Just havin' fun!
16/05/12 15:21
The
"Green"... or - St Stephen's Green...
where we journey, most joyfully - every Tuesday
night... is just plain awesome. The band (me, and
the "Boys of County O'Cean") meets up there after
work... before we have to play, and grab a bite to
eat... and let me tell you... the food there - is
absolutely fantastic. So, we always tend to sit
together... and as is - routine... Frank and Rich...
always come wandering in a bit late, and somewhat
-harried - from their drive down from North Jersey -
in the horrid - rush hour traffic.
But we have a nice dinner, and get to talk, and eat... and laugh... sharing stories and new tunes, sets, or song ideas... And, so when we're satiated for the most part... we start setting up the equipment - to play for the night.
The music starts at 7 pm... and one of us will maybe... noodle a tune segment... just a teaser... so everyone kinda catches it... Or... more often than not... I'll suggest "Hey! Let's play that slip jig... you know the one... in G... then we'll go into that Scottishy tune in what... is it A dorian?... and then we can roll into... ummmmmm that third tune... you know it... that reel... I think it's in D".... ohhhhh
Poor Bob... He just nods... But he always gets it! It amazes me sometimes!
I love how everyone just naturally falls in on tunes... I've posted an MP3 that I recorded one night... live... And here's how it all comes around:
I start the set up with my fiddle... the guitar comes in almost right at the gate - low and rhythmic... The energy builds fast - and when there's a "Woo!" hollered out from the crowd... it drives me on harder...
Frank joins in, testing the rapid, reeling waters lightly with his flute. My heel is keeping me on time... and Bob, Frank & I hold onto the tune... till it comes around again, and IN comes Rich... his banjo ringing out, plunky and bright... Lyn, holds her heartbeat bodhran pace... keeping the time (too fast, yeah, I know... if it was really heart beat... we'd all be dead!) haha... Then Phil - after hastily strapping on his octopus like - set of Uilleann pipes... and he adds power to the 'Pigeon'...
I "HUP" - and we all shift into the next tune... Bob... taking his already low and growly guitar... into what I teasingly call his "Diesel mode" and he sets the weight and power - for Fermoy Lasses... and on we roll... full tilt!
So, here's me and Boys... playin one of my favorite Reel sets... "Pigeon on a Gate - into - Fermoy Lasses" I started this set up... a wee tiny bit too fast - on the fiddle... but everyone hung in...
Right now... just listening to this, it just makes me smile! How many times do I say it? Just one more time... I love these guys!
Pigeon Set
Read More...
But we have a nice dinner, and get to talk, and eat... and laugh... sharing stories and new tunes, sets, or song ideas... And, so when we're satiated for the most part... we start setting up the equipment - to play for the night.
The music starts at 7 pm... and one of us will maybe... noodle a tune segment... just a teaser... so everyone kinda catches it... Or... more often than not... I'll suggest "Hey! Let's play that slip jig... you know the one... in G... then we'll go into that Scottishy tune in what... is it A dorian?... and then we can roll into... ummmmmm that third tune... you know it... that reel... I think it's in D".... ohhhhh
Poor Bob... He just nods... But he always gets it! It amazes me sometimes!
I love how everyone just naturally falls in on tunes... I've posted an MP3 that I recorded one night... live... And here's how it all comes around:
I start the set up with my fiddle... the guitar comes in almost right at the gate - low and rhythmic... The energy builds fast - and when there's a "Woo!" hollered out from the crowd... it drives me on harder...
Frank joins in, testing the rapid, reeling waters lightly with his flute. My heel is keeping me on time... and Bob, Frank & I hold onto the tune... till it comes around again, and IN comes Rich... his banjo ringing out, plunky and bright... Lyn, holds her heartbeat bodhran pace... keeping the time (too fast, yeah, I know... if it was really heart beat... we'd all be dead!) haha... Then Phil - after hastily strapping on his octopus like - set of Uilleann pipes... and he adds power to the 'Pigeon'...
