Hello, dear Christy,
Yesterday Barbara and I arrived in Dublin from Frankfurt.
The sun was shining brightly for us, beautiful!
It is a joy to be in the „ Fair City „ again, because we came especially to hear you
at Vicar Street on the 28.
After the great gig at INEC in Killarney last June, we felt that we had to hear you once more life this year!
We look forward very much to the concert!
Wishing you all the best, dear Christy!
Lots of love..
Trudy and Barbara
Patti Smith walked to center stage at the Delacorte outdoor Shakespeare Theater in Central Park many years ago, spotted me at her level about 25 ft in front and had same reaction I did – “I know that person”. Years later, after her novel, ‘Just Kids’ described her early days in NY, did I remember she befriended my brother Brian and me, when we were children who often visited her beloved Rockaway Beach, Queens, NY, aka the Irish Riviera (when it was still New York). Brian later turned me on to her, but we didn’t know we had been acquainted.
Hi Meant to say son Charlie and i debated whether Cait O’Riordan’s version of ‘A man you dont meet every day/jock stewart’ was as good as sheila stewart’s.
Both exceptional. You will have heard many versions. Rory
Christy's reply
“as good as”
n/a
Cait/Sheila
Aviemore/Galteemore
Honda 50 / Arkle
Johnson’s Motor Car/ Surfboard
the first time I heard that song was when Mick Moloney sang it way way back in the holy time..still my fave version..far as I know it only exists in my memory…maybe someone out there has a cassette..if so, I’ll do a swap
Christy hi
On my way to and from Aberfeen today i listened , over and over, to The Pogues great album Rum, Sodomy and the Lash.
I saw them, for a second time,on that tour in a wee club at the top of Lothian road, Edinburgh about 40 years ago….i recall the tour t-shirt and a magic gig that still lives in my mind.
MacGowan near his height and some of his finest writing/composing….theres devils on each side of you with bottles in their hands….they ruined my good looks for the Old Main Drag…the wildcats…i looked at him he looked at me all i could do was hate him….he soothed the souls of psychos and the men who had the horn…billy went away with the peacekeeping force….
Genius , we miss him.
Rory
Christy's reply
I agree with you..
Shane remains forever,
an outstanding lyricist,a true poet, his ear to the ground, his eye on the ball, skin in the game, headbanger,finger on the pulse,a sound man,
I barely met him…a few phone calls, scribbled notes, twice in TV studios, John ‘0 Gods, Shinrone, Ronnie’s Wake,
we sang together a few times, Spancilhill, Aisling, I think I battered the drum on “The Irish Rover”
RumSodLa a classic album….
Hello Christy,
Greetings to you too. I snagged a recording off the tv of your “On the Road” documentary. Fun to watch the different types of gigs, but I bet it’s different for you.
Anyways, I saw that when you were in Tar Isteach in Derry you were singing songs, talking, listening and the guitar you were playing was a Taylor. A dreadnought? with a red tortoiseshell pickguard. Do you remember anything about it?
My guitar is a Taylor, a little GS mini which is good for my small hands.
What do you look for in a guitar? I’m planning to go and try some out soon. And buy something really nice. I think I’d struggle with a chunky neck. I’m fine with the steel strings. I’m excited to play a few different ones to see what they’re like.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
I traded that guitar in a few years back…
I look for a guitar that fits my hand ,fingers, makes plenty of noise,
I always seek second hand or vintage…important to sit with the guitar and play until sure it fits and sounds right…
if poss find a specialist shop….thess past years I’ve gone to SomeNeck in Dublin…its not far from Vicar St….they have a good website to peruse….
changing of the guards into hills of donegal medley coming up?
or more: because the night into N17? (I could actually see that work, thinking about it).
YFW
I´d say 90plus % of my knowledge of poetry came and comes through songlyrics.
mr. tambourine is poetry, it doesn´t need the music. leonard cohen songs are the same, if you can strip it to the words and they are still strong it´s poetry, that´s the way I judge it for me. many songlyrics do that to me. the matador – gretchen peters (& I´m a mother & a whore …), paul brady – nothing but the same old story- (but when the wine …), damien dempsey live version – james connolly -, – ilse of hope and tears – many more.
