Met up with some Cumbria pals this week. Some were fortunate to have recently seen Ralph McTell at the fab Theatre by the Lake,Keswick… A nice surprise for me was a signed CD of ‘Hill of Beans’. Lovely ,varied styles of story songs that Ralph has mastered over the decades…
It’s c 50 years since I first saw the maestro in a variety of Suffragette City gigs. Brilliant that he’s on top form and finishing the album with a cracking live version of a Dylan based gem, ‘West 4th Street and Jones’.
Class is permanent…
Dave
Christy's reply
Ralph has always remained true and consistant…his gigs still uplifting and thoroughly enjoyable…we first met circa 1967 at the Prestwich Folk Club run my Rai & Maureen Birnes…Ralph was the guest artist… I think I might have done a floor spot..were you there that night ?
Hello Christy and All,
Here’s a link to Martin Leahy’s new single “Palestine” available to download for free on bandcamp.
I’m proud to be one of the 21 voices accompanying him.
Hi Christy,
We got to see Billy Bragg in the NCH last Tuesday. First time in the venue. A very welcoming place and space. The staff were excellent as was The Bard of Barking himself. Forty years of back pages to get through and he didn’t disappoint. Seemed very relaxed, chatted away between songs and the night flew in – always a good sign.By the time he finished with Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards he had us all on our feet singing along. Came back for the encore and played his first album Life’s a Riot in its entirety.
It’s only sixteen minutes mind. But he nailed it in fifteen. The boy done good.
Heard about the stabbings In the taxi to the train and about the rioting when we got home. What’s going on ?
Tabhair Aire
Bourkey
Christy's reply
its been coming for a while….. we’ve had many ignored wake up calls…..it felt like it was only was a matter of time…now we gotta face the music….theres a rake of cliches for me to ponder….
good to hear that Billy Bragg was in flying form…I remember him arriving …he has ploughed a straight furrow and stuck to his guns…..
jasus bourkey I’m oozin the cliches this morning…I’d better go back to sleep zzzz
Nancy Spain washes down my breakfast cereal just beautifully
My little birds outside stop for a second to pick up the tune then join in
I’m about to pour another green matcha tea & take it outside to join in too
No too loud – it’s 7.45am Friday morn & the stirring of the local world is underway
Peace & love to the true hearts here
Danny Harris – mellow fellow
Great news Christy, the train was on time.
Whilst it only goes half way from Auld Reekie to Hawick it meant i missed it by a minute.
Half an hour to kill of course, until the next, i dived into a nearby record shop saying to myself….do not buy more.
However there lurking in the M section was not just The McCluskey Brothers’ album Favourite Colours in lime green vinyl, but a very reasonably priced, unopened,The Iron Behind the Velvet on vinyl.
Naturally both trophies are travelling back with me, vow broken , but 2 CDs can now be stacked away and replaced in the front row of the Record Player Turntable with these 2 long playing gems.
Patrick Was a Gentleman will be twisting round at 33rpm in an hour and a bit.
Rory
Christy's reply
1968 I travelled the length and breadth of UK by Train…loved it…Sunday was always a downer
Brilliant Vicar St set Christy. Looks like a lot of fun, apart from a rowdy how dow…
Just need a bit of help with one track…. Snowflakes. That one has passed me by somehow….
Hello Christy,
So much great talk of songs here. Looks like we’ve all got our plans in place to get to Vicar Street as much and as often as possible. We’ll be there for the last two Vicar Street gigs, given a kind and prevailing wind. Maybe an hour or two in the Brazen Head with their delectable veggie shepherd’s pie, and not a single shepherd was harmed in the making.
yes..I’ve dropped Zoz & Zim…they were getting in the way of the simplicity of the song…I’ve also added in a verse that I foolishly omitted in the recording..roll on the next live album ..if dog spares me..
