kindly tolerated!) so close to home, and on a regular basis.
I see that Cooley and Keegan died in 1973 and 1978 respectively...and they play at the Plough back then. Was that long before you moved to SF; before you started playing ITM? Did you get to hear them play?
To stay on topic too, I attend a few different sessions at the Plough, and there certainly are different styles of hosting, and each night of the same session can be very different as well, depending on the mix of musicians who turn out, and this defitely keeps things interesting.
One of the most fascinating things to witness, for me, is the dredging up ot tunes, sometimes obscure (to me anyway) from deep down among session hosts who've played together for years, or years ago. There really is a strong sense of continuity there, and the tunes seems like part of those personal histories as well. It's beatiful in a way that a stage performance can't be.
Keith writes: "There really is a strong sense of continuity there, and the tunes seems like part of those personal histories as well. It's beatiful in a way that a stage performance can't be."
As for myself, I arrived in SF after Cooley and Keegan had came and went, unfortunately. I was introduced to ITM because one of the bluegrass-turned-Irish musicians had a radio show that I happened across after someone pirated cable TV into my radio in 1975 when I was still living in the Central Valley. Then I started going to SF to hear touring bands like the Chieftains, Boys of the Lough, De Dannan, etc. at the Great American Music Hall. By 1980 I was dabbling with the tunes and I visited the Plough a few times to listen to local bands. In 1985 I moved to SF and began going to the sessions there that included most of the aforementioned musicians.
Before Session Politics
Before Session Politics
Phantom Button's query about session politics has generated interesting and enlightening discussion. I would be interested in how sessions start . When did your session get off the ground, by who, and under what circumstances.
# Posted on October 6th 2006 by jtrout
Re: Before Session Politics
The local bar owner asked us to do it and if anyone played out of line we crushed them mercilessly.
# Posted on October 6th 2006 by Farr
Re: Before Session Politics
jtrout, I've started a few sessions around here & I'm delighted to say a couple are still going strong (touch wood!)- after 8 years!
I started the 'Springhill Bar' Session in Portrush by just going in one afternoon & speaking to the owner, explaining who I was & how I was deeply involved in Traditional Music in the town.
I explained that I was teaching Traditional Music to children in an old Bingo hall, just along the road, every Thursday evening & also an adult class in the college in the town, plus I was also teaching 'the music' in the three local primary schools.
Then I simply asked him if he fancied trying a session every week .......... & he went for it!
In the other, the 'Smuggler's Inn', Bushmills, I was teaching the owners daughters in school, so I called in & suggested a session every Saturday night - & once again, 8 years on, it's still going well.
I have tried others in the area & some have worked well & lasted for a few years while others just never really get off the ground.
I think it helps a lot if the owners are sympathetic or better still really interested in the music, although it can work too, even if they are not.
But good old lady luck, plays a part too.
Of course you need at least one person who is dedicated enough to come every week & also to ensure that there are always musicians there 'every week' to keep it going, even if they can't be there themselves!
There's nothing p*ss*s a pub owner off faster, than musicians who only turn up - when they can be bothered, so if you can't 'guarantee every week' then I wouldn't bother even starting one!
........... & all that, before you even get into ye olde "Session Politics"!
Hope that's the sort of answer you were looking for jtrout?
# Posted on October 6th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Before Session Politics
The one at our local started 30 years ago when Kevin Keegan lived here. He and Joe Cooly got the ball rolling, and many of the local hippy bluegrass musicians never seemed to look back. You can still find some of them coming out for a tune to this day.
At some point after the loss of Kevin and Joe the session lingered as a volunteer session. Eventually it died out until the publican began to support it by hiring a couple of musicians to anchor it... or prime the pump more like. (one of them was me) Now the session has expanded to include Tuesdays as well as Sundays and there are rotating hosts. This was a big improvement because everyone has their own way of doing things and all of the strong players get their chance to call the shots... or not call the shots if that's more to their preferrence.
