good craic

[chelidon]

Last night, the assembled denizens of Casa Chaos (aside from my darling boi, who was with his grandmother for the night) headed over to one of our favorite pubs for dinner and a pint, then across the street to the local Opera House, where I had arranged for us to occupy the front-row center seats to see Patrick Street, an Irish traditional musical group composed of the key members of most of the seminal, legendary groups from the core of the Irish folk movement of the 70's -- Bothy Band. Planxty, De Dannan, and so on. Check out their tour schedule (davis, they're in New Paltz tonight), and if you have any interest in Irish music, go see them -- without hyperbole, it may well be the best Irish trad. music you ever hear. The artists are all in their 50s and 60s now, and they're better than ever. Watching them on stage is like experiencing living portals of pure music -- it flows out of them naturally, with ease and grace, with the same effort you or I take merely to breathe. I haven't heard such casually legendary Irish musicianship since I was hanging out at street sesiuns at the Willie Clancy festival at Miltown Malbay some years ago, playing and singing a bit and mostly just soaking it in, listening all the day and nights to a virtual who's who of Irish traditional music, along with many of the folks who taught those folks how to play... inspirational. The music was so good at the show, several of us were having spontaneous visions -- who needs drink or other chemicals when music will take you there, just as well? :>

After the show, we headed back over to the pub, where they had an all-night seisiun (Irish trad music jam). It was rumoured that some of the fellows from Patrick Street might drop in, which I do not believe happened (though this is the kind of place where folks like David Crosby just happen in on open mike night and pick up an instrument from time to time), but the local musicians were as good as always, and we had good fun, delicious food and drink, and terrific craic -- a delightful evening.

Comments

[snidegrrl.livejournal.com]

that just sounds like bliss. :)

[chelidon.livejournal.com]

it was powerful wicked fun :>