Sorry, put this in the wrong - 'Looking Forward to Paddy's Day' section, at first.
OK. So what exciting stuff happened to you on Paddy's Day?
Can you remember?
If so, let's have some details?
As for me, well, looking back now, I must admit I had a memorable start to Paddy's Day in our regular Portrush Session:
Down side - me & my wickle fiddwel - sandwiched between 4 slabbery old Flutes!
Up side - one of the Fluters was none other than Slainte! {Fine bloke, Fine musician} plus the great playing of John Hughes & the deadly Dee Havlin
Watch out, Slainte's over here for two weeks & he's heading to a session near YOU!
Lunch time saw Slainte & meself catch an Open Air gig from The London Lasses, with Dee Havlin & the lassies belting it out, good style. Bumped into Kathleen Smyth (the one & only - Antrim Rose) at the gig too.
Slainte then caught the Bus for Fermanagh!
Hope you caught up with Jim McGrath & the team that night Kieran?
Early evenin' gig saw 3 of us do a spot at a crazy charity St P. concert where about 200 kids were taking it in turns to play, sing & danc in front of their families & friends.
Must be the loudest audience I've ever gigged before, but they were all having a whale of a time.
Mind you we did shut them up for a few minutes at least with some secret weapons:
The Hammered Dulcimer - stunned them cause, despite being a Co. Antrim instrument, nobody knows it here.
The Jews Harp - a reel with a real Harp & Bodhran accompanyment!
The Fife - couple of old Fife Marches at a Paddy's Day gig! - ah well, you can't start practicing too soon, cause that old Marching season soon comes around again, don't it! (Forgot my Lambeg though )
Lovely 4 hour session at night with Kathleen Smyth - two fiddles plus Guitar & Bodhran - just what the Doctor ordered!
Our gigs went great, both were repeats from last year, and we have already been asked to keep the dates opened for them next year. Lots of fun. We did a couple of new things that went over well. My wife and I did a singing duet on the song "Briar and the Rose" that Niamh Parsons did (I think with Phil Callery) on one of the Loose Connections albums, which went over like gangbusters, we will have to do more of that in the future. And we did all the old Irish-American favorites, so beloved over here, but not always universally respected.
Only problem is that I am recovering from the flu, so to keep my playing skills intact, I did not dare to imbibe. So I will have to make up for lost time at the regular session on Sunday.
Wurzel and I were in a biker's pub all evening. When those good salt of the earth had departed, as they usually do at about 9pm, a good regular session developed with about a dozen of us, going on well into the early hours. Apart from one guy at the bar wearing a Paddy's Day vest you wouldn't have really been able to distinguish it from other regular sessions at that pub.
Oh, and our best fiddle player turned up sans fiddle, just for the drink. We made sure a fiddle was provided so that he wasn't able to escape
I led my first session yesterday and it went amazingly well. I had some great players with me but none that could really put sets together on the fly. It was a nice confidence builder to do it on St Pat’s day. We actually had an attentive albeit drunk audience who seemed to really appreciate the music. And, I finally have enough tunes under the belt that we only repeated (and it wasn’t on my account) about 5 tunes in the three-hour session. I’m leading another session today, I can only hope it goes as well.
We had a brilliant day! Long to be sure, but brilliant none-the-less. The highlight for me was at the first gig of the day, a morning performance at an adult day care center. I had the great honor of sharing the microphone with a young woman with Down syndrome for a heart wrenching rendition of Danny Boy (I know, I know, it was the only melody she knew well enough to try to sing). I now cherish a very sweet memory of this much maligned song. Thank you so much Debbie!
The afternoon program with the local story teller was also great. It was so nice to hear the local stories, stories I remember from my youth and the music seemed to put the proverbial frosting on the cake. It seems we will be doing more with this story teller going forward. I do love the stories.
The night time tavern gig was very well received especially considering the vast majority of the tavern’s clientele are gentry (it’s the area, what can I tell you). We got them to lose a bit of their stuffiness and party. But the highlight for sure was discovering that one of the patrons, a lovely young woman, was a singer with one of the sweetest voices I’ve heard. She gave us a few songs through out the evening. At the end we found out that she has only been singing Irish songs since January this year and last night, albeit unplanned, turned out to be her public debut. I for one am looking forward to hearing more of her singing in the days ahead.
All in all a great day, spent honoring a great Saint, with cherished friends whilst playing great music. I am truly blessed with many bounties!
I didn't get paid but I haven't played music out in six months so just playing in a session delighted me. Any session would have done, yet this one was extremely pleasant by any measure. Friendly people. Good tunes. A wonderful re-introduction.
Is it over yet ?
Judging by the banners on some of the pubs round here the Day is the whole weekend.
Played one pub session with the rowdy lawer and his mates ( due some money for that ) then on to the St P's Day session at our regular session pub, Grumpy landlord only wanted 5 or 6 musicians - just as well in one way, as that was all I could get - but the bar was heaving, took some time even to get seats for the musos, Hairy Peter sat on the piano stool behind the upright with his tin sandwich ( harmonica to you ) while the rest of us huddled in a little circle in front of it trying to hear each other, as the noise level didn't drop when the landlord took off the "Irish Favourite Singalong" cd to let us have our go. Still, we gave it our best try, and it was much appreciated; Charly on her second fiddle; me on 'zouk, bodrhan,and concertina, SO on flute, whistle, and spoons, Keith on amplified harp, and, the star turn of the evening, Mark on hurdy-gurdy and lowland pipes. Where are the crowds of people the rest of the year, I want to know ?