Myra and Bill have never made it into a set YET but with a callout under her belt her time may be coming..please remind me again closer to the night
I love the image of a re-purposed railway carriage parked in a clearing in the forest
(Folk Tale ..Traudel RIP)
I was thinking of calling the last album Myra’s Caboose but the potential outrage was deafening..I did not realise that the word had an alternative meaning to “last carriage on the train” …. I’m still a bit miffed at my own lack of bottle on the matter
Just thinking over last nights gig.. the moment when the room fell silent after Black & Amber was extra special.. another great song from Brian Brannigan, your delivery of it reminded me of the times you’d find yourself walking about humming songs.. look forward to getting to hear A Lazarus Soul..
Christy's reply
Briany is a great writer /singer…Lazarus Soul, a band well worth hearing..I think you’ll like them ..and they have a new album pending
last night’s fun
1.Chicago
2.Quinte
3.How Long
4.Snowflakes
5.Wind River Man
6.Black & Amber
7.No Time for Love
8.Lyra McKee
9.Lingo Politico ( fell at first fence..Shovel came on as first sub)
10. Johnny Boy
11. Ride On
12.Biko Drum
13.The Night we went to hear Bob Dylan
14.Ringing The Bell
15.Only Our River Run Free
16.Beeswing
17.Lisdoonvarna
!8. Veronica
19.Clock Winds Down
20 After The Deluge
21.Rosalita & Jack Cambell
22.Ordinary man
23.Amsterdam
24.North & South
25.Well Below The Valley
26.Nancy Spain
27.Black is The Colour
28.Joxer
Fair play to U2 ..Give me the Vicar St square over the Las Vegas sphere any day.. sure how would you hear a request or acknowledge a man on the balcony shouting “Up Longford”!? .. Delighted to hear you’ll be joining Joe and Dion. Have listened to most of their pods, they certainly have a finger on the pulse. Thank you for the well wishes – this day two weeks to the day. Short break from gigging until mid Dec. Time for the porridge..
Christy's reply
hearing some interesting feedback from listeners who have travelled to Vegas to witness the spectacle of The Sphere..some blow hot and some blow cold…..according to all accounts Bono’s voice is in great nick….the stage is small, the production unparalelled, we’re goin to hear Jack O’Rourke in Ernesto’s Rathmines tonight…
Thanks for a great night of songs.. some wonderful tributes to writers, fighters, rebels and all.. love the outro to Lyra McKee.. see you when the January Man comes around..
Christy's reply
always a buzz to head back into Vicar St..its a yearly milestone…it has become part of my constitution…played it hundreds of times and I’ve also had the good fortune to attend as a listener …met 3 lads last night who’d been to Vegas to hear U2 in The Sphere…..each had a different take on it….then met Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning…they’ve invited me to their podcast “Free State” ..we’re gonna sit down and chat in the coming weeks…
Did I hear that you have a big day pending ?? Wishing you the very best….are you gigging ??
Thanks for the thumbs up on that wee outro…I love singing James Cramer’s tribute to Lyra McKee….when I sing it all I can see is her beautiful smile
On compañeros, to El Uvero!
Courage was their only armour
As they fought at Fidel’s side with Che Guevara!
Christy's reply
I wish I sang it more often…so many songs that seldom get a run out…I squeezed a few in last night….there were call-outs that I failed to ful fill…Stardust, Musgrave, Fidel & Che, Motherland, a very persistant Honda 50 but never got around to them….faltered & failed to deliver Lingo Politco… a horrid neuk kept roaring at me from the balcony and I lost me thread …..but we got back up on the mustang and away with us to the next port of call….
Dear Christy,
Maybe i am a bit of a broken record but the auld Box set inspired me last night on the way down from Glasgow.
The version there of Johnny Connors is pretty darned special. It has a rasping sound to it, plenty of indignation within it and the magical lines i dont think found elsewhere…..
Just like the American Indians all gone but for a few
The Australian Aboriginal are nearly all gone too
In Palestine the people are being killed off one by one
What are the Irish people going to do to the travelling clan?
I then checked out the other versions, it appears in Collection 2, not sure if it’s lifted straight from King Puck (or different as it feels a bit muted) but it just felt a little marooned there.
The version on King Puck is a rocky old devil and is perfectly joined straight into the title track’s toe tapping beauty.
It also appears on Where i come from, a fine 3 part album , and its banjo and soft strained voice seems soulful but heartfelt.