Hi Christy! I mentioned to my Dad that you were talking to my brotherinlaw (Derek Cummins) recently. He said ah tell Christy I was asking for him. So big hello Christy from Ned Burns in Drogheda. He will turn 90 on 5th December!!! All the best, Joanne Burns, Drogheda.
Christy's reply
The Big Tree was all the go back in the 70’s…and it was the “Fear-an-Tí” that made it so special…Planxty loved playing in Clogherhead…great memories of those Summer Nights ( and mornings) with Ned in The Wee
Hi Christy! I mentioned to my Dad that you were talking to my brotherinlaw recently. He said ah tell Christy I was asking for him. So big hello Christy from Ned Burns in Drogheda. He will turn 90 on 5th December!!!
At. http://www.salutlive.com Colin Randall has linked a fascinating piece by Linda Thompson…her rave review of Dylan and band’s recent Albert Hall gig…
Really interesting as LT,Fairport et al are still muckers of Joe Boyd,he who knew young Dylan and shared his songs widely in the mid/late 60s.Decades later,Linda rarely performs,due to health issues. But,as a top notch singer with a keen wit,it’s a great read…as she absorbs a 2024 Dylan gig.
Hi Christy – I reached out to you couple months back about wanting to come over to see your show but they are all sod out. You replied to let you know when so I am thinking on coming over for the 18/12 show.
Is that offer still good – if so, what do I need to do?
Hi christy
For whatever reason i clicked into the guestbbok and was transported to the chat from 1st july ’23 (it is a quare auld thing the tinternet), Dagrab was in awe of your typing skills as you warmed up for an INEC gig.this is what you replied……
a wee chat with 4711ers helps me chill before climbing the steps…gets me out of my head for a few minutes as tension gathers and excitement mounts…final checks….Michael makes sure that my keks are not back to front…Johnny sellotapes the mic to my cheek, Dickon fine tunes my in-ears… David starts the gig preamble…Geoff gently massages the lights down, the ball is in..the game is on….
100 minutse later I’m carried to the oxygen tent, a local curate on stand by lest Extreme Unction be required, Paddy arrives with hot tea ( two tea bags, left in )
then off we go…Is it right or left for Gibralter
see you later for a Rogan in Fallowfield
So much for taking it easy ‘at your age’, save some rogan josh and mugs o’ tea for the anticipated trip to the vicar….see you in january but meantime keep on keeping on
rory
Christy's reply
only three days left to prep for night 5 @ Vicar St…
my determination to introduce fresh verses always intact until the gig starts…then the safety net gets rolled out…that said , we’ve had 47 different songs over the first 4 nights…18 of them performed but once…17 played 4 times….so far I’m on target to better last years final count ….the nightly song count 27,27, 27 and 30…all gigs around the 1 hour 50 minute mark ..no HIA’s so far
Hello Christy,
Thinking about the musings here from YFW and others.
Sometimes songs grab me straight away. With these ones it’s often the rhythm and how they rhyme.
Reel in the Flickering Light (my first love)
Mcillhatton
Johnny don’t Go
Then there’s the ones that burn slow and long. They work their way in. And it’s the words. So this is what YFW was talking about, I think.
Allende
I listen to your 2006 album most days.
This one has bloomed in my heart.
It’s perfect.
“We drive to the town but the shutters are down and the all-night restaurant’s closed
It’s the land of the free,we’ve got booze and T.V. and there’s tramps in the telephone booths.”
It’s got an ancient rhyme to it and it’s so of its time too.
Love it.
The other one I’m thinking of is one of yours.
The Boy from Tamlaghduff.
It’s old and new and it feels like it’s got everything.
“Like a fox he went to ground and kept the dogs of war at bay”
“Although his weapon had been changed to a blanket from a gun”
Nothing wasted, it’s perfect.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
if i started in to this the day would disappear on me….so many outstanding lines appear throughout the songs….greetings across the water
Strange how a lyric suddenly hits home from a familiar song…the trad gem ‘Polly on the shore’ …from the viewpoint of a sailor in battle…and the rationale to be brave.
