Havn't seen much mention regarding The Vatersay Boys on the website. Surely people are aware of them, especially scottish people who access the website. The atmosphere they generate is unique. They have played in Ireland on a few occasions, notably Donegal and Clare Island, Co. Mayo.
Didn't think much of the Vatersay Boys album my friend brought home from Bara a few summers back. It was played a lot, mostly for the comic value and kind of grew on me, or rather I grew a tolerence to it. I hear that it is a real experience to see them live!
Why are yis so caught up on piano accordions. The band includes a button player as well. I know the quality of the music from You Tubes is poor but the enjoyment of the crowd cannot be denied.
Who is het up on piano accordions - you make it out like we don't like them. My links are to good PA music. There is good button box music out there too e.g.:
Yes No Cause, I too am wondering why anyone could be interested in the Vaterboys music! What I saw on their YouTube clips was - "enough to give me nightmares for life." ... too!
Ptarmigan, the last time I was in Scotland a friend gave me a copy of the Vatersay cd "An Rathad A Bhatarsaigh". The first track on it, Braigh Loch Iall/ Canan Na Gaidheall/ Mist Covered Mountains, is slow and stately and brilliant. There are some other good tracks too---you just have to have a high tolerance for piano accordions and snare drums. It's kind of like Local Hero meets the Pogues.
"..... you just have to have a high tolerance for piano accordions and snare drums. It's kind of like Local Hero meets the Pogues." - & that's supposed to encourage me, is it?
Sorry Kennedy, but from the little I heard on those YouTubes, I'm afraid it wouldn't matter if they were like "Super Hero meets the Rogues" I just can't see me ever going to one of their gigs!
Yeah, I know, the snare drum isn't the best choice for them, is it? I don't know, I mostly focus on the melodies and tune out the drum somehow. I like their choice in tunes and the variations they do. Take that PA and put it in a session with a good fiddler and you'd have some fine fine music.
I was out with two friends on a tour of the Western Isles three years ago. We stopped in Mallaig for a night before getting the ferry over to Skye and the barman there told us that the Vatersay Boys were all the rage on the islands. He even gave us a free CD of theirs.
We started our trip on Skye, then went to Lewis, where we noticed the VB's CD's playing and for sale. We continued on to Harris, then to Uidhist, and finally to Barra.
On our last night in Bagh an Chaisteil, the VB's were launching a C.D. of theirs. Not to sure which one. A great night was had, even if the music wasn't the sort that session.orgers would largely appreciate. I got talking to a few of the guys. It turns out that some of them had holidayed in Killybegs in Donegal (which, for whatever reason seems to be a popular destination for Barra people). Sound lads. In fact, the Barra people were brilliant. Can't wait to get back.
I remember meeting a fiddle player there on Barra and promising to sit down for a few tunes with him, but it never really happen. Maybe he's a session.orger.........
Really nice guys too. About 20 members of our CCE branch went over for the Barra Feis the year before last, about half being kids. Great time all round with the locals. The Vatersay Boys joined us for the last part of a celi we played (prefering to spend the most part dancing as they always have to play).
The whole family are great fun, the father also plays a button box, although a different system from the button box son. Three prefered accordeon systems in one family, something odd going on there.
Despite being the most-Irish of the Western Isles, the music is very Scottish. Not just the VB's but the street celi bands at the feis, and the local kids. The VB's don't play many reels etc. The Sunday session in the big pub (I've forgotten the name) however, is an odd experience. There are about ten accordeons of different varieties with a very distintive overall sound, not typical of Scottish music or Irish, more Cajun in feel.
Re: your next post. Yes, I've no doubt I too would have a great nights crack & music with the PA player, just as long as he left "Animal" at home! i.e. As that clip ends, it sounds like a couple of Lambegs are warming up!
The Vatersay Boys
The Vatersay Boys
Havn't seen much mention regarding The Vatersay Boys on the website. Surely people are aware of them, especially scottish people who access the website. The atmosphere they generate is unique. They have played in Ireland on a few occasions, notably Donegal and Clare Island, Co. Mayo.
# Posted on March 21st 2007 by elvi
Re: The Vatersay Boys
A lot of Irish people are surely aware of Daniel O'Donnell but they don't mention him here either.
# Posted on March 21st 2007 by Johnny Jay
Re: The Vatersay Boys
The Vatersay Boys are amazin'
# Posted on March 21st 2007 by achisholm
Re: The Vatersay Boys
Oh, come on, John J. You just gotta like piano accordians. I love that stuff, but I know I'm in the minority!
# Posted on March 21st 2007 by kennedy
Re: The Vatersay Boys
Did someone mention Piano Accordion?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYDkL3nmdLw
I did look at all the Vatersay Boys YouTubes but honestly, I just couldn't find any that were worth sharing with *the group*!
# Posted on March 21st 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: The Vatersay Boys
Didn't think much of the Vatersay Boys album my friend brought home from Bara a few summers back. It was played a lot, mostly for the comic value and kind of grew on me, or rather I grew a tolerence to it. I hear that it is a real experience to see them live!
I think I hear Sinocal coming....
# Posted on March 21st 2007 by proinsiasrua
Re: The Vatersay Boys
Wonder how to get a smiley
# Posted on March 21st 2007 by bnorthup
Re: The Vatersay Boys
Did someone mention Daniel O'Donnell?
# Posted on March 21st 2007 by Here Lyeth
Re: The Vatersay Boys
http://www.myspace.com/boxclub
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgOBJADK0TY
Now this is REAL piano accordion music
# Posted on March 21st 2007 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: The Vatersay Boys
I think I figured it out
# Posted on March 21st 2007 by bnorthup
Re: The Vatersay Boys
Why are yis so caught up on piano accordions. The band includes a button player as well. I know the quality of the music from You Tubes is poor but the enjoyment of the crowd cannot be denied.