When you played it live with the lads it rose into a cacophony of merry sound as Cathal especially jammed hard.
All the best tonight.
Rory
Christy's reply
I had no idea that there were so many versions of Johnny Connors …I’d completely forgotten about that verse you quote..must have a comparative listen sometime….thanks for such feedback on past work…came home last night and watched a programme from BBC called “The Met”…sadly there was a Connors lad involved…
Just wondering Christy if you will give the old DTs a run tonight, seeing as the date that’s in it….is that your only song with reference to the bould JFK? This is not a request, more a historical reference….they say everyone remembers where they were when they heard the news….but not if they were having a wee dose of the auld DTs….have a great one.
Christy's reply
Maybe I’ll sing Fidel & Che…
“against Batista, The Fidelista
Courage was their armour as they fought at Fidel’s side
with Che Guevara
…………..by Ewan MacColl
The very best of luck in your gigs at Vicar Street. No doubt each one of them will be a night to remember. See you Sunday night. Sweet music 🎶 roll on
Christy's reply
a few changes Dave…I recently got a hair transplant ( a la Rooney)…a new set of gleaming porcelain chompers….a few sessions of lipo suction to reshape arse and torso….I got the lips pumped up and the moobs seriosly reduced….I’m working with a new stylist….Paddy and Mick have gone to Vegas to check out the Sphere for a run of gigs around St Patrick’s week …I’ve just heard that Metallica are planning to cover “Me & The Rose”..plus there’s talk of a duet with Pink and a possible walk on/off part on Garda Patrol….Kildare to have a good go at the McKenna Cup
Be the Lord Christy, The Argus, Democrat, even An Phoblacht, all sold out. The brothers can’t go into town atall without been mobbed…’what”s your fella don’t in Germany anyway? Even Christy Moore knows him ..’ Were you at the gig? Wasn’t it great altogether? Isn’t it great the way Christy gives us our history as well? Did you know that ‘Only our rivers run free’ was a response to the attack at Burntollet? Sure weren’t we all up in Newry after with the Civil Rights…
Life is a bit of a strain for an Irishman on the mainland at the moment…’so Pat, tell us why the Irish support the Palestinian terrorists? Well, today’s terrorists/patriots/freedom fighters are tomorrow’s politicians’ ..but the Germans have it a bit tough with the strong propaganda machines around…lovely you remembered the children of Gaza in the Carrickdale…
And now the onion sarnies are made, the bus is loaded, and they are all off to Dublin in the green…first stop the Brazen Head for a glass of buttermilk, and then across the road to the Mecca….VICAR ST! And the start of a great season!
I’ll join yis all on the 19th Christy, have a great start.
Morning Christy hope all is well with you best of luck with the Vicar St run you have the training done ground hurling all the way
Christy's reply
Morra Iggy…..had the wind behind me last night…conditions were perfect and the stand was full…a few low balls were pulled on first time and by the final whistle the job was done..we all departed, well sated… our thoughts now turn to the next round….hope all well around the Grey Lake and adout in Bullaun
Hello Christy,
I guess Liam O’Flynn and Paddy Maloney must have played together many times. But I think you once mentioned they played at your sister’s wedding. That must have been amazing (or in Yorkshire, “a bit of a do”) !!!
Last night The Grove Inn in Leeds had an arson attack. No one was hurt but they’re shut for repairs.
Hi Christy
Met up with some Cumbria pals this week. Some were fortunate to have recently seen Ralph McTell at the fab Theatre by the Lake,Keswick… A nice surprise for me was a signed CD of ‘Hill of Beans’. Lovely ,varied styles of story songs that Ralph has mastered over the decades…
It’s c 50 years since I first saw the maestro in a variety of Suffragette City gigs. Brilliant that he’s on top form and finishing the album with a cracking live version of a Dylan based gem, ‘West 4th Street and Jones’.
Class is permanent…
Dave
Ralph has always remained true and consistant…his gigs still uplifting and thoroughly enjoyable…we first met circa 1967 at the Prestwich Folk Club run my Rai & Maureen Birnes…Ralph was the guest artist… I think I might have done a floor spot..were you there that night ?