I "HUP" - and we all shift into the next tune... Bob... taking his already low and growly guitar... into what I teasingly call his "Diesel mode" and he sets the weight and power - for Fermoy Lasses... and on we roll... full tilt!
So, here's me and Boys... playin one of my favorite Reel sets... "Pigeon on a Gate - into - Fermoy Lasses" I started this set up... a wee tiny bit too fast - on the fiddle... but everyone hung in...
Right now... just listening to this, it just makes me smile! How many times do I say it? Just one more time... I love these guys!
Pigeon Set
Read More...
|
St. Stephen's Green - ranked #24 in the BEST Irish Pubs in the USA!
28/03/12 10:48
I can say,
feeling most honored - that we've played for 6 years
now at St. Stephen's Green -starting on the VERY -
FIRST night they opened... and every single Tuesday
evening since...
starting on St. Paddy's day 2007... We've had the privilege to play our music there, only barring ONE evening... due to ice & snow... But other than that, we've been there - no fail, bringing music and song to the lovely and lively patrons of the Green!
St. Stephen's, it's owners and staff - I've always felt - have treated us wonderfully... like we're a part of the family...
Every week, there's always new folks wandering in... to discover the best Irish pub on the Jersey Shore... but it's always a joy to see our wonderful regulars too!
St. Stephen's has a great atmosphere of friendly, happy, wonderful folks who come out to enjoy the awesome food, inviting atmosphere and of course... our lively, toe tapping music and songs by "The Boys of County O'Cean"... aka "The Seisiun" - Tues: 7 to 10 pm
We have a solid following of wonderful fans at the Green...
and have actually become friends with so many of the wonderful patrons that come in each week... Several of my fiddle students come in and listen, or share a few tunes with the band... practicing their well learned skills... and joining in the fun...
We often have some wonderful talents come in & play, Above is our beloved - John Connaghan... fiddler, luthier & sweet heart!
Here's Sean, who comes to play each October - from Waterford Ireland, and so many other, various musicians traveling through the area, who stop in to play some tunes with us... Some local folks come share an occasional song with us... & make everyone smile! (Everyone loves Jim Kelly's songs!)
So... where am I going here? Well.. the point of this whole blog... lol... yeah, I'm finally getting around to it... is that although it was a huge thrill and honor - to discover - that our beloved "Green" was just named #24th... in the list of the TOP 50 Irish Pubs in the UNITED STATES... it really - wasn''t a huge surprise! How could St. Stephen's - not be one of the top 50?!? The Green is just - a great place! Check out the link... read it for yourself... or better yet... come on in and experience it! And make sure you come up and say Hi!
So... See ya at the Green!
Read More...
starting on St. Paddy's day 2007... We've had the privilege to play our music there, only barring ONE evening... due to ice & snow... But other than that, we've been there - no fail, bringing music and song to the lovely and lively patrons of the Green!
St. Stephen's, it's owners and staff - I've always felt - have treated us wonderfully... like we're a part of the family...
Every week, there's always new folks wandering in... to discover the best Irish pub on the Jersey Shore... but it's always a joy to see our wonderful regulars too!
St. Stephen's has a great atmosphere of friendly, happy, wonderful folks who come out to enjoy the awesome food, inviting atmosphere and of course... our lively, toe tapping music and songs by "The Boys of County O'Cean"... aka "The Seisiun" - Tues: 7 to 10 pm
We have a solid following of wonderful fans at the Green...
and have actually become friends with so many of the wonderful patrons that come in each week... Several of my fiddle students come in and listen, or share a few tunes with the band... practicing their well learned skills... and joining in the fun...
We often have some wonderful talents come in & play, Above is our beloved - John Connaghan... fiddler, luthier & sweet heart!
Here's Sean, who comes to play each October - from Waterford Ireland, and so many other, various musicians traveling through the area, who stop in to play some tunes with us... Some local folks come share an occasional song with us... & make everyone smile! (Everyone loves Jim Kelly's songs!)