Oh, and a late appearance by Pork Pie, in his hat. See, I rob shoulders with the famous !
Rumour has it there's another session tonight, up the road, plus the local folk-club tomorrow.
Time for a rest, and a change of strings.
I lived through it. It was miserable and wonderful a the same time. Lots of messed up and overwhelming stuff going on right now, so the two gigs I played took a lot of focus and energy and effort. They were my first paid gigs, ever, which will always be one of those weird ironic things in life that will make a great story later. I had some great tunes and craic, so I was glad I did it in spite of all hell breaking loose elsewhere.
Many thanks to Mr. Ptarmigan. I had a fantastic night in Enniskillen. The pub was packed and I couldn't talk to all the musicians very much, but it was one of the most memorable sessions I've ever attended. Fast and furious old-fashioned music with old musicians. And I was chatting with a very pretty young girl who plays whistle for half an hour. Gals have killer accents here!
My session trail hasn't finished yet. I'm back in Belfast now and will go to a session somewhere tonight. Then I'll be in Edinburgh tomorrow.
P-Day gigs for us started last Saturday and don't end until late tonight, but none of them are in pubs. On P-Day itself we only did one gig and that was for a lunchtime office party. The highlight was when the dancers from the Kennelly School did their bit. The thing was held in this very nice courtyard in the middle of the office complex. The girls who danced were dressed all in black as opposed to those dresses that look as though someone ate the book of Kells and threw up all over them. And they weren't wearing the JonBenet Ramsey curly wigs either. Very nice.
Today were playing at the Dublin Saint Patrick's Day Festival, (Dublin CA that is,) on an indoor stage. Last year we were on an outdoor stage and the wind was whipping the banners around on the stage so much it felt like we were doing a gig on a tall ship in a hurricane. The way our luck works, this year we'll be inside playing for the soundman and everyone else will be outside enjoying the balmy weather. We have a knack for the Murphy's Law thing it seems.
Then it's off to do a private party at someone's mansion on Lake Merritt. These folks are great, and love the trad music. They also have their party well catered -- yum. The best part (we do it every year) is when it winds down towards the end and we play tunes in their living room while they lounge around chatting quietly and sipping on Irish coffee.
Aside from those sort of gigs, I stay far away from the pubs I would normally play in because they have a big influx of yahoos who think Irish culture is getting p*ssed out of your head and talking really loud and laughing as loud as you possibly can. I also refuse to do the gigs we used to do in pubs where they don't normally have trad music. You end up playing for drunks who have suddenly become experts about traditional Irish music. They'll criticize you for things like not having a bodhran like the real Irish bands have, and for not singing The Wild Rover and Danny Boy. They expect you to take them seriously, but they're teetering in front of you with a plastic green derby on their head and a green shamrock covered tie and sipping on green beer.
Slainte, thanks for the visit. I'm glad you had a great time in Fermanagh. I hope the rest of your trip is up to that standard.
"And I was chatting with a very pretty young girl who plays whistle for half an hour." - Slainte, sounds like you might be back here sooner than you expected to be?
Last year on St. Patricks Day, I went around to a few local spots to volunteer some fiddling--indoor busking, really. This year I actually arranged in advance to appear at two of them, and lined up a guitar player to help with the second one.
My short show-and-tell presentation in the childrens' section of the local library was enjoyed by maybe a dozen mothers and their children--mostly in the 3 to 6 year old bracket. I had to close my eyes sometimes, because their dancing would crack me up!
The 2-hour gig at a local bar was, to be honest, less enjoyable. We had to crank up the PA volume to almost-feedback and turn every tune into "Celtic rock" just to be heard--well, by the few who were actually listening rather than jabbering away. (No great stretch for the guitarist, who has a good ear for chord changes but no great passion for Irish music.) A lot of people wore blinking green shamrock pins and such, but very few seemed interested in Irish music.
No more "Celti-crock" for me. I'm looking forward to the usual sessions, where we just play for ourselves, because we actually like the stuff.
A fiddler friend of mine played our very first gig as a duo (having been part of sessions and/or performances with a larger group) at a St. Patrick's Day reception being thrown by this ritzy dinner club located 36 floors off the ground. We got there to set up our sound system around 4 p.m., and the view was crystal clear and incredible, to say the least. You could say, in fact, I'd never been so "high" for a gig in my life.
We were scheduled to start, technically, at 5:30, but after having hooked up the sound system -- and discovering that the speakers were picking up a radio broadcast, which necessitated some fiddling with the dials and other measures -- we sat down around 5:10 to tune up and go through a couple of sets to iron out a few kinks. We figured, "Hey, might as well just start."
