The concert at Glucksman Ireland House to launch the Washington Square Harp and Shamrock Orchestra was a treat– there was a reception beforehand, a reception in the middle, and a party afterwards. The music was pretty good, too! If you missed the events, you can buy the album at CD Baby. It’s a happy and upbeat little jewel of a CD, music from the 20s with 21st century energy.. Still loving Linda Mason Hood’s “Waltz Me Around Again, Willy” and Donie Carroll’s “Arrah, Come in Out of the Rain, Barney McShane.” Loved Liz Hanley’s rendition of “Sweet Dublin Bay,” but was a little surprised that nobody mentioned the lovely Silly Wizard version from 1983– after all the entire album was named for the song, Kiss the Tears Away. They were Scots, but the late Johnny Cunningham was a real fixture on the NY scene. We miss him (he’s not on this album, but Phil, who is a major major player at Celtic Connections and a force on the scene in general, is). I know this blog says “Irish,” but seriously, if you care at ALL about this music, you need to familiarize yourself with Silly Wizard. The Rovers list on yahoogroups was named for a song by Andy M. Stewart, Ramblin‘ Rover, but discusses Celtic music in general. Johnny (sniffle) used to post to it from time to time.   This is so important to me I’ve a youtube of the song, after the jump! (You can hear, but not see them, in this version).
The next day the session at Lillie’s included Dan Neely, Donie Carroll, Jimmy Crowley, Victor Byrne and a few people I didn’t know. Mom was there too! We went to see Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and were going to the Encores Where’s Charley that night, so she put on her game face and came too. My brother Stephen joined us also, but is not in any pics (for that matter, neither am I). The session was an excellent one– loads of songs, but it made a nice change. I WISH there were an easier way to hear the tunes at Lillie’s– if you want to eat, you can’t listen; if you want to listen you really can’t eat. And the door kept opening and letting in the air. But the music was lovely, especially Jimmy Crowley’s “Old Bob Wrigley.”Â