So... where am I going here? Well.. the point of this whole blog... lol... yeah, I'm finally getting around to it... is that although it was a huge thrill and honor - to discover - that our beloved "Green" was just named #24th... in the list of the TOP 50 Irish Pubs in the UNITED STATES... it really - wasn''t a huge surprise! How could St. Stephen's - not be one of the top 50?!? The Green is just - a great place! Check out the link... read it for yourself... or better yet... come on in and experience it! And make sure you come up and say Hi!
So... See ya at the Green!
Read More...
In the "High Holy Season" of St Paddy's... and fiddling it away!
16/03/12 12:35
We're
rollin' into full swing for the next week or two... yet
it's always amazing - how much fun we have together...
gigging.
I always count myself - so incredibly fortunate to have gigs come in... without much stress... and in thus doing - have the pleasure to meet - not only some of the nicest folks along the way, but some of the most fun loving, cheerful people! All this, in the scheme of being given the gift of playing music - with such great friends & musicians!
Seems like too - this time of year - folks get inspired - to want to play music - and my fiddle students have been flourishing so beautifully... and I'm so incredibly proud of ALL of them!
They never fail - to make me smile... or laugh.
Yesterday... i was trying to explain - every way from Sunday - the timing of a particular embellishment I was trying to teach... and I finally said... Ok... If I were to sing it.. it would sound like this: "Ba -dul -e da" (say THAT fast - and you get a replication of what that particular embellishment sounds like on the fiddle) Anyway... after I said it... I was asked if that was Italian... and what exactly - did it mean?... Well... after a brief - deer in the headlights moment... I had to just laugh... as it's only what the embellishment sounds like - to me... we all ended up laughing over it.... And actually... my student - she was then easily able to grasp what i meant... hah... Oh! I love my students!
Well... Anyway.... Happy St Paddy's to all! Enjoy! Be safe! Maybe we'll see ya out there!!!!!!
Read More...
I always count myself - so incredibly fortunate to have gigs come in... without much stress... and in thus doing - have the pleasure to meet - not only some of the nicest folks along the way, but some of the most fun loving, cheerful people! All this, in the scheme of being given the gift of playing music - with such great friends & musicians!
Seems like too - this time of year - folks get inspired - to want to play music - and my fiddle students have been flourishing so beautifully... and I'm so incredibly proud of ALL of them!
They never fail - to make me smile... or laugh.
Yesterday... i was trying to explain - every way from Sunday - the timing of a particular embellishment I was trying to teach... and I finally said... Ok... If I were to sing it.. it would sound like this: "Ba -dul -e da" (say THAT fast - and you get a replication of what that particular embellishment sounds like on the fiddle) Anyway... after I said it... I was asked if that was Italian... and what exactly - did it mean?... Well... after a brief - deer in the headlights moment... I had to just laugh... as it's only what the embellishment sounds like - to me... we all ended up laughing over it.... And actually... my student - she was then easily able to grasp what i meant... hah... Oh! I love my students!
Well... Anyway.... Happy St Paddy's to all! Enjoy! Be safe! Maybe we'll see ya out there!!!!!!
Read More...
On... wishes to become a hermit...
27/01/12 17:42
As much as
I love the dark, inclusive days – and more so,
the long dark nights - of Winter... not just because
they lay far from the hot tasks of summer… but
because I'm a New England girl at heart... and love the
snow... But there are times when the dreariness of
Winter, when it's just -rain- rain- and more rain...
becomes just a bit too daunting.
Now… if it were snowing outside instead… covering the weary world in pure, clean, white frosting… glistening the way a new day does, when you wake to find it - freshly blanketed in white…
hum…yes, then maybe if there were snow - this dismal funk wouldn't be so bad… and it would be much easier to content myself with being indoors… But instead - the grey, mundane rain we've had - as of late - has been bleakly - dragging me down… Waking in the dark morning... to streaking tears of rain streaming down the window glass, and the new day's sky... bloated, grey, heavy and dark... ugh... the rain just never seems to end.