I'd steeled myself for the possibility of having to fend off the "Danny Boy" requests, but only one person actually came up to ask for a song. He asked if we knew "The Soldier's Song." I replied that I had used to know it back as a kid (listening to a lot of Clancy Brothers) but hadn't sung it in years.
"Oh," he said. "Well, could you sing it in English, then?"
I had to gently explain I couldn't manage the song in Irish _or_ English. He seemed a little disappointed but was quite nice.
Basically, it all went very quickly. We took a break after about an hour for dinner, when we were briefly spelled by a bagpipe band; the maitre'd led us to a private conference room where the view was equally lovely. But I was rather chagrined to find out that the club had a no-booze-for-performers rule.
At the end, after we'd packed everything up and were heading for the door, a 50ish woman stepped to us and said how much she had enjoyed our playing, and that one of the reasons she'd come to the reception was she heard there was going to be live Irish music. My friend and I agreed later that, while it had been nice not to have put up with a lot of hub-bub, we wondered if anyone had actually listened -- so it was quite gratifying to get this lady's compliment!
Anyway, my friend dropped me off at home, and I treated myself to my delayed liquid reward.
I had me back tinkered with by a local orthopod a few years back. One of the reasons I allowed it was the doc is from Cork, and was the head back doc at Stanford University Hospital before moving to where I live. It turns out that this orthopedic clinic has had a St. Pat's party for 29 years. But the story of how it evolved is great. When the four or five docs in this clinic wanted (29 years ago) to have an office Christmas party and exclude the wives, they were foiled. So they tried again at New Years: foiled again. Sooooo, they thought Valentines Day. No way! Well, the next one up would be St. Patrick's Day, and they relented and included the spouses. One of them had somehow kept the family Christmas tree, and so it became a tradition to bring the poor tree, still somewhat decorated, and since the clinic is across the street from the local hospital, the entire medical community is invited, along with the wives of course. My operation having been successful, I conned a few of my music friends into playing for them. Great setup: we play behind the reception counter which is stacked with food, and the keg of local micro brew is quite handy. Things do get a bit loud, but its a grand crowd, and they truly appreciate the music. The highlight though, is when one of the nurses climbs up on the counter and belts out the most raunchy songs imaginable. The title of this year's ballad was "If I had a penis". I knew the medicos could be naughty, but.......
No Irish music for me this year. I was playing Scottish pipe tunes on flute and whistle, doing the links for 3 short plays by NE of Scotland author Davd Toulmin in a theatre in Fraserburgh. Some very dark humour in that man's writing, but very funny in places.
Did listen to one of "Ptarmigan's" tapes on the drive home, though.
Paddy's Day in 'The Broch' eh Kenny? Aye, that's different OK. Sounds like an interesting gig though. After all, unless you are very, very lucky, the last place an ITM wants to be on Paddy's night really, is in a pub!
The perfect cure for insomniacs - my tapes!
Speaking of Tapes Kenny, ain't it about time you brought out a tape yourself. e.g. Scottish Pipe Tunes on Flute & Whistle - has that been done yet? - no better man!
Any ITMs who were spending Paddy's Day far from the old sod might like to view this sentimental little film clip which demonstrates the finer qualities of the Irish (- have your tissues handy): http://www.dailyhaha.com/_vids/IrishRoots.htm
Had a hooley in the house - session until 3 a.m., with a mix of Scottish & Irish tunes - but not enough people who knew the sets to have a dance. Good craic though - apart from the small, but extremely loud djembe which someone had smuggled in. We'll frisk our guests on the way in to avoid a repetition of that at any future parties we have in the house - that, I can assure you of...
This was our third year playing in a raucus bar/grill and we just heard from our whistler/dummer what I think is the best compliment we got: "(he) as he left we were the "Best family-style Irish music" he had heard in many a year". Family-style - it doesn't *just* mean that everybody in the bar sang Danny Boy with us -
Played a benefit the next day too, which was more acoustic/intimate, even tho it was in a large walled tent, and the two little girls dancing with their grandfathers was a highlight, as was the accordion player's small daughter with the world's biggest grin waving at her Dad.
Hi Dick, is that the sound of a machine gun you've written down? I'll tell you, that feckin drum was as loud as one! I have to give the fellow his due however, his rhythm was actually pretty good - just way too loud. His hide was about as thick as his drum skin's though - despite all the eye-contact between myself and the fiddle-players, not to mention the more discerning guests at the party who could see that there was a problem - this fellow continued on relentlessly. Remember the Duracell Bunny? Well, this man had Duracells in.
Friday I had to work late, but showed up for an Irish "festival" that someone that runs one of the local sessions puts on. No chances to sit in there, but some good performances, and a huge crowd of all ages, including what seemed like hundreds of kids tearing around. Got flirted at (I think, but then again I'm no expert and have a vivid imagination) by a couple of age-appropriate (how's that for P.C.?) gals. The guy doing the sound is an old friend of mine that I haven't seen in about 8 years, so we had a lovely chat. And ran into my favorite local piano player (actually, she was my replacement when my SO fired me from the folk band, but hey, there's no shame in being replaced by someone better than you, now, is there?). Also got to chat with one of the young, really good players around here and found out about "session politics". Geez, about a year ago I finally found out about session etiquette (probably from here), and now I have to learn about politics, too?