‘Let every man stand true to his gun
For the Lord knows who must die’
Safe travels,Birgit…fab that you found so many Pearls in Oysterband land. I’m looking forward to your reviews from over the water,when the Germany gigs take place…maybe,you’ll have some company if any of the Deutscher 4711s fancy a gig auf wiedersehen to the band
Hi Christy, just found a completely different version of Molly Bond by Peggy Seeger, only knew JJ’s/Oyster version before. Both worth listening to.
No Oxford Girl, Dave ;-).
Some interesting chats after the gigs from Patti Smith via the Saw Doctors and Great Big Sea to Flogging Molly… so many songs, so little time…
All that way for this – and this was definitely worth the way 😊
Birgit
I’m hesitant to hog it here…and it’s a funny old world – when good news about someone you don’t know,very likely will never know,puts a bloody daft grin on your face…
Lauren Laverne’s health all clear and return to the Beeb…hallelujah…D
Playing Oysterband and June Tabor…very mellow sounds.
The Oysterband singer,John Jones,also has solo albums….I’ve just played his excellent version of ‘The rocks of Bawn’….the song was discussed here awhile back,so it’s an interesting link. JJs version is on YouTube. I hope it has an appeal here…
Dave
Christy's reply
dont feed him on soft turnips
take him down to your green lawn
then he might be able
to help you plough The Rocks of Bawn
Hello Christy,
Thanks for all the info and advice on choosing a guitar. I hadn’t thought about vintage or secondhand so I looked at Some neck’s website. They have some amazing guitars dont they. They look like they know everything about them. Looking forward to visiting them in January now. It looks like a sweet shop!
There’s a very old Gibson there with loads of twiddles and curls. Never seen anything like it.
https://search.app?link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.someneckguitars.com%2Fproducts%2Fgibson-style-o-artist-1917&utm_campaign=aga&utm_source=agsadl2%2Csh%2Fx%2Fgs%2Fm2%2F4
Rebecca
in my experience….ignore how it looks..its how it feels..how it sounds…
‘Just Kids’ is a memoir, of course.
Hello, dear Christy,
Yesterday Barbara and I arrived in Dublin from Frankfurt.
The sun was shining brightly for us, beautiful!
It is a joy to be in the „ Fair City „ again, because we came especially to hear you
at Vicar Street on the 28.
After the great gig at INEC in Killarney last June, we felt that we had to hear you once more life this year!
We look forward very much to the concert!
Wishing you all the best, dear Christy!
Lots of love..
Trudy and Barbara
The Girls are Back in Town…..lock up your sons
Patti Smith walked to center stage at the Delacorte outdoor Shakespeare Theater in Central Park many years ago, spotted me at her level about 25 ft in front and had same reaction I did – “I know that person”. Years later, after her novel, ‘Just Kids’ described her early days in NY, did I remember she befriended my brother Brian and me, when we were children who often visited her beloved Rockaway Beach, Queens, NY, aka the Irish Riviera (when it was still New York). Brian later turned me on to her, but we didn’t know we had been acquainted.
Top Woman….
Hi Meant to say son Charlie and i debated whether Cait O’Riordan’s version of ‘A man you dont meet every day/jock stewart’ was as good as sheila stewart’s.
Both exceptional. You will have heard many versions. Rory
“as good as”
n/a
Cait/Sheila
Aviemore/Galteemore
Honda 50 / Arkle
Johnson’s Motor Car/ Surfboard
the first time I heard that song was when Mick Moloney sang it way way back in the holy time..still my fave version..far as I know it only exists in my memory…maybe someone out there has a cassette..if so, I’ll do a swap
Christy hi
On my way to and from Aberfeen today i listened , over and over, to The Pogues great album Rum, Sodomy and the Lash.
I saw them, for a second time,on that tour in a wee club at the top of Lothian road, Edinburgh about 40 years ago….i recall the tour t-shirt and a magic gig that still lives in my mind.
