The Boston Session Blog

One Track at a Time, Day One

2012-01-30T04:34:00.000-08:00

Meself and Seáinín start our new sessions at Four Green Fields this week, so to celebrate I will be giving away tracks from my album, Far From Home, which was released in 2010. Each track will be available only on the day of the post, so if you check back every day you can get the whole album for free!

Track 2: The Shaskeen/Lady Anne Montgomery/Maud Millar

This live recording was made at Club Passim, a legendary folk club in Cambridge. Seán and I had been playing sessions together for a little over a year at that point, and this was our first concert gig. I learned the tunes from Dan Cummins and Beverly Buchanan, who together make up Liam's Fancy a band named in honor of their friend Billy McComiskey, who is the source of much of their music. I was fortunate to meet Dan and Bev when they had first started playing music together, in the late 1990s. I played quite a few of their early gigs with them before I moved to the New York area in 1999, and learned a lot. They didn't suffer too much when I left-they soon replaced me with John Skelton. ;-)

Not long after I came to Boston, Seán's dad John was visiting our session at the Banshee in Dorchester, and played Maud Millar out of Lady Anne Montgomery, just as I had first learned them. What a wonder this music is! From Co. Mayo to Boston to Philadelphia to Kentucky, some tunes just go together.

Tommy Doyle's, Spring/Summer 2011

2012-01-10T09:01:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted very much here since my own recorder gave up the ghost last year, so I thought I would share a few things that Rosanne Santucci recorded since then.

The Knotted Cord/The Swallow's Nest/Maguire's/Dwyer's/The Ravelled Hank of Yarn

A great set here, which includes some tunes from the oft-mentioned Bev-Billy pipeline. I wouldn't mind if someone other than David would learn that last tune.

Junior Crehan's/Rakish Paddy/The Virginia/The Earl's Chair/The Musical Priest

Some of my favorite tunes, led off with a lovely slow reel from Eric Cox.

Two Good Men

All you people ought to be like me (and Cisco) and sing about Sacco and Vanzetti.

A Couple of New Songs

2012-01-03T12:48:00.000-08:00

Here are some of the fruits of my recent songwriting labors. They were both recorded at the Tommy Doyle's session, in the waning days of the old year.

Before He Turned Nineteen

Christmas in Rehab

Something New

2010-08-14T08:50:00.001-07:00

Been neglecting this place forever -- here is some video from Tommy Doyle's. Many thanks to Ryan Abernathey for shooting and editing this video! If you click through to YouTube, you can watch in HD.

Tommy Doyle's 05/14/09

2009-05-22T20:54:00.000-07:00

Heya folks -- a couple of songs here from my humble self, and some wicked banjo from Brian. It seems we were all in a Canadian state of mind that night.

Mary Ann

I learned this Nova Scotia song when I was in high school. Actual Canadians never seem to have heard of it.

Frosty Morning/Brenda Stubbert's

An old time tune paired with a Cape Breton reel.

The Field Behind the Plough

I hope Stan was smiling down at us from Canadian heaven.

Tommy Doyle's 05/07/09

2009-05-13T05:38:00.000-07:00

Maids of Mount Kisco/The Sligo Maid/The Swallow's Tail

Great set of Sligo reels here from Sean and Laura -- I've got to learn that third one.

The Peacock's Feather/The Home Ruler/Off to California

I learned the first of these hornpipes from the playing of Mike Rafferty, though I am not sure he would approve of the density of my triplets.

The Plough and Stars/The Corner House/The Redhaired Lass

Another set of reels from Dan and Bev here.

Deportee

Been singing this Woody Guthrie song since I was a kid.

The Banshee 04-29-09

2009-05-12T08:46:00.000-07:00

Sorry there haven't been any updates recently, I have been having some computer trouble. Here are a few things from the Banshee.

Music in the Glen/The Old Copperplate/Jackie Coleman's/The Skylark

Learned this first tune from Mike Rafferty's playing at our session at the IAANJ back in NJ. The other 3 all come from (you guessed it) Dan and Bev. Get on that Skylark, lads.