Saturday night, I was going to play in the pick-up band for a contra-dance, but at the rehearsal 5 guitar and two piano players showed up, all clattering along with different rhythms and playing different chords (including a guy that played what he called "stress chords" - don't ask). So that seemed like a good time to call it a day.
All in all, a fine weekend of socializing, which is part of the reason that I started doing this to begin with. Next year, I'm looking for a gig.
Spent the night at the Irish Embassy in Beijing China..
Was cram packed with people from all different areas/races/sizes/level of alcohol content... in fact the place ran out of Red and white wine, but continued to pour the KIDDIE size pints till very late.
Headed out to a new bar called Browns run by Glen from Dublin... and ended up wearing big green Afro wigs and dancing on the bar.
The place had NO room in it, far too many people, but good craic all the same.
Next day was off to the very fancy Irish Ball.
"The place had NO room in it, far too many people, but good craic all the same." - amazing Padi, that description is now appropriate for any bar, worldwide on Paddy's Day - even in China!
Folks around here are getting a bit worried about the 'Avian Flu Virus', but this ITM Virus is much more virulent - methinks!
I played my first real gig with three other folks - it was the same contra I mentioned in the other thread.
It went well, with only a couple of glitches:
1) During one of the jig sets all four ensemble members decided to drop out at once. . . to the astonishment of the dancers.
2) NEVER attempt a whistle solo duing the waltz if you can;t properly hear the whistle through the monitors. I ended up squawking and screeching horrendously.
3) A flute player expends LOTS of water during a contradance. I had negelcted to bring drinks, so I had to hit the water fountain between sets.
wormdiet,
Good lesson learned there--wind players need lots of water in a dry room to keep their chops intact--this can especially be a problem in the winter, and if there is a fireplace present, watch out for dry mouth. And if you ever play at a nursing home, expect that, things are generally kept hot and dry!
I was asked to start up an "Irish" band last January from a local fraternal order. I've sat in occasionally on a local ITM session but it was all instrumentals, no singing. Went ahead an volunteered (FOOL) before I found out it was 4 sets long and we were NOT expected to be music wall paper. We were expected to perform.
Finding a guitar and bass player easily enough but had to do the friend of a friend thing to find a fiddle player (she was wonderful!).
Spent the first two weeks borrowing every "green beer" tune we could find.
Arranged them by the 5th and 6th week. (OOooo! my head!)
Found out I could actually sing. Where in the heck did that come from?
Practiced even though we 4 had packed schedules but made it through a dress rehersal by the weekend before.
Started the gig while families were finishing stew dinner. Little kids were playing "slip and slide" on the dance floor while I was singing "green beer" songs.
My voice started dying by the end of the second set (?!?!?). Bass player said I should try a shot of whiskey to clear the tobacco smoke. Ok so it worked, but as I staggered up to the stage I remembered I hadn't had anything to eat since lunch.
Things cleared up by the end of the third set and by the 4th we'd been asked back for next year and a guy wants to talk with us for playing his restaurant and becoming involved in a summer series.
Damn, my head hurt! Not a Guinness in the place to sooth my brain.
They gave me a pile of $20 bills and we were out of there by 12:15.
Would I do it again? I've got a play book by God! Bring 'er on!
Looking back at Paddy's Day!
Looking back at Paddy's Day!
Sorry, put this in the wrong - 'Looking Forward to Paddy's Day' section, at first.
OK. So what exciting stuff happened to you on Paddy's Day?
Can you remember?
If so, let's have some details?
As for me, well, looking back now, I must admit I had a memorable start to Paddy's Day in our regular Portrush Session:
Down side - me & my wickle fiddwel - sandwiched between 4 slabbery old Flutes!
Up side - one of the Fluters was none other than Slainte! {Fine bloke, Fine musician} plus the great playing of John Hughes & the deadly Dee Havlin
Watch out, Slainte's over here for two weeks & he's heading to a session near YOU!
Lunch time saw Slainte & meself catch an Open Air gig from The London Lasses, with Dee Havlin & the lassies belting it out, good style. Bumped into Kathleen Smyth (the one & only - Antrim Rose) at the gig too.
Slainte then caught the Bus for Fermanagh!
Hope you caught up with Jim McGrath & the team that night Kieran?
Early evenin' gig saw 3 of us do a spot at a crazy charity St P. concert where about 200 kids were taking it in turns to play, sing & danc in front of their families & friends.
Must be the loudest audience I've ever gigged before, but they were all having a whale of a time.
Mind you we did shut them up for a few minutes at least with some secret weapons:
The Hammered Dulcimer - stunned them cause, despite being a Co. Antrim instrument, nobody knows it here.
The Jews Harp - a reel with a real Harp & Bodhran accompanyment!
The Fife - couple of old Fife Marches at a Paddy's Day gig! - ah well, you can't start practicing too soon, cause that old Marching season soon comes around again, don't it! (Forgot my Lambeg though )
Lovely 4 hour session at night with Kathleen Smyth - two fiddles plus Guitar & Bodhran - just what the Doctor ordered!