So... I climb the stairs to the studio… my quiet haven…
streaching up towards my wonderful retreat... away from the rest of the world… where I can just ‘be’… in no other company but the tops of the mulberry trees outside the window, the steeples from the local churches… and oh yes, “Kalija” - my 6’ wooden, cigar store Indian… but he never really has very much to say...
The stove blazes up fast… thankfully, because there’s no other heat source up here… and it’s a welcome warmth - which chases off the rawness of the day.
So it’s here I can think… write, focus… and learn. Where I can turn the odd crystal of my life - around and around, and examine all the angles, fractures, sides and prisms… I always notice - the refractive, casted colors… that only gleam - to shine forth – when bathed in only certain light… but then… suddenly gone, dark and vacant – in the lights from other sources…
It's interesting how within the fractures - where the crystal has been broken through trials of times - now has many, irredescent glimmers that hold magnificent colors and hues... and that wouldn't ever exist - had there not been the fractures at all... but again - thats only seen - only revealed - under a certain light.
And so... it's here - (obviously)... where my mind rambles about... where no one bothers me… and I absolutely revel - in the solitude… where it's just me - and the wind in the trees. It’s a place that makes me feel better – oddly… when the world’s been particularly horrid… Where I can light my candles, and incense… and hide for awhile… I always thought I’d probably make a good hermit… as long as I could go out for sushi, or a music session - once in a while…
I love playing fiddle up here… tilting back in my chair… bare feet up on my desk… (anyone who knows me even remotely... knows I can't play fiddle - with shoes on) But i love rambling through fiddle tunes... and picking up new ones - with no other demands on me - other than listening… and replicating what I hear... and commiting them to memory.
I like to paint on the walls up here too… my latest endeavor was a pine tree I painted behind the wood stove…
I found a young cedar tree outside… cut it down, sliced the trunk - in half, nailed both halvs to the wall - and made the branches grow from it…(with a brushes & paint). The tree though, ended up growing out - over the door, but I like it... so I went with it...
On the opposite wall is a prior project I tackled a while back...
A pear tree… which was my first tree... I had never tried to paint before...
Though... coming from a line of artists... (my mom who does magnificent work in oils... my aunt, in charcoals, pastels, oils... and my grandmother who could paint in any medium she chose... in addition to being a magnificent sculptor) so I guess... it was in me all along... but just came out on the walls... (why try to be normal at this point?)
I painted a huge willow tree on my studio wall… but decided - half way through, that I wanted instead a 4’ wide… full Moon there... That will be my next undertaking… maybe when it snows... I'll post pics...
So I'm just loving my sanctuary... my studio. No phone… no TV… just the recording equipment, iMac… a few fiddles, a few 12 string guitars… dulcimers, and a herd of assorted drums… (most of which are used as coffee tables)... weird perhaps, but it works for me.
Read More...
Now… if it were snowing outside instead… covering the weary world in pure, clean, white frosting… glistening the way a new day does, when you wake to find it - freshly blanketed in white…
hum…yes, then maybe if there were snow - this dismal funk wouldn't be so bad… and it would be much easier to content myself with being indoors… But instead - the grey, mundane rain we've had - as of late - has been bleakly - dragging me down… Waking in the dark morning... to streaking tears of rain streaming down the window glass, and the new day's sky... bloated, grey, heavy and dark... ugh... the rain just never seems to end.
So... I climb the stairs to the studio… my quiet haven…
streaching up towards my wonderful retreat... away from the rest of the world… where I can just ‘be’… in no other company but the tops of the mulberry trees outside the window, the steeples from the local churches… and oh yes, “Kalija” - my 6’ wooden, cigar store Indian… but he never really has very much to say...
The stove blazes up fast… thankfully, because there’s no other heat source up here… and it’s a welcome warmth - which chases off the rawness of the day.
So it’s here I can think… write, focus… and learn. Where I can turn the odd crystal of my life - around and around, and examine all the angles, fractures, sides and prisms… I always notice - the refractive, casted colors… that only gleam - to shine forth – when bathed in only certain light… but then… suddenly gone, dark and vacant – in the lights from other sources…
It's interesting how within the fractures - where the crystal has been broken through trials of times - now has many, irredescent glimmers that hold magnificent colors and hues... and that wouldn't ever exist - had there not been the fractures at all... but again - thats only seen - only revealed - under a certain light.