The Cruel War

Melissa and I have been singing this for a while, but this is the first time I got a good recording of it. I learned it from my mother. Real nice mando work from David here.

The Handsome Cabin Boy

Speaking of David, he had been holding out on us!

The Banshee 04-01-09

2009-04-02T08:34:00.000-07:00

Nice blasht of music here from last night -- enjoy!

Cooley's/The Sally Gardens/The Bird in the Bush

We used to play this set in Kentucky -- weep no more, my lady! I put John's pic here in honor of his sage advice at the beginning of the set.

Watchin' the Apples Grow

I love this Stan Rogers song -- no offence to Ontarians.

Farrell O'Gara/DeVanny's Goat/The Wise Maid

Great set here from Laura! I will get that goat yet -- I almost had it by the third time through.

Settin' the Woods on Fire/Jambalya/I Saw the Light

You could think of this as a set of Hank Williams' tunes.

Bring me my Sheep for I am Lonesome Tonight/The Steaming Pile of Haggis/The one that's on some Altan CD/Farewell to Ireland

Great strathspey and reels here from herself -- until dear Emerald tells me the names of the tunes, you will have to make due with my comic subsitiutes.

Paddy O'Brien's, Paddy O'Brien's, and Paddy O'Brien's

2009-03-31T10:29:00.001-07:00

Been going through some old recordings, and I found this set, from last year at The Irish Pub, in Quincy. I love these tunes! Thanks to Dan and Bev for teaching them to me. All you Boston sessioneers, if you wanna get on my good side, learn these tunes!

Easter Sunday/Patrick's Night/The Four-Leafed Shamrock

The Banshee -- 01-28-09 -- Cider

2009-03-30T13:04:00.001-07:00

I wrote this song a few years ago, on the occaision of the death of the last traditional cider makers in Sussex county. Ah, for a jug of the local stuff!

Their Sons Know Only Beer

The Banshee 03-18-09 -- Quakers!

2009-03-27T05:32:00.000-07:00

Here are a few tunes.

Merrily Kiss the Quaker/Jimmy Ward's/The Kesh

I think I would rather merrily kiss the quaker's wife, but to each his own. Careful observers will note that Liam still can't manage the C part of the tune, and reverts to chords at that point. Just wanted to clear that up -- definitely not an arrangement. ;-)

The Mountain Road/The Wind that Shakes the Barley/Drowsey Maggie

Bit of comedy here...

The Banshee 03-18-09 -- Do You Love an Apple?

2009-03-24T05:25:00.000-07:00

We had a nice session at the Banshee the day after Paddy's day -- here is a little taste, more to come soon.

Do You Love an Apple?

Singer: Melissa

Guitar: Liam

Fiddle: Seán

Tommy Doyle's 02-04-09

2009-02-14T19:17:00.000-08:00

Here is a nice set of tunes from Tommy Doyle's. I am afraid that I hijacked David after the 2nd one... To play the Tarbolton without the other 2 is to court the wrath of God.

The Boys of the Lough/The Tarbolton/The Longford Collector/The Sailor's Bonnet

Whistle: David
Guitar: Liam (first tune)
Flute: Liam (the other 3)
Fiddle: Sean

Update 03-24-09 -- Fixed the .mp3 for this one -- might wanna re-download it, if it is on your ipod.

The Banshee 02-03-09

2009-02-11T10:40:00.000-08:00

What a great sesh at the Banshee last week. Here are some highlights...

I Buried my Wife/Hag at the Churn/The Swallow's Tail/Banish Misfortune

The place filled up early, and we warmed up with these jigs. By the end of the set we realized that we would have to shift the session over to the window. After we reconvened...

Farewell to Ireland/The Humours of Tulla

Emerald is absolutely savage on these tunes. Fair play to ya, dear.

Dinny O'Brien's/Farewell to Connaught/Craig's Pipes

If Seáinín and I have a signature set, it is these. I learned the first two from Dan Cummins and Bev Buchanan, who I wish would come up to Boston for a visit.