Hello Christy and All,
Here’s a link to Martin Leahy’s new single “Palestine” available to download for free on bandcamp.
I’m proud to be one of the 21 voices accompanying him.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0SPrDqbVZ1F2aJJ5BVXzoY32Qnnh153hTBWp4XUt333TAhG8ZLshAuMe5GHpM1X4Ll&id=100014026453763
Rebecca
Good stuff Martin…well done..thanks for posting Rebecca
Hi Christy,
We got to see Billy Bragg in the NCH last Tuesday. First time in the venue. A very welcoming place and space. The staff were excellent as was The Bard of Barking himself. Forty years of back pages to get through and he didn’t disappoint. Seemed very relaxed, chatted away between songs and the night flew in – always a good sign.By the time he finished with Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards he had us all on our feet singing along. Came back for the encore and played his first album Life’s a Riot in its entirety.
It’s only sixteen minutes mind. But he nailed it in fifteen. The boy done good.
Heard about the stabbings In the taxi to the train and about the rioting when we got home. What’s going on ?
Tabhair Aire
Bourkey
its been coming for a while….. we’ve had many ignored wake up calls…..it felt like it was only was a matter of time…now we gotta face the music….theres a rake of cliches for me to ponder….
good to hear that Billy Bragg was in flying form…I remember him arriving …he has ploughed a straight furrow and stuck to his guns…..
jasus bourkey I’m oozin the cliches this morning…I’d better go back to sleep zzzz
Hello Pat and All,
You can find out more about Martin and the background to his song writing here.
https://www.rsvplive.ie/news/celebs/cork-musician-martin-leahy-hits-30387005?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button#amp-readmore-target
Hello Christy,
Hope you don’t mind me passing on some info that Pat asked about.
Snowflakes was written by Marty Leahy.
https://youtu.be/mIm7AS3TZQo?si=PxLdQWu1D6h-xj8t
Rebecca
Nancy Spain washes down my breakfast cereal just beautifully
My little birds outside stop for a second to pick up the tune then join in
I’m about to pour another green matcha tea & take it outside to join in too
No too loud – it’s 7.45am Friday morn & the stirring of the local world is underway
Peace & love to the true hearts here
Danny Harris – mellow fellow
Great news Christy, the train was on time.
Whilst it only goes half way from Auld Reekie to Hawick it meant i missed it by a minute.
Half an hour to kill of course, until the next, i dived into a nearby record shop saying to myself….do not buy more.
However there lurking in the M section was not just The McCluskey Brothers’ album Favourite Colours in lime green vinyl, but a very reasonably priced, unopened,The Iron Behind the Velvet on vinyl.
Naturally both trophies are travelling back with me, vow broken , but 2 CDs can now be stacked away and replaced in the front row of the Record Player Turntable with these 2 long playing gems.
Patrick Was a Gentleman will be twisting round at 33rpm in an hour and a bit.
Rory
1968 I travelled the length and breadth of UK by Train…loved it…Sunday was always a downer
Brilliant Vicar St set Christy. Looks like a lot of fun, apart from a rowdy how dow…
Just need a bit of help with one track…. Snowflakes. That one has passed me by somehow….
better talk to herself about that
Sorry that link was wrong.
Here’s a better one
https://www.facebook.com/847680135/posts/pfbid0Bd6WJRxW79mDnJrfZ6KkAgBN4sfmwfmsbWpXJR94XwrLWSfCte1YS7Cax6L7b9wMl/
sheer comfort
Hello Christy,
So much great talk of songs here. Looks like we’ve all got our plans in place to get to Vicar Street as much and as often as possible. We’ll be there for the last two Vicar Street gigs, given a kind and prevailing wind. Maybe an hour or two in the Brazen Head with their delectable veggie shepherd’s pie, and not a single shepherd was harmed in the making.
