Saturday Night at the Littlest

Last night was one of those rare and wonderful Saturday evenings downtown. The city streets were bustling with people, out and about, enjoying each other as well the clear spring air and late afternoon light, and the session down at the Littlest featured many friends I would hope to meet up with for tunes. The pub was filled with a festive spirit (somebody had the birthday song sung to him at least three times that I could count), as well as random friends - the regulars - but also David's parents, Woody and Susie, were up from the Vineyard, and my life-long childhood friend Cooky stopped in, with Joe (Cooky and I grew up across the street from each other in Edgartown).

After the Littlest I made my way down to Quincy, to hear Sean Brennan sing at my old stomping ground, Paddy Barry's (my first session, ever, was at Paddy's - I loved that place).

It was a great session, a great performance by Sean (and loved seeing and chatting with various Henrys) and a great Saturday night - perfect in every way.

Here's a little footage: three reels. Musicians include Rosanne, Liam, David, Alex, Sally, Brendan, Maureen, Arnie, Greg, and I even managed to jump in at the end for Bucks of Oranmore (and to the people who kid me and say, "Oh, I'd love to see you photograph and play at the same time," I will say, this is not so far-fetched, folks).

Head Over Heels

I swear, I won't get a wink of sleep until I learn these tunes (via Jim McAuley).

House Session, Edgartown

Tuesday night's seis was small, but fun - a celebration of having completed the renovations on my dining/music room, a celebration of a new session season at the Alison Boylston Piazza House/Midnight Mermaid Gallery, as well as a coming home party (after living and studying in Boston for the past ten years, I have decided to return to my childhood home to enjoy my family, my garden, and having all my stuff in one place).

The evening was a good test-run of the room. I knew it would be a lively room, with its 9' ceilings, and I have loved playing my fiddle or singing in that room by myself - heavenly - but the real test would be a group of musicians. The room was okay for music, as it turned out (and just okay), but terrible for conversation. So I am now fine-tuning the room, having added a rug, and will add some heavy curtains (for which my neighbors will probably also thank me).

All in all, it was a fun couple of days. Next up: Fourth of July porch session. Mark your calendars, and stay tuned for this, and more (and the door is always open in the meantime).

It's going to be a great summer.


Bob




Bob, in his groove with his awesome and amazing Apollo zouk.






Mando Mike





Ryan, loving (and sounding quite savage) on his new fiddle.





Fiddle Mike





Sara by Ryan




ditto





Chiara by Ryan




Guitar Mike (some fine guitar work here)











Edgartown, where the radiators are made of gold.

House Session at Liam's

Over the weekend I found myself in yet another never-before-visited Massachusetts town: Dracut, for a house session at Liam's (I had also never been to Salem until a couple of weeks ago). Great music, and especially wonderful to have some of the old gang assembled; also a pleasure to meet a couple of fine local musicians. I've said it a hundred times but is worth saying again: I love the connective aspect of this music, the way any group of Irish trad musicians can sit down and instantly play together as if they've known each other forever. Love it. Thank you, Liam and Kitty.


Corwyn, Liam, David, Ben, and Eamon


David, Ben and Eamon

David


David and Ben


David


Eamon


The lovely Miss Flora








Eamon and Flora


Liam and David


Corwyn


Liam


David



Eamon and Sue



Liam, Flora, and Nesta



Corwyn and David


Corwyn


Corwyn and David


Corwyn and David


Sara's fiddle


Liam and David


Ben