Fifty years and going strong!
The Chieftains concert was last night, and what a night it was! My hands are still sore from clapping.
Paddy Maloney can still bring his tin whistle to life, and he soothed his sensitive uilleann pipes (relative to the bagpipes) with a humidifier during the show to protect them from the dry Utah air.
Adorable, bald-headed Matt Molloy, looking quite dapper in his winter white sport coat, was incredible on the flute. Where does that man find all that air to make all that beautiful music come out of those 66-year old lungs? I can't wait to order a pint at Matt Molloy's pub in Westport, Co. Mayo, in early May. What an interesting life he's led, and what tales have surely been told in that pub!
Kevin Conneff performed a stunning a cappella ballad about an emigrant returning to Ireland to find things quite different from how he'd left them (sad, as usual). Kevin's performance on the bodhran (a traditional Celtic drum) was remarkable to watch. He's a whiz with the tipper (aka beater), the instrument used to rap on the drum. It's double-ended, held in the center, and flicked back and forth so quickly at times that it's a blur. He moved the tipper to the edge at times to create a different type of sound. There are lots of youtube videos showing how the bodhran is played, if you're interested. It's really cool.
One of the guest fiddlers was Jon Pilatzke, a Canadian, and he was nothing short of AMAZING. Just when you thought he was perhaps the most talented one on stage, a surprise guest named Nathan was brought out on stage and began performing an Ottawa valley step dance - something you might expect to see if tap-dancer Gregory Hines were to put his unique twist on an Irish step dance: flamoyant, precise, athletic, and memorable. To the crowd's wild surprise, Jon put down his fiddle and joined Nathan in the dance. We didn't yet know that they were brothers, but their symmetry and timing were impeccable. Turns out that they're part of a team called "The Step Crew" (http://stepcrew.com) and are on tour with the Chieftains. The Step Crew also includes the beautiful Cara Butler, an extremely fit, red-headed female dancer who must be in her late 40s, having been with the Chieftains since 1992. Watching her dance last night, I assumed she was maybe 25. She was leaping and flying effortlessly through the air as though suspended by wire cables. Methinks I need to get myself to the gym!
I would encourage anyone who's anywhere near a town on the Chieftains tour to get yourself a ticket to their show. The evening far surpassed our expectations with its surprises, variety, and toe-tapping Celtic rhythms. We even had a taste of the Rolling Stones at one point. Go, while they're still around. You won't regret it!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
The Chieftains Can Still Tear It Up
Fifty years and going strong!
The Chieftains concert was last night, and what a night it was! My hands are still sore from clapping.
Paddy Maloney can still bring his tin whistle to life, and he soothed his sensitive uilleann pipes (relative to the bagpipes) with a humidifier during the show to protect them from the dry Utah air.
Adorable, bald-headed Matt Molloy, looking quite dapper in his winter white sport coat, was incredible on the flute. Where does that man find all that air to make all that beautiful music come out of those 66-year old lungs? I can't wait to order a pint at Matt Molloy's pub in Westport, Co. Mayo, in early May. What an interesting life he's led, and what tales have surely been told in that pub!
Kevin Conneff performed a stunning a cappella ballad about an emigrant returning to Ireland to find things quite different from how he'd left them (sad, as usual). Kevin's performance on the bodhran (a traditional Celtic drum) was remarkable to watch. He's a whiz with the tipper (aka beater), the instrument used to rap on the drum. It's double-ended, held in the center, and flicked back and forth so quickly at times that it's a blur. He moved the tipper to the edge at times to create a different type of sound. There are lots of youtube videos showing how the bodhran is played, if you're interested. It's really cool.
One of the guest fiddlers was Jon Pilatzke, a Canadian, and he was nothing short of AMAZING. Just when you thought he was perhaps the most talented one on stage, a surprise guest named Nathan was brought out on stage and began performing an Ottawa valley step dance - something you might expect to see if tap-dancer Gregory Hines were to put his unique twist on an Irish step dance: flamoyant, precise, athletic, and memorable. To the crowd's wild surprise, Jon put down his fiddle and joined Nathan in the dance. We didn't yet know that they were brothers, but their symmetry and timing were impeccable. Turns out that they're part of a team called "The Step Crew" (http://stepcrew.com) and are on tour with the Chieftains. The Step Crew also includes the beautiful Cara Butler, an extremely fit, red-headed female dancer who must be in her late 40s, having been with the Chieftains since 1992. Watching her dance last night, I assumed she was maybe 25. She was leaping and flying effortlessly through the air as though suspended by wire cables. Methinks I need to get myself to the gym!