Paddy's Day? - yip, I had a great time thanks!
# Posted on March 18th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
Our gigs went great, both were repeats from last year, and we have already been asked to keep the dates opened for them next year. Lots of fun. We did a couple of new things that went over well. My wife and I did a singing duet on the song "Briar and the Rose" that Niamh Parsons did (I think with Phil Callery) on one of the Loose Connections albums, which went over like gangbusters, we will have to do more of that in the future. And we did all the old Irish-American favorites, so beloved over here, but not always universally respected.
Only problem is that I am recovering from the flu, so to keep my playing skills intact, I did not dare to imbibe. So I will have to make up for lost time at the regular session on Sunday.
# Posted on March 18th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
Wurzel and I were in a biker's pub all evening. When those good salt of the earth had departed, as they usually do at about 9pm, a good regular session developed with about a dozen of us, going on well into the early hours. Apart from one guy at the bar wearing a Paddy's Day vest you wouldn't have really been able to distinguish it from other regular sessions at that pub.
Oh, and our best fiddle player turned up sans fiddle, just for the drink. We made sure a fiddle was provided so that he wasn't able to escape
# Posted on March 18th 2006 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
I led my first session yesterday and it went amazingly well. I had some great players with me but none that could really put sets together on the fly. It was a nice confidence builder to do it on St Pat’s day. We actually had an attentive albeit drunk audience who seemed to really appreciate the music. And, I finally have enough tunes under the belt that we only repeated (and it wasn’t on my account) about 5 tunes in the three-hour session. I’m leading another session today, I can only hope it goes as well.
# Posted on March 18th 2006 by iampeterfonda
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
We had a brilliant day! Long to be sure, but brilliant none-the-less. The highlight for me was at the first gig of the day, a morning performance at an adult day care center. I had the great honor of sharing the microphone with a young woman with Down syndrome for a heart wrenching rendition of Danny Boy (I know, I know, it was the only melody she knew well enough to try to sing). I now cherish a very sweet memory of this much maligned song. Thank you so much Debbie!
The afternoon program with the local story teller was also great. It was so nice to hear the local stories, stories I remember from my youth and the music seemed to put the proverbial frosting on the cake. It seems we will be doing more with this story teller going forward. I do love the stories.
The night time tavern gig was very well received especially considering the vast majority of the tavern’s clientele are gentry (it’s the area, what can I tell you). We got them to lose a bit of their stuffiness and party. But the highlight for sure was discovering that one of the patrons, a lovely young woman, was a singer with one of the sweetest voices I’ve heard. She gave us a few songs through out the evening. At the end we found out that she has only been singing Irish songs since January this year and last night, albeit unplanned, turned out to be her public debut. I for one am looking forward to hearing more of her singing in the days ahead.
All in all a great day, spent honoring a great Saint, with cherished friends whilst playing great music. I am truly blessed with many bounties!
Peace,
Ed
# Posted on March 18th 2006 by ejsant
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
I didn't get paid but I haven't played music out in six months so just playing in a session delighted me. Any session would have done, yet this one was extremely pleasant by any measure. Friendly people. Good tunes. A wonderful re-introduction.
# Posted on March 18th 2006 by suky
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
Is it over yet ?
Judging by the banners on some of the pubs round here the Day is the whole weekend.
Played one pub session with the rowdy lawer and his mates ( due some money for that ) then on to the St P's Day session at our regular session pub, Grumpy landlord only wanted 5 or 6 musicians - just as well in one way, as that was all I could get - but the bar was heaving, took some time even to get seats for the musos, Hairy Peter sat on the piano stool behind the upright with his tin sandwich ( harmonica to you ) while the rest of us huddled in a little circle in front of it trying to hear each other, as the noise level didn't drop when the landlord took off the "Irish Favourite Singalong" cd to let us have our go. Still, we gave it our best try, and it was much appreciated; Charly on her second fiddle; me on 'zouk, bodrhan,and concertina, SO on flute, whistle, and spoons, Keith on amplified harp, and, the star turn of the evening, Mark on hurdy-gurdy and lowland pipes. Where are the crowds of people the rest of the year, I want to know ?
Oh, and a late appearance by Pork Pie, in his hat. See, I rob shoulders with the famous !
Rumour has it there's another session tonight, up the road, plus the local folk-club tomorrow.
Time for a rest, and a change of strings.
# Posted on March 18th 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
I lived through it. It was miserable and wonderful a the same time. Lots of messed up and overwhelming stuff going on right now, so the two gigs I played took a lot of focus and energy and effort. They were my first paid gigs, ever, which will always be one of those weird ironic things in life that will make a great story later. I had some great tunes and craic, so I was glad I did it in spite of all hell breaking loose elsewhere.
# Posted on March 18th 2006 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
Many thanks to Mr. Ptarmigan. I had a fantastic night in Enniskillen. The pub was packed and I couldn't talk to all the musicians very much, but it was one of the most memorable sessions I've ever attended. Fast and furious old-fashioned music with old musicians. And I was chatting with a very pretty young girl who plays whistle for half an hour. Gals have killer accents here!
