Journal, News, Guests by Jim Fitting
What I learned in Ireland...
I hope I never forget.
Because there was much there beyond any words I have. Something in the heart or spirit I had forgotten perhaps, or maybe misplaced. Yeah it all sounds very WGBH; but there was a genuineness in so much of the music we saw performed that reminded me of, or somehow I remembered. I remembered how much I like Rashaan Roland Kirk. Maybe it is the compassion in his music that matches the passion for it there, or maybe just a conversation we had in the van as we drove. I don't know. But that combination of raw beauty, rage and heartbreak when he plays three saxophones at once; in on breath playing "The Inflated Tear" and shouting "Help him! Help him!" at the end, it kills me...But I digress.
Ireland is beautiful.
The people are really nice there.
It doesn't rain all the time.
The surfing is good?
Liam Neeson's second cousin really does sound like Liam Neeson. (You should have heard it when Laura got him to say " Obi Wan, your Mom is kind of hot.")
Music is really important to people there. People listen. We walked into the session at McGrory's and there were people, people of all ages sitting around playing music. It was kind of shocking.
They hate the song "The Galway Girl" in Galway and in Wexford "Fisherman's Blues" doesn't have much of a following.
Gremlin is a banjo brand name there. (How appropriate is that?)
Actually Joe Henry, who is about 65 years old lent us his Gremlin; told us hilarious bad jokes and played harmonica beautifully on this song he made his daughter Lorna sing (It was the Rattling Bog I think).
In fact just about anyone you meet there is a total character and will spill the beans all about it at a moments notice.
That same night of our first gig at McGrory's, this young fisherman pulled me aside and said (in a very drunk Donegal accent): "There was this harmonica player here last week and I thought he was great! But after the show tonight, I tell you what. HE WAS SHIITE!!"
There were so many moments like that, "bright moments" as Rashaan would say. So many in fact that some we can't recall, and others we'd rather not say; but unforgettable nonetheless. It was brilliant and strange, and we'll be counting the days 'til we go back again.
Because there was much there beyond any words I have. Something in the heart or spirit I had forgotten perhaps, or maybe misplaced. Yeah it all sounds very WGBH; but there was a genuineness in so much of the music we saw performed that reminded me of, or somehow I remembered. I remembered how much I like Rashaan Roland Kirk. Maybe it is the compassion in his music that matches the passion for it there, or maybe just a conversation we had in the van as we drove. I don't know. But that combination of raw beauty, rage and heartbreak when he plays three saxophones at once; in on breath playing "The Inflated Tear" and shouting "Help him! Help him!" at the end, it kills me...But I digress.
Ireland is beautiful.
The people are really nice there.
It doesn't rain all the time.
The surfing is good?
Liam Neeson's second cousin really does sound like Liam Neeson. (You should have heard it when Laura got him to say " Obi Wan, your Mom is kind of hot.")
Music is really important to people there. People listen. We walked into the session at McGrory's and there were people, people of all ages sitting around playing music. It was kind of shocking.
They hate the song "The Galway Girl" in Galway and in Wexford "Fisherman's Blues" doesn't have much of a following.
Gremlin is a banjo brand name there. (How appropriate is that?)
Actually Joe Henry, who is about 65 years old lent us his Gremlin; told us hilarious bad jokes and played harmonica beautifully on this song he made his daughter Lorna sing (It was the Rattling Bog I think).
In fact just about anyone you meet there is a total character and will spill the beans all about it at a moments notice.
That same night of our first gig at McGrory's, this young fisherman pulled me aside and said (in a very drunk Donegal accent): "There was this harmonica player here last week and I thought he was great! But after the show tonight, I tell you what. HE WAS SHIITE!!"
There were so many moments like that, "bright moments" as Rashaan would say. So many in fact that some we can't recall, and others we'd rather not say; but unforgettable nonetheless. It was brilliant and strange, and we'll be counting the days 'til we go back again.