MacGowan near his height and some of his finest writing/composing….theres devils on each side of you with bottles in their hands….they ruined my good looks for the Old Main Drag…the wildcats…i looked at him he looked at me all i could do was hate him….he soothed the souls of psychos and the men who had the horn…billy went away with the peacekeeping force….
Genius , we miss him.
Rory
I agree with you..
Shane remains forever,
an outstanding lyricist,a true poet, his ear to the ground, his eye on the ball, skin in the game, headbanger,finger on the pulse,a sound man,
I barely met him…a few phone calls, scribbled notes, twice in TV studios, John ‘0 Gods, Shinrone, Ronnie’s Wake,
we sang together a few times, Spancilhill, Aisling, I think I battered the drum on “The Irish Rover”
RumSodLa a classic album….
Hello Christy,
Greetings to you too. I snagged a recording off the tv of your “On the Road” documentary. Fun to watch the different types of gigs, but I bet it’s different for you.
Anyways, I saw that when you were in Tar Isteach in Derry you were singing songs, talking, listening and the guitar you were playing was a Taylor. A dreadnought? with a red tortoiseshell pickguard. Do you remember anything about it?
My guitar is a Taylor, a little GS mini which is good for my small hands.
What do you look for in a guitar? I’m planning to go and try some out soon. And buy something really nice. I think I’d struggle with a chunky neck. I’m fine with the steel strings. I’m excited to play a few different ones to see what they’re like.
Rebecca
I traded that guitar in a few years back…
I look for a guitar that fits my hand ,fingers, makes plenty of noise,
I always seek second hand or vintage…important to sit with the guitar and play until sure it fits and sounds right…
if poss find a specialist shop….thess past years I’ve gone to SomeNeck in Dublin…its not far from Vicar St….they have a good website to peruse….
´Patti Smith is joining The Saw Doctors´
changing of the guards into hills of donegal medley coming up?
or more: because the night into N17? (I could actually see that work, thinking about it).
Think On
YFW
I´d say 90plus % of my knowledge of poetry came and comes through songlyrics.
mr. tambourine is poetry, it doesn´t need the music. leonard cohen songs are the same, if you can strip it to the words and they are still strong it´s poetry, that´s the way I judge it for me. many songlyrics do that to me. the matador – gretchen peters (& I´m a mother & a whore …), paul brady – nothing but the same old story- (but when the wine …), damien dempsey live version – james connolly -, – ilse of hope and tears – many more.
Hi Christy! I mentioned to my Dad that you were talking to my brotherinlaw (Derek Cummins) recently. He said ah tell Christy I was asking for him. So big hello Christy from Ned Burns in Drogheda. He will turn 90 on 5th December!!! All the best, Joanne Burns, Drogheda.
The Big Tree was all the go back in the 70’s…and it was the “Fear-an-Tí” that made it so special…Planxty loved playing in Clogherhead…great memories of those Summer Nights ( and mornings) with Ned in The Wee
All the very best, Joanne Burns, Drogheda.
Hi Christy! I mentioned to my Dad that you were talking to my brotherinlaw recently. He said ah tell Christy I was asking for him. So big hello Christy from Ned Burns in Drogheda. He will turn 90 on 5th December!!!
Hi Christy/all
At. http://www.salutlive.com Colin Randall has linked a fascinating piece by Linda Thompson…her rave review of Dylan and band’s recent Albert Hall gig…
Really interesting as LT,Fairport et al are still muckers of Joe Boyd,he who knew young Dylan and shared his songs widely in the mid/late 60s.Decades later,Linda rarely performs,due to health issues. But,as a top notch singer with a keen wit,it’s a great read…as she absorbs a 2024 Dylan gig.
Dave
Thanks Dave…. the pictures arrived today
Hi Christy – I reached out to you couple months back about wanting to come over to see your show but they are all sod out. You replied to let you know when so I am thinking on coming over for the 18/12 show.
Is that offer still good – if so, what do I need to do?
Thanks!
