We played last night at our usual session pub. They billed it as "St. Practice Day."
We played during the dinner rush, and then a blues band took over from 9 pm onward. The crowd was big and noisy, but we had fun, especially with some friends from California sitting in. And the beer was free. Just another excuse to session....
That sounds fine Will. I'm hoping we get away without having anyone wagging money in our direction and asking for anything too cheesy. It's a performance you see, so... (AAA!)
That's funny. No one applauded us last night. We were just background music. I suspect the table closest to us didn't even notice the music, thanks to one guy there who bellowed his way through their entire "conversation."
Our regular session (on Thursdays) is usually quieter, though when it *is* crowded, people sometimes applaud. Of course we nip that in the bud ("Thanks, but no thanks. Please--you'll only encourage us!")
The pubs here are grasping at straws to draw customers in dwindling times. Trivia night and karaoke are the big lures. Ugh. We're just happy to have a place to play on an otherwise off night.
For the past couple of years, we have played at an Elks Club in Bristol RI on a weekend day close to Saint Patrick's Day, and this year they want us to play at a halfway to St P dinner, which is tomorrow evening. They make the corned beef themselves, and feed us well. Yum...
Well, if you want the sordid details of the prostitution of my art, I played at a housing association community barbecue today (held indoors because the ten-month rainy season is upon us) and received food, a moderate cash payment, and some general applause, compliments, and smiles. Yes, it was a performance, and I feel dirty and remorseful.
Nevertheless, I have been booked for a seniors' centre party on March 19th, and the above process may well be repeated, but the shame will be shared by a group of Irish dancers.
However, I am proud to be able to say that I play regularly in noisy pubs with multiple large screen TVs, am ignored by all and sundry unless I interfere with the game they are watching, and have to pay high prices for beer that is not at all my favourite; so I hope that I am partially exonerated.
Dominus noster Jesus Christus te absolvat, et ego auctoritate ipsius te absolvo ab omni vinculo excommunicationis et interdicti in quantum possum et tu indiges. Deinde, ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.
Greg, it's the standard Catholic absolution. The good Father Coen was simply responding (in good humour) to oldstring's confession. Funny, we were just talking about mortal and venial sins on another thread....
I didn't know that halfway to St. Patrick's day was routinely celebrated.
If there was enough money in it, there would no doubt be a St. Patrick's Day-orientated celebration once a week ("Twelve Weeks After", "Thirty-Two Weeks Before" - sort of thing).
Someone had better start writing some songs that will provide some variation from The Fields Of Athenry and Whiskey In The Jar - I like those songs, but I'd sooner hear them once a year than once a week...!
Spent Halfway Day at a pub empty of punters except for the Ladies Dart League (do they count as punters?) Primary festivities were elsewhere and featured a shamrock-n-roll band. Nice, quiet session at the pub.
We played as well at my regular Sunday session pub for the Halfway to Paddy's Day bash. The place was mobbed for dinner and on, upstairs, downstairs and outside as well. There was myself on guitar, Chris on Uillean pipes, Nancy on Bodhran and whistles/flutes and Paul on the fiddle. We all sang a few as well. A great night.
Thanks for all your thoughts, and thanks for Father Reis for the absolution. I did sing some questionable material, but for the most part a full pub appreciated loads of tunes and rarer songs. I'm finding the more I sell it out the more I can get away with doing musical good, which is nice. Session today in the next town over, time to pack up the PA for another few weeks.
If I may plagiarise the words of Wilde's Lord Fermor who wished to be excused for the 'taint of industry on the grounds that the one advantage of having coal was that it enabled a gentleman to afford the decency of burning wood on his own hearth.'
There's no harm making a few bob playing dodgy music so that you can afford a few pints when you go to your favourite session...
One of the aforementioned noisy pubs that I USED to play at (the new owner decided that sportsTV is better for business than sessions) had, just inside the door, a large Countdown To St. Patrick's Day board. As the day approached, leprechaun hats, "kiss me I'm Irish" Tshirts, and general bad behaviour became more prevalent; similar to Hallowe'en - any old excuse...
So, we honored requests for Danny Boy, Wild Colonial Boy, Fields of Athenry, and Whiskey in the Jar tonight at our gig. And without any prompting at all, we gave them, among the jigs and reels, songs like When Irish Eyes are Smiling and I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen. The corned beef was good and the whiskey was cheap (inexpensive, I mean, it was fine whiskey). A good time was had by all. If this be sinning, call me unrepentinent!