# Posted on October 6th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Before Session Politics
Wow! Button, you'd find it hard to get a more auspicious start to a session than with those two characters - Kevin & Joe:
http://sf.ccewest.org/misc/cooley-keegan_story.html
No doubt you have all done them proud, ever since!
# Posted on October 6th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Before Session Politics
I doubt we'll ever be able to come close to the magic that those two fellas created... but we try. Sure the session got going with them, but a lot of credit has to go to the publican who's been supporting the music and keeping it going for the past 21 years. If it weren't for his personal affection for ITM the session there would have ended decades ago.
# Posted on October 6th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Before Session Politics
The pub we play at has advertised the sessions for some time, but I think interest has waxed and waned over time. When I moved here last year, it took me a bit to find the place (easy enough), then to generate enough interest to start collecting musicians. We've got a core of three or four who are pretty steady (when we're in town) with another couple who drift in and out as they're available to play. Additional musicians from the St Louis side come over at least once a month and participate, too, so it's a rollickin' good time!
We have fun and the patrons enjoy the music.
We also meet at someone's house about once a month to go over some "problem tunes" and read new music that we can play at our sessions.
That's where we're at right now. The pub owner is grateful we're there, but I'm going to have to start asking him if he can at least foot the tab for a drink or two per member for the night (heck...what with the business that comes in because there are musicians visible in the front window!!).
# Posted on October 6th 2006 by pn5jn
Re: Before Session Politics
Hey Button,
What are you're earliest memeories of Plough sessions? Do you ever play with the "founders" back when?
# Posted on October 7th 2006 by Keith Dubinsky
Re: Before Session Politics
P.S. - sorry for the poor typing...my proof reading has atrophied after being married to a copy editor for many years.
# Posted on October 7th 2006 by Keith Dubinsky
Re: Before Session Politics
You play with them too, Keith. Jeremy up at camp, John Sherry, Max, Vinnie, Suzanne, Sabra & Peter, Mickie, to name a few.
# Posted on October 8th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Before Session Politics
I hijacked someone elses session over as they wanted to play 3 tunes then talk for an hour. I wanted to play tunes by the hour - they were happy to let me.
# Posted on October 8th 2006 by geoffwright
Re: Before Session Politics
Yes PB, I feel really lucky to be able to hear such great playing (and to be so kindly tolerated!) so close to home, and on a regular basis.
I see that Cooley and Keegan died in 1973 and 1978 respectively...and they play at the Plough back then. Was that long before you moved to SF; before you started playing ITM? Did you get to hear them play?
To stay on topic too, I attend a few different sessions at the Plough, and there certainly are different styles of hosting, and each night of the same session can be very different as well, depending on the mix of musicians who turn out, and this defitely keeps things interesting.
One of the most fascinating things to witness, for me, is the dredging up ot tunes, sometimes obscure (to me anyway) from deep down among session hosts who've played together for years, or years ago. There really is a strong sense of continuity there, and the tunes seems like part of those personal histories as well. It's beatiful in a way that a stage performance can't be.
# Posted on October 8th 2006 by Keith Dubinsky
Re: Before Session Politics
Keith writes: "There really is a strong sense of continuity there, and the tunes seems like part of those personal histories as well. It's beatiful in a way that a stage performance can't be."
Yes, Keith... this relates to another recent thread: http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/11243
As for myself, I arrived in SF after Cooley and Keegan had came and went, unfortunately. I was introduced to ITM because one of the bluegrass-turned-Irish musicians had a radio show that I happened across after someone pirated cable TV into my radio in 1975 when I was still living in the Central Valley. Then I started going to SF to hear touring bands like the Chieftains, Boys of the Lough, De Dannan, etc. at the Great American Music Hall. By 1980 I was dabbling with the tunes and I visited the Plough a few times to listen to local bands. In 1985 I moved to SF and began going to the sessions there that included most of the aforementioned musicians.
# Posted on October 8th 2006 by Phantom Button