Farewell to Nova Scotia

This song is coming together nicely!

The Cottage in the Grove/The Otter’s Holt/McFadden’s Handsome Daughter

Seán leads off this classic North Connaught set.

The Star of Munster/The Wise Maid

Back Home in Derry

The Green Briar 01-26-09

2009-02-10T05:12:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of songs from the Briar.

Don't Sing Love Songs

Singer: Melissa Foley

This song has rapidly become one of my favorites.

Amhrán Shandyston Mheiriceá

Amhránaí: Liam Mheiriceá

Rinne mé an t-amhrán seo faoi mo bhaile féin i New Jersey, Sandyston, i lár na sléibhte in iarthuaisceart an stáít.

The Green Briar 01-12-09

2009-01-14T14:07:00.000-08:00

Great sesh at the Green Briar on Monday! Here are some highlights.

DeVanney's Goat/Music in the Glen/Boys of Malin

Box: Mike Reynolds
Guitar: Liam Hart
Fiddle: Sean Connor

The first set of the tunes of the night, and a nice one! Mike warms us up on the goat and the glen, and leaves us all behind on the Boys of Malin.

England's Motorway

Vocal and Guitar: Liam Hart
Box: Mike Reynolds
Fiddle: Sean Connor

If you ignore my occasional missed fret, this came out pretty nice.

Craig's Pipes/The Bucks of Oranmore/Come West along the Road

Box: Mike Reynolds
Guitar: Liam Hart
Fiddle: Sean Connor
The whole crowd.

The Dark-Eyed Gypsy

Amhránaí: Feargal Ó Béarra

Feargal Ó Béarra was visiting us from Conamara, and gave us this great song. He is off to Washington next week to see the inauguration, but said he would be back in on the 26th. Mark your calendars! This was too good to leave off, despite all the noise.

Deoraí Thír an Fhia/The Silver Spear

Vocal and Guitar: Liam Hart
Fiddle: Sean Connor
The Whole Crowd.

Amhrán Dalta

Vocal and Guitar: Liam Hart

The Banshee 01-07-09

2009-01-13T18:41:00.000-08:00

Here is a set of reels from last week's session at the Banshee.

The Congress/The Star of Munster/The Wise Maid

Fiddle: Sean Connor
Mandolin: Phil Harwood
Whistle: Liam Hart

There are some other players there as well -- anyone who can identify them, post a comment.

Some great stuff from the Briar 1-13 coming soon!

Some stuff from the Briar

2008-12-24T15:47:00.000-08:00

Here are some songs of mine recorded at the at the Green Briar -- they are also available from my website.

Farewell to Nova Scotia -- I've been singing this song for twenty years -- I first heard it at a choir festival, of all places. Recorded at the Green Briar, February 11th, 2008.

Gaelic Princess -- The princess in question is my wife, the incomparable Ms. Findlay. Recorded at the Green Briar, February 11th, 2008.

Hughie the Graeme -- A ballad I first learned from the singing of Daithí Sproule, but have since put my own stamp on. Recorded at the Green Briar, February 25th, 2008.

The Witch of the Westmoreland -- I learned this great song (written by Archie Fisher) from the singing of Stan Rogers. Recorded at the Green Briar, February 11th, 2008.

Lord Thomas and Fair Ellen -- Another song I have been singing for two decades, I first encountered it in a book that belonged to my mother. Recorded at the Green Briar, March 3rd, 2008.

The British Army -- I learned this great satirical song from Carl Hylin, who I played with in the mid 1990's. Recorded at the Green Briar, March 3rd, 2008.

Intro and a Bit of Sound

2008-12-23T23:34:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my new blog! It is all about the sessions I play at, and will mainly be a vehicle to post regular pics and mp3's. I will try to post at least one update a week, with new sound from Wednesday night at the Banshee and/or Thursday night at Tommy Doyle's.

Blackberries! -- Some tunes from the lads.