My session trail hasn't finished yet. I'm back in Belfast now and will go to a session somewhere tonight. Then I'll be in Edinburgh tomorrow.
# Posted on March 18th 2006 by slainte
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
P-Day gigs for us started last Saturday and don't end until late tonight, but none of them are in pubs. On P-Day itself we only did one gig and that was for a lunchtime office party. The highlight was when the dancers from the Kennelly School did their bit. The thing was held in this very nice courtyard in the middle of the office complex. The girls who danced were dressed all in black as opposed to those dresses that look as though someone ate the book of Kells and threw up all over them. And they weren't wearing the JonBenet Ramsey curly wigs either. Very nice.
Today were playing at the Dublin Saint Patrick's Day Festival, (Dublin CA that is,) on an indoor stage. Last year we were on an outdoor stage and the wind was whipping the banners around on the stage so much it felt like we were doing a gig on a tall ship in a hurricane. The way our luck works, this year we'll be inside playing for the soundman and everyone else will be outside enjoying the balmy weather. We have a knack for the Murphy's Law thing it seems.
Then it's off to do a private party at someone's mansion on Lake Merritt. These folks are great, and love the trad music. They also have their party well catered -- yum. The best part (we do it every year) is when it winds down towards the end and we play tunes in their living room while they lounge around chatting quietly and sipping on Irish coffee.
Aside from those sort of gigs, I stay far away from the pubs I would normally play in because they have a big influx of yahoos who think Irish culture is getting p*ssed out of your head and talking really loud and laughing as loud as you possibly can. I also refuse to do the gigs we used to do in pubs where they don't normally have trad music. You end up playing for drunks who have suddenly become experts about traditional Irish music. They'll criticize you for things like not having a bodhran like the real Irish bands have, and for not singing The Wild Rover and Danny Boy. They expect you to take them seriously, but they're teetering in front of you with a plastic green derby on their head and a green shamrock covered tie and sipping on green beer.
Anyway… happy post-Paddy’s Day everyone.
# Posted on March 18th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
Slainte, thanks for the visit. I'm glad you had a great time in Fermanagh. I hope the rest of your trip is up to that standard.
"And I was chatting with a very pretty young girl who plays whistle for half an hour." - Slainte, sounds like you might be back here sooner than you expected to be?
To see a few photos of Slainte's visit, check out this page:
http://www.causewaymusic.co.uk/news.html
# Posted on March 18th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
Twas an interesting day
Come one tried to teach me a song from Mayo
Picked up a new fiddler for our session ( Its fun sidling up to people and going - "you looking for a session......"
Became a radio star , sining in radio Sheffield ( now I wonder how many people actually listen)
Found the only almost empty pub with Irish Entertainment.
then went to Chesterfield for a gig where we were almost drowned out and had to shout rather than sing the songs bu the lads were playing well.
Came back to stay at the flat in the Irish Centre and the celtic supporters club kept singing all night.
And after 2 hours sleep made it to my Jazz class in the morning
J
# Posted on March 18th 2006 by jfother
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
Last year on St. Patricks Day, I went around to a few local spots to volunteer some fiddling--indoor busking, really. This year I actually arranged in advance to appear at two of them, and lined up a guitar player to help with the second one.
My short show-and-tell presentation in the childrens' section of the local library was enjoyed by maybe a dozen mothers and their children--mostly in the 3 to 6 year old bracket. I had to close my eyes sometimes, because their dancing would crack me up!
The 2-hour gig at a local bar was, to be honest, less enjoyable. We had to crank up the PA volume to almost-feedback and turn every tune into "Celtic rock" just to be heard--well, by the few who were actually listening rather than jabbering away. (No great stretch for the guitarist, who has a good ear for chord changes but no great passion for Irish music.) A lot of people wore blinking green shamrock pins and such, but very few seemed interested in Irish music.
No more "Celti-crock" for me. I'm looking forward to the usual sessions, where we just play for ourselves, because we actually like the stuff.
# Posted on March 18th 2006 by John Galt
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
A fiddler friend of mine played our very first gig as a duo (having been part of sessions and/or performances with a larger group) at a St. Patrick's Day reception being thrown by this ritzy dinner club located 36 floors off the ground. We got there to set up our sound system around 4 p.m., and the view was crystal clear and incredible, to say the least. You could say, in fact, I'd never been so "high" for a gig in my life.
We were scheduled to start, technically, at 5:30, but after having hooked up the sound system -- and discovering that the speakers were picking up a radio broadcast, which necessitated some fiddling with the dials and other measures -- we sat down around 5:10 to tune up and go through a couple of sets to iron out a few kinks. We figured, "Hey, might as well just start."
I'd steeled myself for the possibility of having to fend off the "Danny Boy" requests, but only one person actually came up to ask for a song. He asked if we knew "The Soldier's Song." I replied that I had used to know it back as a kid (listening to a lot of Clancy Brothers) but hadn't sung it in years.
"Oh," he said. "Well, could you sing it in English, then?"
I had to gently explain I couldn't manage the song in Irish _or_ English. He seemed a little disappointed but was quite nice.
