Category Archives: best Irish music

Irish Folk Musician, Chris Lucas, Johnny Foxes

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The Irish music coming out of Johnny Foxes one winter evening was some of the best traditional Irish folk music I had  heard on my whole trip to Ireland some fifteen years ago. The Irish musician Chris Lucas was playing at Johnny Foxes and he was terrific. We got to talking and I have Chris get me a cd so I could submit it to a couple of fellows who distributed Irish music in the states. Chris handed over the recording and with a, you are so full of it shrug, returned to playing his classic Irish folk music. I put the cd in my bag and when I got home made some calls on his account, a few months pass and one of the cd distributors ask if he would be willing to do some personal appearances, that it’s a tough business, no guarantees yadda yadda yadda. So nothing ventured nothing gained, I call the number on the cd case and it’s disconnected, I try to find him in Dublin phone directories, no luck, google him for Irish folk musician Dublin, nothing. I call back my friend at the distributorship and he tells me that it was probably a long shot anyway, let it go.

So time passes and “Troubled Times” by Chris Lucas is one of my favorite Irish music cds and gets full play at the St Patrick’s celebration I have each year. Other lovers of Irish music ask me were they can get a copy and I have to let them copy mine, which kills me because I like musicians to make money on their talent, not have it recorded and given away. My daughter while at Providence College, DJ’d an Irish music radio show on the college station, and wouldn’t you know my copy of Chris’s cd ended up on her playlist, It did sound nice hearing it on the Irish radio station.

Paddy Barry's

Irish Music-Paddy Barrys

Each year on occasion I would google a search for Chris Lucas Dubliner, Irish Music, Irish folk singer, but nothing would turn up. Now this will show how small the world is. This year just before Christmas I’m at Paddy Barrys Pub in Quincy Ma., the best little pub in Massachusetts, and there are several local musicians in attendance. I’m talking with Paul Kenney, An accomplished Irish Musician in his own right, about nothing in particular,when I ask Paul what part of Ireland he is originally from. Paul tells me he’s from Dublin and goes on to talk about some of the parts of Dublin and has some funny stories to tell, so I ask him if he ever heard of an Irish musician named Chris Lucas. “Oh Chris, he grew up two house down from me in Dublin” , I nearly fell off my stool, I ask Paul where has he been for the last 15 years, and he tells me he’s still playing and that he was over in the Boston area a few years ago. I finally did manage to find a youtube video, but I wasn’t sure if it was him, he seemed a lot older than he was 15 years ago.

Cheers

An Irish music tradition

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You never know when an Irish music outbreak may happen. I was visiting my Dublin cousin recently when I was asked if I wanted to attend an 80 th  birthday celebration for his wife’s aunt. Now she was actually turning 85, but when she turned 80 she didn’t want a party celebrating her being old, however, since she made it to 85, she thought it would be ok to acknowledge her 80 th birthday. So we drop by the local pub off license and purchase some libations for the festivities and arrive at a house packed with relatives and fans of the birthday girl. I figure we’ll hang around for an hour or two, go back to the house and plan the next days activities. Well nothing in Ireland ever ends early, just when we thought things might be winding down, everyone grabs a chair makes a big circle in the parlor and a major sing song starts. Thirty  people one after another start belting out Irish music, pop tunes, golden oldies, anything people liked, they sang. So this is where the boy scout training comes in handy, you know, be prepared. You will be asked to sing a tune, It’s good to know an American song like Johnny Cash or Neil Diamond (no really, Neil Diamond). There’s something about being proud of where you are from that rubs off on the crowd. Once the traditional Irish music and traditional irish songs start, they seem to feed on one another. Traditional Irish music is by definition an irish tradition and it was a lot of fun being included in this family sing song. I broke one of my rules and sang a Furey Brothers song “It’s a long way from Clare to here”. When I was done some chap from the other side of the room yells “I thought you said he was a yank”, Part compliment for belonging and part rank for not choosing a song from where I’m from. When the majority of the crowd ask you if you know another one, is when you know you are accepted.

You don’t have to be an expert to participate in the Irish music, just be sincere. If you flop the folks will be entertained as well, and for the most part the worst that happens is some good natured ribbing of your Irish music talent, just follow the rules for singing an Irish song,relax and have fun.

Cheers

Best performance of Irish music

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Catching an irish music sing song in a classic Irish pub is a great way to cap off a night in Ireland. My wife and I were lucky enough to be part of this irish music tradition in a nice pub in the harbor town of Kinsale, County Cork. Kinsale is located on the west coast of Cork, and has a rich history which surrounds its strategic harbor. In present day Kinsale you can find some of the finest restaurants and bistros in Ireland. According to the irish tourism office Kinsale is the gourmet capital of Ireland.

On this particular night,  after spending a fantastic relaxed day of strolling around the city, We found ourselves at the Shanakee pub. We entered the pub, ordered at the bar and chatted about the day. The pub was about half filled (as it was in October) and soon we were engaged in some local conversation. It turned out some of the lads had attended University in Boston (our hometown) so we joked about some Boston landmarks and mutual interests. The intent that night was to turn in early, but the conversations were so enjoyable that we were glad to change our plans and stayed out late. Well one of the fellas says that we’re in for a treat, that  the pub owner is getting ready to play some music. They told me that there was a fellow with a great voice and we were sure to hear some mighty Irish singing. The fellow had a nice voice, and the Irish music was mighty, but it was not the best performance of Irish music of the night. the best Irish music performance of that night or any other, was sung by an elderly Kinsale woman who had the worst voice I had ever heard. When she first started singing I thought someone had stepped on a cat, or 20 people were writing their names on a blackboard with their fingernails, her voice was awful.

BUT, THE JOY AND PASSION SHE HAD IN SINGING HER SONG MADE YOU LISTEN.

She sang an Irish song with no talent but with extreme love of the Irish music, she had no shame in her lack of talent only love for her connection to the Irish music and her country. On that day I learned what Irish music is all about. It is not being perfect, its about being passionate. When she finished her performance the crowd erupted, a standing ovation, the young lads were proud of how she unashamedly loved and represented their town and  country. So if you find yourself in a sing song, try these tips and you too may get a standing ovation. Cheers.

Irish music tips for a singing session;

  1. Pick a song you love
  2. Know the words
  3. Choose a song you can handle
  4. Don’t let fear of failure prevent you from participating
  5. Don’t be pushy, wait your turn, be invited
  6. Know an American song, if you throw in a Johnny Cash tune or country classic you’ll get a good response. The Irish guys love when you sing a tune from your own home
  7. Pick an appropriate tune, (Danny boy may be ok for some American sessions, but not in most Irish music sessions) stand clear of songs that refer to the troubles in the north.
  8. keep the chatter to a minimum
  9. sing the choruses of the other songs when appropriate, it will calm your nerves
  10. Enjoy your favorite Irish music
Of course being talented and passionate is good too.