Surely you're also halfway FROM St Pat's ?
PS Re talking like a pirate - guess who's been doing Pirates of the Caribbean IV ?
Yup. This hairy old scuttlebutt.
Been in the same ( fake ) pub c1760 as Johnny Depp AND Keith Richards. They didn't say anything to me though. Nor play any music. Sigh.
Such is the life of a Supporting Artist.
Special members of the crew were the cat wrangler and the candlewick trimmer. Important technicians.
PPS Where do pirates get their exercise ?
"Jim, lad !".
Halfway to St. Patrick's Day
Halfway to St. Patrick's Day
Anyone else selling themselves out this weekend? Anecdotes, complaints, general griping?
# Posted on September 18th 2010 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Halfway to St. Patrick's Day
We played last night at our usual session pub. They billed it as "St. Practice Day."
We played during the dinner rush, and then a blues band took over from 9 pm onward. The crowd was big and noisy, but we had fun, especially with some friends from California sitting in. And the beer was free. Just another excuse to session....
# Posted on September 18th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: Halfway to St. Patrick's Day
That sounds fine Will. I'm hoping we get away without having anyone wagging money in our direction and asking for anything too cheesy. It's a performance you see, so... (AAA!)
Well, off I go then. Day late but a dollar extra.
# Posted on September 18th 2010 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Halfway to St. Patrick's Day
That's funny. No one applauded us last night. We were just background music. I suspect the table closest to us didn't even notice the music, thanks to one guy there who bellowed his way through their entire "conversation."
Our regular session (on Thursdays) is usually quieter, though when it *is* crowded, people sometimes applaud. Of course we nip that in the bud ("Thanks, but no thanks. Please--you'll only encourage us!")
The pubs here are grasping at straws to draw customers in dwindling times. Trivia night and karaoke are the big lures. Ugh. We're just happy to have a place to play on an otherwise off night.
# Posted on September 18th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: Halfway to St. Patrick's Day
For the past couple of years, we have played at an Elks Club in Bristol RI on a weekend day close to Saint Patrick's Day, and this year they want us to play at a halfway to St P dinner, which is tomorrow evening. They make the corned beef themselves, and feed us well. Yum...
# Posted on September 18th 2010 by AlBrown
Re: Halfway to St. Patrick's Day
Well, if you want the sordid details of the prostitution of my art, I played at a housing association community barbecue today (held indoors because the ten-month rainy season is upon us) and received food, a moderate cash payment, and some general applause, compliments, and smiles. Yes, it was a performance, and I feel dirty and remorseful.
Nevertheless, I have been booked for a seniors' centre party on March 19th, and the above process may well be repeated, but the shame will be shared by a group of Irish dancers.
However, I am proud to be able to say that I play regularly in noisy pubs with multiple large screen TVs, am ignored by all and sundry unless I interfere with the game they are watching, and have to pay high prices for beer that is not at all my favourite; so I hope that I am partially exonerated.
# Posted on September 19th 2010 by oldstrings
Re: Halfway to St. Patrick's Day
Dominus noster Jesus Christus te absolvat, et ego auctoritate ipsius te absolvo ab omni vinculo excommunicationis et interdicti in quantum possum et tu indiges. Deinde, ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.
# Posted on September 19th 2010 by Dragut Reis
Re: Halfway to St. Patrick's Day
Dragut, the only word I understood in that was "possum." Where I come from, they're considered edible.
# Posted on September 19th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: Halfway to St. Patrick's Day
I think I've just been granted a pardon, Will. Or maybe exorcised of possums.
Following the link, I'm wondering if Dragut IS Father Charles Coen?
Dragut Reis
http://ceolalainn.blogspot.com/
# Posted on September 19th 2010 by oldstrings
Re: Halfway to St. Patrick's Day
I've been teaching myself Latin in my spare time and I understood what Dragut Reis meant. Good on you, sir.
# Posted on September 19th 2010 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Halfway to St. Patrick's Day
Greg, it's the standard Catholic absolution. The good Father Coen was simply responding (in good humour) to oldstring's confession. Funny, we were just talking about mortal and venial sins on another thread....
# Posted on September 19th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: Halfway to St. Patrick's Day
I didn't know that halfway to St. Patrick's day was routinely celebrated.