Basically, it all went very quickly. We took a break after about an hour for dinner, when we were briefly spelled by a bagpipe band; the maitre'd led us to a private conference room where the view was equally lovely. But I was rather chagrined to find out that the club had a no-booze-for-performers rule.
At the end, after we'd packed everything up and were heading for the door, a 50ish woman stepped to us and said how much she had enjoyed our playing, and that one of the reasons she'd come to the reception was she heard there was going to be live Irish music. My friend and I agreed later that, while it had been nice not to have put up with a lot of hub-bub, we wondered if anyone had actually listened -- so it was quite gratifying to get this lady's compliment!
Anyway, my friend dropped me off at home, and I treated myself to my delayed liquid reward.
# Posted on March 18th 2006 by sts
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
I had me back tinkered with by a local orthopod a few years back. One of the reasons I allowed it was the doc is from Cork, and was the head back doc at Stanford University Hospital before moving to where I live. It turns out that this orthopedic clinic has had a St. Pat's party for 29 years. But the story of how it evolved is great. When the four or five docs in this clinic wanted (29 years ago) to have an office Christmas party and exclude the wives, they were foiled. So they tried again at New Years: foiled again. Sooooo, they thought Valentines Day. No way! Well, the next one up would be St. Patrick's Day, and they relented and included the spouses. One of them had somehow kept the family Christmas tree, and so it became a tradition to bring the poor tree, still somewhat decorated, and since the clinic is across the street from the local hospital, the entire medical community is invited, along with the wives of course. My operation having been successful, I conned a few of my music friends into playing for them. Great setup: we play behind the reception counter which is stacked with food, and the keg of local micro brew is quite handy. Things do get a bit loud, but its a grand crowd, and they truly appreciate the music. The highlight though, is when one of the nurses climbs up on the counter and belts out the most raunchy songs imaginable. The title of this year's ballad was "If I had a penis". I knew the medicos could be naughty, but.......
# Posted on March 18th 2006 by jtrout
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
"those dresses that look as though someone ate the book of Kells and threw up all over them."
I'm gonna use that at the next opportunity.
# Posted on March 18th 2006 by Bob himself
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
No Irish music for me this year. I was playing Scottish pipe tunes on flute and whistle, doing the links for 3 short plays by NE of Scotland author Davd Toulmin in a theatre in Fraserburgh. Some very dark humour in that man's writing, but very funny in places.
Did listen to one of "Ptarmigan's" tapes on the drive home, though.
# Posted on March 19th 2006 by Kenny
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
Paddy's Day in 'The Broch' eh Kenny? Aye, that's different OK. Sounds like an interesting gig though. After all, unless you are very, very lucky, the last place an ITM wants to be on Paddy's night really, is in a pub!
The perfect cure for insomniacs - my tapes!
Speaking of Tapes Kenny, ain't it about time you brought out a tape yourself. e.g. Scottish Pipe Tunes on Flute & Whistle - has that been done yet? - no better man!
# Posted on March 19th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
Any ITMs who were spending Paddy's Day far from the old sod might like to view this sentimental little film clip which demonstrates the finer qualities of the Irish (- have your tissues handy):
http://www.dailyhaha.com/_vids/IrishRoots.htm
# Posted on March 19th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
Seen on a tombstone in Ireland:
Beneath this auld sod lies another one.
# Posted on March 19th 2006 by murfbox
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
'tombstone' - I think perhaps you have been watching too many of those Spaghetti Westerns out there in Spain murfbox!
http://members.lycos.nl/catchytune/rawhide.mid
# Posted on March 19th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
Had a hooley in the house - session until 3 a.m., with a mix of Scottish & Irish tunes - but not enough people who knew the sets to have a dance. Good craic though - apart from the small, but extremely loud djembe which someone had smuggled in. We'll frisk our guests on the way in to avoid a repetition of that at any future parties we have in the house - that, I can assure you of...
# Posted on March 19th 2006 by On Sabbatical
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
Och, don't be like that Ron! In fact, why not practice up some Djembe rhythms so that you can all join in with him next year?
“Here is a rhythm for Djembe” - “Feel free to express yourself”:
http://www.drummingweb.com/practicetipsarch13.htm
# Posted on March 19th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
All together now:
(gun) do - do gun - - - gun - - - gun - - - gun - - do gun - - - gun - - - gun - - -
# Posted on March 19th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
This was our third year playing in a raucus bar/grill and we just heard from our whistler/dummer what I think is the best compliment we got: "(he) as he left we were the "Best family-style Irish music" he had heard in many a year". Family-style - it doesn't *just* mean that everybody in the bar sang Danny Boy with us -
Played a benefit the next day too, which was more acoustic/intimate, even tho it was in a large walled tent, and the two little girls dancing with their grandfathers was a highlight, as was the accordion player's small daughter with the world's biggest grin waving at her Dad.
The music was primo, too.
cj
# Posted on March 19th 2006 by cj
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
Hi Dick, is that the sound of a machine gun you've written down? I'll tell you, that feckin drum was as loud as one! I have to give the fellow his due however, his rhythm was actually pretty good - just way too loud. His hide was about as thick as his drum skin's though - despite all the eye-contact between myself and the fiddle-players, not to mention the more discerning guests at the party who could see that there was a problem - this fellow continued on relentlessly. Remember the Duracell Bunny? Well, this man had Duracells in.