# Posted on March 21st 2007 by elvi
Re: The Vatersay Boys
Who is het up on piano accordions - you make it out like we don't like them. My links are to good PA music. There is good button box music out there too e.g.:
http://www.myspace.com/glasgowskyline1
Or the Mairtin O'Connor link from the other thread or:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x9FK2bC1_s
There is also a piper in The VBs and this is good pipe music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE2mcvUI844
It is just, musically anyway, I am not, personally a big fan of the VBs - although they can certainly pull a crowd
# Posted on March 21st 2007 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: The Vatersay Boys
Almost forgot the drummer. Here you go - a good drummer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8cvKImVadE
# Posted on March 21st 2007 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: The Vatersay Boys
"The band includes a button player as well." Fascinating stuff elvi, that's a new one on me. I must watch out for some of that on Geantrai!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfn-ylRc2Ys
# Posted on March 21st 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: The Vatersay Boys
That is going too far Mr Glasgow!! - The comments on that YouTube clip were enough to give me nightmares for life. The big question is WHY???
# Posted on March 21st 2007 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: The Vatersay Boys
Yes No Cause, I too am wondering why anyone could be interested in the Vaterboys music! What I saw on their YouTube clips was - "enough to give me nightmares for life." ... too!
# Posted on March 21st 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: The Vatersay Boys
Ptarmigan, the last time I was in Scotland a friend gave me a copy of the Vatersay cd "An Rathad A Bhatarsaigh". The first track on it, Braigh Loch Iall/ Canan Na Gaidheall/ Mist Covered Mountains, is slow and stately and brilliant. There are some other good tracks too---you just have to have a high tolerance for piano accordions and snare drums. It's kind of like Local Hero meets the Pogues.
# Posted on March 22nd 2007 by kennedy
Re: The Vatersay Boys
"..... you just have to have a high tolerance for piano accordions and snare drums. It's kind of like Local Hero meets the Pogues." - & that's supposed to encourage me, is it?
Sorry Kennedy, but from the little I heard on those YouTubes, I'm afraid it wouldn't matter if they were like "Super Hero meets the Rogues" I just can't see me ever going to one of their gigs!
# Posted on March 22nd 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: The Vatersay Boys
Kennedy, I think this was the best one I found, but I'm afraid that moronic sounding, snare drum bashing just kills the music for me!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPg2uAmsdwk
# Posted on March 22nd 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: The Vatersay Boys
Oh, Ptarmigan, and a good Scot like you, I'm surprised. Try listening to this clip (too bad it's so short):
http://www.thevatersayboys.com/Mist-Covered-Mountains.mp3.mp3
They really do play lovely music, if you're patient enough to sift through the other stuff.
# Posted on March 22nd 2007 by kennedy
Re: The Vatersay Boys
Yeah, I know, the snare drum isn't the best choice for them, is it? I don't know, I mostly focus on the melodies and tune out the drum somehow. I like their choice in tunes and the variations they do. Take that PA and put it in a session with a good fiddler and you'd have some fine fine music.
# Posted on March 22nd 2007 by kennedy
Re: The Vatersay Boys
I was out with two friends on a tour of the Western Isles three years ago. We stopped in Mallaig for a night before getting the ferry over to Skye and the barman there told us that the Vatersay Boys were all the rage on the islands. He even gave us a free CD of theirs.
We started our trip on Skye, then went to Lewis, where we noticed the VB's CD's playing and for sale. We continued on to Harris, then to Uidhist, and finally to Barra.
On our last night in Bagh an Chaisteil, the VB's were launching a C.D. of theirs. Not to sure which one. A great night was had, even if the music wasn't the sort that session.orgers would largely appreciate. I got talking to a few of the guys. It turns out that some of them had holidayed in Killybegs in Donegal (which, for whatever reason seems to be a popular destination for Barra people). Sound lads. In fact, the Barra people were brilliant. Can't wait to get back.
I remember meeting a fiddle player there on Barra and promising to sit down for a few tunes with him, but it never really happen. Maybe he's a session.orger.........
# Posted on March 22nd 2007 by Sinocal
Re: The Vatersay Boys
Really nice guys too. About 20 members of our CCE branch went over for the Barra Feis the year before last, about half being kids. Great time all round with the locals. The Vatersay Boys joined us for the last part of a celi we played (prefering to spend the most part dancing as they always have to play).
The whole family are great fun, the father also plays a button box, although a different system from the button box son. Three prefered accordeon systems in one family, something odd going on there.
Despite being the most-Irish of the Western Isles, the music is very Scottish. Not just the VB's but the street celi bands at the feis, and the local kids. The VB's don't play many reels etc. The Sunday session in the big pub (I've forgotten the name) however, is an odd experience. There are about ten accordeons of different varieties with a very distintive overall sound, not typical of Scottish music or Irish, more Cajun in feel.
Cheers - Chris
# Posted on March 22nd 2007 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: The Vatersay Boys
Kennedy, it sounds to me like that clip ends just in time ..... before the drums come in, very heavy-handedly & feck the whole thing up!
# Posted on March 22nd 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: The Vatersay Boys
Re: your next post. Yes, I've no doubt I too would have a great nights crack & music with the PA player, just as long as he left "Animal" at home! i.e. As that clip ends, it sounds like a couple of Lambegs are warming up!
# Posted on March 22nd 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: The Vatersay Boys
"There are about ten accordeons ....." ! ..... ? ........ Er ..............
# Posted on March 22nd 2007 by Ptarmigan