If there was enough money in it, there would no doubt be a St. Patrick's Day-orientated celebration once a week ("Twelve Weeks After", "Thirty-Two Weeks Before" - sort of thing).
Someone had better start writing some songs that will provide some variation from The Fields Of Athenry and Whiskey In The Jar - I like those songs, but I'd sooner hear them once a year than once a week...!
# Posted on September 19th 2010 by nicholas
Re: Halfway to St. Patrick's Day
ARRRR! Avast ye scurvy dogs! More importantly, today (September 19) is International Talk Like A Pirate Day!
Spit in your hands, hoist the black flag, and take no prisoners!
# Posted on September 19th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: Halfway to St. Patrick's Day
You know, a quantum possum would be pretty damn cool...
# Posted on September 19th 2010 by Dragut Reis
Re: Halfway to St. Patrick's Day
someone say something about exercising a possum
# Posted on September 19th 2010 by Barry1963
Re: Halfway to St. Patrick's Day
How often would a quantum possum require exercise?
# Posted on September 19th 2010 by Dragut Reis
Exorcise the Possums
Here's a lovely version of the American old-timey tune Possum Up A Gum Stump to get yer day's Possum Quotient:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDHvp4MEIa8
Spent Halfway Day at a pub empty of punters except for the Ladies Dart League (do they count as punters?) Primary festivities were elsewhere and featured a shamrock-n-roll band. Nice, quiet session at the pub.
# Posted on September 19th 2010 by fidkid
Re: Halfway to St. Patrick's Day
We played as well at my regular Sunday session pub for the Halfway to Paddy's Day bash. The place was mobbed for dinner and on, upstairs, downstairs and outside as well. There was myself on guitar, Chris on Uillean pipes, Nancy on Bodhran and whistles/flutes and Paul on the fiddle. We all sang a few as well. A great night.
# Posted on September 19th 2010 by laganrat
Re: Halfway to St. Patrick's Day
Thanks for all your thoughts, and thanks for Father Reis for the absolution. I did sing some questionable material, but for the most part a full pub appreciated loads of tunes and rarer songs. I'm finding the more I sell it out the more I can get away with doing musical good, which is nice. Session today in the next town over, time to pack up the PA for another few weeks.
# Posted on September 19th 2010 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Halfway to St. Patrick's Day
If I may plagiarise the words of Wilde's Lord Fermor who wished to be excused for the 'taint of industry on the grounds that the one advantage of having coal was that it enabled a gentleman to afford the decency of burning wood on his own hearth.'
There's no harm making a few bob playing dodgy music so that you can afford a few pints when you go to your favourite session...
# Posted on September 19th 2010 by Dragut Reis
Re: Halfway to St. Patrick's Day
One of the aforementioned noisy pubs that I USED to play at (the new owner decided that sportsTV is better for business than sessions) had, just inside the door, a large Countdown To St. Patrick's Day board. As the day approached, leprechaun hats, "kiss me I'm Irish" Tshirts, and general bad behaviour became more prevalent; similar to Hallowe'en - any old excuse...
# Posted on September 19th 2010 by oldstrings
Re: Halfway to St. Patrick's Day
And thanks for reminding me, Will.
http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html
There's a fine new video on finding the way to a wench's heart.
# Posted on September 19th 2010 by oldstrings
Re: Halfway to St. Patrick's Day
So, we honored requests for Danny Boy, Wild Colonial Boy, Fields of Athenry, and Whiskey in the Jar tonight at our gig. And without any prompting at all, we gave them, among the jigs and reels, songs like When Irish Eyes are Smiling and I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen. The corned beef was good and the whiskey was cheap (inexpensive, I mean, it was fine whiskey). A good time was had by all. If this be sinning, call me unrepentinent!
# Posted on September 20th 2010 by AlBrown
Re: Halfway to St. Patrick's Day
Surely you're also halfway FROM St Pat's ?
PS Re talking like a pirate - guess who's been doing Pirates of the Caribbean IV ?
Yup. This hairy old scuttlebutt.
Been in the same ( fake ) pub c1760 as Johnny Depp AND Keith Richards. They didn't say anything to me though. Nor play any music. Sigh.
Such is the life of a Supporting Artist.
Special members of the crew were the cat wrangler and the candlewick trimmer. Important technicians.
PPS Where do pirates get their exercise ?
"Jim, lad !".
# Posted on September 23rd 2010 by Guernsey Pete