# Posted on March 19th 2006 by On Sabbatical
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
Friday I had to work late, but showed up for an Irish "festival" that someone that runs one of the local sessions puts on. No chances to sit in there, but some good performances, and a huge crowd of all ages, including what seemed like hundreds of kids tearing around. Got flirted at (I think, but then again I'm no expert and have a vivid imagination) by a couple of age-appropriate (how's that for P.C.?) gals. The guy doing the sound is an old friend of mine that I haven't seen in about 8 years, so we had a lovely chat. And ran into my favorite local piano player (actually, she was my replacement when my SO fired me from the folk band, but hey, there's no shame in being replaced by someone better than you, now, is there?). Also got to chat with one of the young, really good players around here and found out about "session politics". Geez, about a year ago I finally found out about session etiquette (probably from here), and now I have to learn about politics, too?
Saturday night, I was going to play in the pick-up band for a contra-dance, but at the rehearsal 5 guitar and two piano players showed up, all clattering along with different rhythms and playing different chords (including a guy that played what he called "stress chords" - don't ask). So that seemed like a good time to call it a day.
All in all, a fine weekend of socializing, which is part of the reason that I started doing this to begin with. Next year, I'm looking for a gig.
# Posted on March 20th 2006 by tomw
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
Spent the night at the Irish Embassy in Beijing China..
Was cram packed with people from all different areas/races/sizes/level of alcohol content... in fact the place ran out of Red and white wine, but continued to pour the KIDDIE size pints till very late.
Headed out to a new bar called Browns run by Glen from Dublin... and ended up wearing big green Afro wigs and dancing on the bar.
The place had NO room in it, far too many people, but good craic all the same.
Next day was off to the very fancy Irish Ball.
# Posted on March 20th 2006 by Padi Fields
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
"The place had NO room in it, far too many people, but good craic all the same." - amazing Padi, that description is now appropriate for any bar, worldwide on Paddy's Day - even in China!
Folks around here are getting a bit worried about the 'Avian Flu Virus', but this ITM Virus is much more virulent - methinks!
# Posted on March 20th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
Porter House off Grafton Street - 2 Till 7.
Cheap pints.
Cobblestones 7 - close.
Cheap pints.
I'm still feeling it.
# Posted on March 20th 2006 by Hugo Chavez
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
Ah..Goosey. Was that you singing "Paddy Works on the Railway" ?
I was moved to tears.
# Posted on March 20th 2006 by diamondo
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
"When the Tsar Of Russia and the king of Prussia landed in the Phoenix in the big........................"
Say no more
# Posted on March 20th 2006 by Hugo Chavez
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
Ya BIG BALLOOWEN YA!
# Posted on March 20th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
I played my first real gig with three other folks - it was the same contra I mentioned in the other thread.
It went well, with only a couple of glitches:
1) During one of the jig sets all four ensemble members decided to drop out at once. . . to the astonishment of the dancers.
2) NEVER attempt a whistle solo duing the waltz if you can;t properly hear the whistle through the monitors. I ended up squawking and screeching horrendously.
3) A flute player expends LOTS of water during a contradance. I had negelcted to bring drinks, so I had to hit the water fountain between sets.
It was a lot of fun though.
# Posted on March 20th 2006 by wormdiet
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
wormdiet,
Good lesson learned there--wind players need lots of water in a dry room to keep their chops intact--this can especially be a problem in the winter, and if there is a fireplace present, watch out for dry mouth. And if you ever play at a nursing home, expect that, things are generally kept hot and dry!
# Posted on March 20th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: Looking back at Paddy's Day!
I'll try desperately to keep this short.
I was asked to start up an "Irish" band last January from a local fraternal order. I've sat in occasionally on a local ITM session but it was all instrumentals, no singing. Went ahead an volunteered (FOOL) before I found out it was 4 sets long and we were NOT expected to be music wall paper. We were expected to perform.
Finding a guitar and bass player easily enough but had to do the friend of a friend thing to find a fiddle player (she was wonderful!).
Spent the first two weeks borrowing every "green beer" tune we could find.
Arranged them by the 5th and 6th week. (OOooo! my head!)
Found out I could actually sing. Where in the heck did that come from?
Practiced even though we 4 had packed schedules but made it through a dress rehersal by the weekend before.
Started the gig while families were finishing stew dinner. Little kids were playing "slip and slide" on the dance floor while I was singing "green beer" songs.
My voice started dying by the end of the second set (?!?!?). Bass player said I should try a shot of whiskey to clear the tobacco smoke. Ok so it worked, but as I staggered up to the stage I remembered I hadn't had anything to eat since lunch.
Things cleared up by the end of the third set and by the 4th we'd been asked back for next year and a guy wants to talk with us for playing his restaurant and becoming involved in a summer series.
Damn, my head hurt! Not a Guinness in the place to sooth my brain.
They gave me a pile of $20 bills and we were out of there by 12:15.
Would I do it again? I've got a play book by God! Bring 'er on!
# Posted on March 26th 2006 by jrathbun