Lots of Flying into Mystery songs in the set, plus one from Martin Leahy. Has Zozimus changed his name? Wondering if Myra and Bill might make an appearance. When I hear it I see a beautiful railway carriage house that appeared in an episode of Midsomer Murders
https://midsomermurders.fandom.com/wiki/Death_of_a_Stranger?file=Death_of_a_Stranger3.png
Rebecca
yes..I’ve dropped Zoz & Zim…they were getting in the way of the simplicity of the song…I’ve also added in a verse that I foolishly omitted in the recording..roll on the next live album ..if dog spares me..
Myra and Bill have never made it into a set YET but with a callout under her belt her time may be coming..please remind me again closer to the night
I love the image of a re-purposed railway carriage parked in a clearing in the forest
(Folk Tale ..Traudel RIP)
I was thinking of calling the last album Myra’s Caboose but the potential outrage was deafening..I did not realise that the word had an alternative meaning to “last carriage on the train” …. I’m still a bit miffed at my own lack of bottle on the matter
Just thinking over last nights gig.. the moment when the room fell silent after Black & Amber was extra special.. another great song from Brian Brannigan, your delivery of it reminded me of the times you’d find yourself walking about humming songs.. look forward to getting to hear A Lazarus Soul..
Briany is a great writer /singer…Lazarus Soul, a band well worth hearing..I think you’ll like them ..and they have a new album pending
last night’s fun
1.Chicago
2.Quinte
3.How Long
4.Snowflakes
5.Wind River Man
6.Black & Amber
7.No Time for Love
8.Lyra McKee
9.Lingo Politico ( fell at first fence..Shovel came on as first sub)
10. Johnny Boy
11. Ride On
12.Biko Drum
13.The Night we went to hear Bob Dylan
14.Ringing The Bell
15.Only Our River Run Free
16.Beeswing
17.Lisdoonvarna
!8. Veronica
19.Clock Winds Down
20 After The Deluge
21.Rosalita & Jack Cambell
22.Ordinary man
23.Amsterdam
24.North & South
25.Well Below The Valley
26.Nancy Spain
27.Black is The Colour
28.Joxer
Fair play to U2 ..Give me the Vicar St square over the Las Vegas sphere any day.. sure how would you hear a request or acknowledge a man on the balcony shouting “Up Longford”!? .. Delighted to hear you’ll be joining Joe and Dion. Have listened to most of their pods, they certainly have a finger on the pulse. Thank you for the well wishes – this day two weeks to the day. Short break from gigging until mid Dec. Time for the porridge..
hearing some interesting feedback from listeners who have travelled to Vegas to witness the spectacle of The Sphere..some blow hot and some blow cold…..according to all accounts Bono’s voice is in great nick….the stage is small, the production unparalelled, we’re goin to hear Jack O’Rourke in Ernesto’s Rathmines tonight…
Thanks for a great night of songs.. some wonderful tributes to writers, fighters, rebels and all.. love the outro to Lyra McKee.. see you when the January Man comes around..
always a buzz to head back into Vicar St..its a yearly milestone…it has become part of my constitution…played it hundreds of times and I’ve also had the good fortune to attend as a listener …met 3 lads last night who’d been to Vegas to hear U2 in The Sphere…..each had a different take on it….then met Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning…they’ve invited me to their podcast “Free State” ..we’re gonna sit down and chat in the coming weeks…
Did I hear that you have a big day pending ?? Wishing you the very best….are you gigging ??
Thanks for the thumbs up on that wee outro…I love singing James Cramer’s tribute to Lyra McKee….when I sing it all I can see is her beautiful smile
On compañeros, to El Uvero!
Courage was their only armour
As they fought at Fidel’s side with Che Guevara!
I wish I sang it more often…so many songs that seldom get a run out…I squeezed a few in last night….there were call-outs that I failed to ful fill…Stardust, Musgrave, Fidel & Che, Motherland, a very persistant Honda 50 but never got around to them….faltered & failed to deliver Lingo Politco… a horrid neuk kept roaring at me from the balcony and I lost me thread …..but we got back up on the mustang and away with us to the next port of call….
Dear Christy,
Maybe i am a bit of a broken record but the auld Box set inspired me last night on the way down from Glasgow.
The version there of Johnny Connors is pretty darned special. It has a rasping sound to it, plenty of indignation within it and the magical lines i dont think found elsewhere…..