Dana D Greer
Hi christy
For whatever reason i clicked into the guestbbok and was transported to the chat from 1st july ’23 (it is a quare auld thing the tinternet), Dagrab was in awe of your typing skills as you warmed up for an INEC gig.this is what you replied……
a wee chat with 4711ers helps me chill before climbing the steps…gets me out of my head for a few minutes as tension gathers and excitement mounts…final checks….Michael makes sure that my keks are not back to front…Johnny sellotapes the mic to my cheek, Dickon fine tunes my in-ears… David starts the gig preamble…Geoff gently massages the lights down, the ball is in..the game is on….
100 minutse later I’m carried to the oxygen tent, a local curate on stand by lest Extreme Unction be required, Paddy arrives with hot tea ( two tea bags, left in )
then off we go…Is it right or left for Gibralter
see you later for a Rogan in Fallowfield
So much for taking it easy ‘at your age’, save some rogan josh and mugs o’ tea for the anticipated trip to the vicar….see you in january but meantime keep on keeping on
rory
only three days left to prep for night 5 @ Vicar St…
my determination to introduce fresh verses always intact until the gig starts…then the safety net gets rolled out…that said , we’ve had 47 different songs over the first 4 nights…18 of them performed but once…17 played 4 times….so far I’m on target to better last years final count ….the nightly song count 27,27, 27 and 30…all gigs around the 1 hour 50 minute mark ..no HIA’s so far
Hello Christy,
Thinking about the musings here from YFW and others.
Sometimes songs grab me straight away. With these ones it’s often the rhythm and how they rhyme.
Reel in the Flickering Light (my first love)
Mcillhatton
Johnny don’t Go
Then there’s the ones that burn slow and long. They work their way in. And it’s the words. So this is what YFW was talking about, I think.
Allende
I listen to your 2006 album most days.
This one has bloomed in my heart.
It’s perfect.
“We drive to the town but the shutters are down and the all-night restaurant’s closed
It’s the land of the free,we’ve got booze and T.V. and there’s tramps in the telephone booths.”
It’s got an ancient rhyme to it and it’s so of its time too.
Love it.
The other one I’m thinking of is one of yours.
The Boy from Tamlaghduff.
It’s old and new and it feels like it’s got everything.
“Like a fox he went to ground and kept the dogs of war at bay”
“Although his weapon had been changed to a blanket from a gun”
Nothing wasted, it’s perfect.
Rebecca
if i started in to this the day would disappear on me….so many outstanding lines appear throughout the songs….greetings across the water
Hi Christy
Strange how a lyric suddenly hits home from a familiar song…the trad gem ‘Polly on the shore’ …from the viewpoint of a sailor in battle…and the rationale to be brave.
‘Let every man stand true to his gun
For the Lord knows who must die’
Safe travels,Birgit…fab that you found so many Pearls in Oysterband land. I’m looking forward to your reviews from over the water,when the Germany gigs take place…maybe,you’ll have some company if any of the Deutscher 4711s fancy a gig auf wiedersehen to the band
Have a good day,all
Dave.
One in a Million
Hi Christy, just found a completely different version of Molly Bond by Peggy Seeger, only knew JJ’s/Oyster version before. Both worth listening to.
No Oxford Girl, Dave ;-).
Some interesting chats after the gigs from Patti Smith via the Saw Doctors and Great Big Sea to Flogging Molly… so many songs, so little time…
All that way for this – and this was definitely worth the way 😊
Birgit
so Patti Smith is joining The Saw Doctors
Hi Christy
I’m hesitant to hog it here…and it’s a funny old world – when good news about someone you don’t know,very likely will never know,puts a bloody daft grin on your face…
Lauren Laverne’s health all clear and return to the Beeb…hallelujah…D
Hog Away me Hearty
Hi Christy
Playing Oysterband and June Tabor…very mellow sounds.
The Oysterband singer,John Jones,also has solo albums….I’ve just played his excellent version of ‘The rocks of Bawn’….the song was discussed here awhile back,so it’s an interesting link. JJs version is on YouTube. I hope it has an appeal here…
Dave
dont feed him on soft turnips
take him down to your green lawn
then he might be able
to help you plough The Rocks of Bawn