And so... it's here - (obviously)... where my mind rambles about... where no one bothers me… and I absolutely revel - in the solitude… where it's just me - and the wind in the trees. It’s a place that makes me feel better – oddly… when the world’s been particularly horrid… Where I can light my candles, and incense… and hide for awhile… I always thought I’d probably make a good hermit… as long as I could go out for sushi, or a music session - once in a while…
I love playing fiddle up here… tilting back in my chair… bare feet up on my desk… (anyone who knows me even remotely... knows I can't play fiddle - with shoes on) But i love rambling through fiddle tunes... and picking up new ones - with no other demands on me - other than listening… and replicating what I hear... and commiting them to memory.
I like to paint on the walls up here too… my latest endeavor was a pine tree I painted behind the wood stove…
I found a young cedar tree outside… cut it down, sliced the trunk - in half, nailed both halvs to the wall - and made the branches grow from it…(with a brushes & paint). The tree though, ended up growing out - over the door, but I like it... so I went with it...
On the opposite wall is a prior project I tackled a while back...
A pear tree… which was my first tree... I had never tried to paint before...
Though... coming from a line of artists... (my mom who does magnificent work in oils... my aunt, in charcoals, pastels, oils... and my grandmother who could paint in any medium she chose... in addition to being a magnificent sculptor) so I guess... it was in me all along... but just came out on the walls... (why try to be normal at this point?)
I painted a huge willow tree on my studio wall… but decided - half way through, that I wanted instead a 4’ wide… full Moon there... That will be my next undertaking… maybe when it snows... I'll post pics...
So I'm just loving my sanctuary... my studio. No phone… no TV… just the recording equipment, iMac… a few fiddles, a few 12 string guitars… dulcimers, and a herd of assorted drums… (most of which are used as coffee tables)... weird perhaps, but it works for me.
Read More...
While the "Boys" are away...
24/01/12 15:13
The entire
band… is leaving on a Celtic adventure…
leaving myself & Philip behind… to hold down
the fort... so to speak… without all the
“Boys”.
It’s times like these… that make me look close… at the band, their individual inputs and the treasured value each member holds to me - in “the Boys of County O’Cean”
We’ll be - without Bob… our steady rhythm guitar and octave mandolin… who’s always able to apparently land on his feet when he gets thrown under the bus, (and HEY… I only DO that - cause I like him!) haha… Bob can figure out any key quickly… and often gives me these big - raised eyebrow looks = (non-verbal questions, usually during a tune) that I somehow understand… but he never complains…
Without Lyn.. the percussive heart beat of the band - who remembers ALL the stuff I seem to forget, (including lyrics) always has a bag of musical toys for children who are near… (egg shakers are her specialty)… and who’s always on ‘the watch’... for without her - OOf!!! I can’t even imagine…
Without Rich… and his cheerful banjo tunes, his honest approach to music, his sideways and often wry humor… not to mention his songs that I often make him laugh -during… (what IS a ‘blunderbuss’ ANYWAY Rich?) and his ever watchful eye and sensing.
Without Frank… our sweet, whistling boy from County Lietrum… with his cute accent, his fine songs, whistle and flute playing, his great insights to Celtic traditions that always make us smile, his quick wit and humor… ah… our dear, unorganized Frank…
And Bob Schmidt... aka... "Brazil Bob"... who's wonderful, intricate, melodic mandolin playing, his fine songs and fiddling - fill in the band's music in a beautiful and complimentary way... and he knows we only tease him like we do - cause we like him so much!