I would encourage anyone who's anywhere near a town on the Chieftains tour to get yourself a ticket to their show. The evening far surpassed our expectations with its surprises, variety, and toe-tapping Celtic rhythms. We even had a taste of the Rolling Stones at one point. Go, while they're still around. You won't regret it!
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Lyrics to Molly Bán
http://youtu.be/xOpY0wQdJ5w
"Molly Bán (Bawn)"
Come all ye young fellas /
That handle a gun /
Beware of night rambling /
By the setting of the sun /
And beware of an accident /
That happened of late /
To young Molly Bán /
And sad was her fate. /
She was going to her uncles /
When a shower came on /
She went under a green bush /
The shower to shun. /
Her white apron wrapped around her /
He took her for a swan /
But a hush and a sigh /
T’was his own Molly Bán. /
He quickly ran to her /
And found she was dead /
And there on her bosom /
Where he soaked, tears he shed. /
He ran home to his father /
With his gun in his hand /
Saying "Father dear father /
I have shot Molly Bán." /
Her white apron wrapped around her /
He took her for a swan /
But a hush and a sigh /
T’was his own Molly Bán. /
He roamed near the place /
Where his true love was slain /
He wept bitter tears /
But his cries were in vain /
As he looked on the lake /
A swan glided by /
And the sun slowly sank /
In the gray of sky. /
Sunday, February 10, 2013
The Great Potato Plan for 2013
For the 2013 season, I've gone in with two friends to place a large seed potato order. We'll be growing the following varieties:
Purple Viking (purple skin, white flesh)
Sangre (red skin, white flesh)
Warba Pink Eye (golden skin with pink eyes, white flesh)
Chieftain (pinkish red skin, white flesh)
Purple Majesty (dark purple skin, dark purple flesh)
All Blue (deep blue skin, deep blue flesh)
Yukon Gem (light yellow skin with pink eyes, light yellow flesh)
Yellow Finn (deep yellow/tan skin, yellow flesh)
Russet Burbank (russet skin, white flesh)
and six types of fingerlings:
Purple Peruvian
French Fingerling
Red Thumb
La Ratte
Austrian Crescent
Russian Banana
With this many varieties and somewhat limited space for a potato crop, I won't have too many plants of any one variety, but it should make for some beautiful, colorful dishes of potato salad and roasted potatoes!
They're due to arrive at the end of March so that they'll have sprouted and be set for planting out on the new moon, which falls on April 10th this year. I'm funny about planting according to the lunar calendar, in that I only do it for potatoes. This year's crop will be especially meaningful for me, whether I get them in the ground on the full moon or not, because the spuds'll be growing in my garden while we're in Ireland, and that will bring me great pleasure. I really mean that. I'll actually think of my crop while we're over there, and somehow, I'm sure I'll feel more connected to my farmer ancestors for having worked my soil and planted my tubers as they did long ago, with hope and anticipation for a great harvest.
Here's a shot of my raised pototo bed from May 22, 2012 (soil was 14" deep). I post this picture with hope and anticipation that the frozen, snow-covered tundra that currently is my backyard will actually melt and be ready to garden again in another six weeks :-)
Movies and Videos - Awash in DVDs
Holy smokes. I need a new DVD stand just to house my new collection of Irish videos. Most of these will probably end up for sale on Amazon once I'm sure I've watched them enough times. One video I *know* I won't be watching again is "The Field." Although the acting was good and the scenery beautiful, the plot was downright depressing. The Killinaskully comedy TV series is pretty hysterical, and the others have been helpful and informative. Please feel free to post a comment if you have specific questions about any video in particular. I'd be happy to give a more thorough review for you.
Discovering Ireland: Video Visits Travel Collection
Rick Steves Ireland and Scotland (6 episodes, including Dublin, The Best of South Ireland, and The Best of West Ireland)
The Story of Ireland (BBC)
In Search of Ancient Ireland (PBS)
Celtic Voyages: A Fascinating Journey Through Ireland (3 DVD set)
Killinaskully: Season 1 TV Comedy Series
Man of Aran (1934 b/w drama)
Into the West (drama)
The Field (drama)
The Quiet Man (drama)
Ryan's Daughter (drama)
Out of Ireland: The Story of Irish Emigration to America
Discovering Ireland: Video Visits Travel Collection
Rick Steves Ireland and Scotland (6 episodes, including Dublin, The Best of South Ireland, and The Best of West Ireland)
The Story of Ireland (BBC)
In Search of Ancient Ireland (PBS)
Celtic Voyages: A Fascinating Journey Through Ireland (3 DVD set)
Killinaskully: Season 1 TV Comedy Series
Man of Aran (1934 b/w drama)
Into the West (drama)
The Field (drama)
The Quiet Man (drama)
Ryan's Daughter (drama)
Out of Ireland: The Story of Irish Emigration to America
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)