Just like the American Indians all gone but for a few
The Australian Aboriginal are nearly all gone too
In Palestine the people are being killed off one by one
What are the Irish people going to do to the travelling clan?
I then checked out the other versions, it appears in Collection 2, not sure if it’s lifted straight from King Puck (or different as it feels a bit muted) but it just felt a little marooned there.
The version on King Puck is a rocky old devil and is perfectly joined straight into the title track’s toe tapping beauty.
It also appears on Where i come from, a fine 3 part album , and its banjo and soft strained voice seems soulful but heartfelt.
When you played it live with the lads it rose into a cacophony of merry sound as Cathal especially jammed hard.
All the best tonight.
Rory
I had no idea that there were so many versions of Johnny Connors …I’d completely forgotten about that verse you quote..must have a comparative listen sometime….thanks for such feedback on past work…came home last night and watched a programme from BBC called “The Met”…sadly there was a Connors lad involved…
Just wondering Christy if you will give the old DTs a run tonight, seeing as the date that’s in it….is that your only song with reference to the bould JFK? This is not a request, more a historical reference….they say everyone remembers where they were when they heard the news….but not if they were having a wee dose of the auld DTs….have a great one.
Maybe I’ll sing Fidel & Che…
“against Batista, The Fidelista
Courage was their armour as they fought at Fidel’s side
with Che Guevara
…………..by Ewan MacColl
The very best of luck in your gigs at Vicar Street. No doubt each one of them will be a night to remember. See you Sunday night. Sweet music 🎶 roll on
a few changes Dave…I recently got a hair transplant ( a la Rooney)…a new set of gleaming porcelain chompers….a few sessions of lipo suction to reshape arse and torso….I got the lips pumped up and the moobs seriosly reduced….I’m working with a new stylist….Paddy and Mick have gone to Vegas to check out the Sphere for a run of gigs around St Patrick’s week …I’ve just heard that Metallica are planning to cover “Me & The Rose”..plus there’s talk of a duet with Pink and a possible walk on/off part on Garda Patrol….Kildare to have a good go at the McKenna Cup
Be the Lord Christy, The Argus, Democrat, even An Phoblacht, all sold out. The brothers can’t go into town atall without been mobbed…’what”s your fella don’t in Germany anyway? Even Christy Moore knows him ..’ Were you at the gig? Wasn’t it great altogether? Isn’t it great the way Christy gives us our history as well? Did you know that ‘Only our rivers run free’ was a response to the attack at Burntollet? Sure weren’t we all up in Newry after with the Civil Rights…
Life is a bit of a strain for an Irishman on the mainland at the moment…’so Pat, tell us why the Irish support the Palestinian terrorists? Well, today’s terrorists/patriots/freedom fighters are tomorrow’s politicians’ ..but the Germans have it a bit tough with the strong propaganda machines around…lovely you remembered the children of Gaza in the Carrickdale…
And now the onion sarnies are made, the bus is loaded, and they are all off to Dublin in the green…first stop the Brazen Head for a glass of buttermilk, and then across the road to the Mecca….VICAR ST! And the start of a great season!
I’ll join yis all on the 19th Christy, have a great start.
Up Down
Morning Christy hope all is well with you best of luck with the Vicar St run you have the training done ground hurling all the way
Morra Iggy…..had the wind behind me last night…conditions were perfect and the stand was full…a few low balls were pulled on first time and by the final whistle the job was done..we all departed, well sated… our thoughts now turn to the next round….hope all well around the Grey Lake and adout in Bullaun
Hello Christy,
I guess Liam O’Flynn and Paddy Maloney must have played together many times. But I think you once mentioned they played at your sister’s wedding. That must have been amazing (or in Yorkshire, “a bit of a do”) !!!
Last night The Grove Inn in Leeds had an arson attack. No one was hurt but they’re shut for repairs.
Saw this this morning
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/nov/21/ex-dire-straits-singer-mark-knopfler-to-sell-guitar-collection-for-charity
120 guitars. Lots of guitarists could be made very happy!
Rebecca
I’m hoping Mark holds on to, at least, a few instruments….