And I know it’s not just when our dear ‘boys’ are going to be away - that I recognize their real value to us as a band… no. I am always cognizant of how incredibly fortunate we are. I see it, at each gig, each week… what a wonderful bond, blend & connection we have with each other. How we come in to support each other and blend to compliment the tunes…
It’s always humbling for me - to have the honor of playing music with such fine musicians… and have them as such wonderful friends. It’s so amazing that each one of us… play tunes – to make each other sound as best as we can... Not one of us tries to out play the others… or take over… or be louder, (except for Phil on the ‘louder’ part… but he can’t help it really… he plays the Uilleann pipes) But even with that kind of teasing…I know Phil has the same level of sensitivity.
So I’m excited to welcome Eileen McIntyre back to Session while the “Boys” are away. She plays a beautiful Celtic Harp… and we’ve had the pleasure to play a few weddings with her – and it’s always a joy to play tunes with Eileen!
We will also – I think… will have Eric Pedrotty coming by to sing and play Octive Mandolin and a bit of drum. Eric hails from the wonderful band - “The Bantry Boys” - and sometimes comes to sit in with us - on Tuesday nights… His powerful singing voice – and amazing command of his songs is breath taking… and he plays an aerobic octive mando - with amazing - energy.
So this session… should be REALLY interesting! Don’t miss it! Tuesday evening… January 31, 2012… St. Stephen’s Green Public House – 7 to 10 pm!
Read More...
It’s times like these… that make me look close… at the band, their individual inputs and the treasured value each member holds to me - in “the Boys of County O’Cean”
We’ll be - without Bob… our steady rhythm guitar and octave mandolin… who’s always able to apparently land on his feet when he gets thrown under the bus, (and HEY… I only DO that - cause I like him!) haha… Bob can figure out any key quickly… and often gives me these big - raised eyebrow looks = (non-verbal questions, usually during a tune) that I somehow understand… but he never complains…
Without Lyn.. the percussive heart beat of the band - who remembers ALL the stuff I seem to forget, (including lyrics) always has a bag of musical toys for children who are near… (egg shakers are her specialty)… and who’s always on ‘the watch’... for without her - OOf!!! I can’t even imagine…
Without Rich… and his cheerful banjo tunes, his honest approach to music, his sideways and often wry humor… not to mention his songs that I often make him laugh -during… (what IS a ‘blunderbuss’ ANYWAY Rich?) and his ever watchful eye and sensing.
Without Frank… our sweet, whistling boy from County Lietrum… with his cute accent, his fine songs, whistle and flute playing, his great insights to Celtic traditions that always make us smile, his quick wit and humor… ah… our dear, unorganized Frank…
And Bob Schmidt... aka... "Brazil Bob"... who's wonderful, intricate, melodic mandolin playing, his fine songs and fiddling - fill in the band's music in a beautiful and complimentary way... and he knows we only tease him like we do - cause we like him so much!
And I know it’s not just when our dear ‘boys’ are going to be away - that I recognize their real value to us as a band… no. I am always cognizant of how incredibly fortunate we are. I see it, at each gig, each week… what a wonderful bond, blend & connection we have with each other. How we come in to support each other and blend to compliment the tunes…
It’s always humbling for me - to have the honor of playing music with such fine musicians… and have them as such wonderful friends. It’s so amazing that each one of us… play tunes – to make each other sound as best as we can... Not one of us tries to out play the others… or take over… or be louder, (except for Phil on the ‘louder’ part… but he can’t help it really… he plays the Uilleann pipes) But even with that kind of teasing…I know Phil has the same level of sensitivity.
So I’m excited to welcome Eileen McIntyre back to Session while the “Boys” are away. She plays a beautiful Celtic Harp… and we’ve had the pleasure to play a few weddings with her – and it’s always a joy to play tunes with Eileen!
We will also – I think… will have Eric Pedrotty coming by to sing and play Octive Mandolin and a bit of drum. Eric hails from the wonderful band - “The Bantry Boys” - and sometimes comes to sit in with us - on Tuesday nights… His powerful singing voice – and amazing command of his songs is breath taking… and he plays an aerobic octive mando - with amazing - energy.
So this session… should be REALLY interesting! Don’t miss it! Tuesday evening… January 31, 2012… St. Stephen’s Green Public House – 7 to 10 pm!
Read More...