Blues & All That Jazz

'PINT?' Text message from my pal.
Unusual for a Thursday night.
'Mon then!'
Met him at the corner and started walking to the local.
The form was bad, he gets 'down' at times.
We get to the pub and he doesn't want to go in.
'Wanna go somewhere else for a change, into town?'
'Why not?'
We call a cab and go to a pub I frequented as a youngfella, an old place, full of character and characters. But that was back then, full of students now.
My pal doesn't do 'let's talk about my problems', he takes me drinking to cheer him up. Somehow we always end up laughing by the second drink. Go figure.
The students got too much for us so we left and went to a pub on the opposite side of the street. It was quiet, and the beer was good.
And then we hear a piano. We turn around and see a three piece band just starting. Jazz & swing. We've stumbled into one of the best kept secrets in the city.
We were both still singing on the cab ride home.
We were both in good form today.

Someday......

A belated Birthday pressie for my good friend sav. Hope you like it missus.


The Way You Look Tonight.     < CLICK TO PLAY.

Tomorrow.,..Tomorrow....,

A new song tomorrow, and a change of style. A man has been too lazy and needs a swift kick up the arse with a size 15 worky boot. Thanks our Jimmy. I be crooning on the morrow my friends, a late birthday pressie for missus sav.

Tonight was my first night singing this new year, an 80th birthday celebration. Good fun. But I am tired now. I need a good sleep Mr. Sandman, look after me ok? And may I wake with energy and joy, and happiness in my (weary) heart. May I have, on awaking, a tiny piece of the strength that eminates from my big brother Jimmy B. My Hero.

Tomorrow.  :-)

Songs Sales & Storms

I've often tried to work out exactly how many songs I sing at a wedding or other such function. We normally do a three hour set, but if the crowd is good it can be a task to stop us. I reckon we do 60/70 on average, but I know I have done over 100 at some good ones. There was a time, long ago, when a little singing fella could keep it going all night (and sing as well!). It's been a busy Christmas, folk still love a good wedding! I've been staving off that feckin' head cold with pill and potion galore to keep me in respectable singing voice, and it worked. But now 'tis comin' to claim me. I don't mind, and I'm not complaining, there are far more people worse off than I. I'm enjoying the fruits of a single pot still made into a 'medicine' with a few cloves, lemon, a little hot water and demerara sugar. I'm enjoying many if truth be told, and the fugginess is delicious.

I took the youngest and her cousin, along with Mrs. M., on a shopping expedition to Dublin yesterday. (Two hour drive each way.) Shopping is not my favourite thing. (Can you guess what is? NO Jimmy, that's just a pastime!) Having been out gigging 'til the wee hours the previous three nights did not help my demeanour. But my girls had a ball. I carried bags, stood outside shops, smiled , oohed & aahed in all the right places and got everybody home in one piece. Them January sales can be a bastid!

There's a storm blowing in from the Atlantic again tonight. I still haven't repaired the fences from last weeks storm. The gazebo took flight into our next door neighbours garden, thankfully not causing any damage on it's trip. No sign of any sheep!

One of the daughters gave me a new (much needed) wallet as a christmas pressie. It is a fine wallet, and much appreciated. Why am I finding it hard to part with my old worn bedraggled wallet which has moulded itself into the shape which fits so comfortably against my upper right thigh?

I wish you all health, safe shores and happiness in the coming year.

That's A Wrap!

I have three daughters, who, once upon a time, were wee little things, and we (Mrs Maurcheen agus mé féin) used to spend into the early hours of Christmas morning wrapping their presents when we knew they were sound asleep.
They are 21, 19 & 15 now. And we still do the same thing.
This year the two older ones had a drink with us after dinner this evening, a sure sign Ma & Da are getting old!

I was going to record a lovely Christmas song for ye but I have been laid low, struck down as it were, had the rug pulled from under me, been cursed with an affliction worse than the worst of afflictions for a singer. I have a head cold and my singing voice is not at it's best, so I will not be singing for you. I know....,, tears and sobs all over the known world....so instead I offer you a video of my Christmas dancing skills as produced by one of my PR team. Thank you dear hope.

I have made many dear friends here in Blogland, and it is my deep honour to know you one and all. I would especially like to thank my Taller Pal for being the giant upon whose shoulders this wee singing fella has stood for many a year.

Nollaig Shona daoibh mo chairde go léir.

A very merry Christmas to each and every one of you. (From Atheist Maurcheen)

(Please click on the link below.)


http://host-d.oddcast.com/php/application_UI/doorId=1177/clientId=299/?mId=55830552.2  <<<<<

Thoughts Trees & Tayto's

Oh the weather outside is frightful! (I sang this tonight.) It is. Though I have yet to experience weather inside!

Did a gig tonight with my smaller act 'TAT2' in a G.A.A. clubhouse. (GOOGLE it). We had a grand audience of four people when we started, though it rose to about 22 by the end of the evening.  The weather outside really was frightful! We kept the gig really mellow, all crooner like and christmas stuff.  The 22 were most pleased.

One of the audience members came up for a chat after the gig, she said she used to work with my late sister Helen, we had a good auld chat about her. It's a great feeling to be able to talk about my sister with a friend of hers without getting melancholy.

The tree is up, though I hated the thought of getting all the stuff out of the attic! My girls put it all together whilst I was out singing. It is just grand, and I shouldn't be such a Grinch!

It's almost 3am and I'm eating a bag of Tayto's (GOOGLE it!). And drinking a can of Green Joy (Heineken).

I can't express enough the amount of joy I get from singing. It makes my heart lighter, my heid stronger, and my whole being one hundred times better. I may not be everyone's cup of tea, but when even a small audience applaud it makes my day. I am a lucky man to get a wage for doing something that thrills me so.

Every now and then I get this overwhelming feeling of panic when I realise that I will one day cease to exist! That someday I will be on my deathbed. It frightens the bejasus out of me, it really does. But it makes me want to DO stuff NOW! It's what makes me do silly stuff on stage, take chances that I might otherwise have had second thoughts about because of what people might say or think about me. It makes me LIVE!

I'm having another bag of Tayto's!  :¬)

xxx

Aye Aye Jimmy

A couple of posts back I posted a video of this song performed by the composer.

My good friend Cecil posted the following comment; 


"This could have been written for two oul scarred and gnarled pals who continually bob to the surface, regardless of what goes on behind the scenes, eh?

One small gripe. I'd rather hear you sing your version."

So here it is.

https://soundcloud.com/mapstew/the-voyage  < Click To Listen