Patrick Street
Friday, Nov. 2 2007
presented by Lincoln University Share in the Arts
www.shareinthearts.org
Right Turn for Patrick Street
Kate AkersIn 1986 a one-off tour dubbed "The Legends of Irish music" included musicians Andy Irvine, Kevin Burke, Jackie Daly and Gerry O'Beirne. Legends, indeed. Each of these musicians would merit a very wordy column on his own just to summarize their CVs. That "one-off" tour went well enough for them to choose the name Patrick Street (there's one in every Irish town) , and they have been touring ever since. Over the course of 22 years, guitarist Gerry O'Beirne was replaced by Arty McGlynn, followed by Ged Foley. Ged has now been with the group since 1996. Each of the longstanding members made his name in the 1970's and 80's with bands whose recordings are considered standard issue for Traditional Music 101 -- Andy Irvine, Planxty; Kevin Burke, The Bothy Band; Jackie Daly, De Dannan; Ged Foley, The Battlefield Band and The House Band.
Highly successful individual careers as ensemble and solo performers weave an aura around Patrick Street that has given the group a bigger-than-life reputation. From an early concert came a quote from an audience member waiting to get into the theater "I don't know this guy Patrick Street, but the boys in his band are really good."
The obvious musical ability of the personnel has always been just the frame for the bigger picture. Each member brings unique qualities to the music. Kevin's melodically artful fiddle playing and fondness for idiosyncratic tunes juxtapose perfectly with the swing of Jackie Daly's Sliabh Luachra-style polkas. Andy Irvine, master of all things bouzouki, brought with him his love of eastern European music and time signatures that are uncountable by mere mortals. Add to it his bottomless musical briefcase full of traditional and original songs. For 20 years the group's music has been a mix of the eclectic, bound together by the traditional, always well-crafted, tunes and songs which have made Patrick Street one of Irish music's top attractions.
The ensemble is rounding a new corner, however. Change started in 2005 when John Carty, master of fiddle, flute and banjo, joined the band. Relatively unknown by Patrick Street standards, Carty is a rock-solid traditional player raised in the rich London traditional music scene. John moved back to the family homestead in Boyle, Roscommon in 1992 where he committed to playing music full-time and immersed himself in Sligo-style fiddle music. In 2003 he was awarded the prestigious title of TG4 Traditional Musician of the Year, Irish music's highest honor. Other winners include Tommy Peoples, Mary Bergin, Maire Ni Chathasaigh, Matt Molloy, Paddy Keenan, Sean Keane, James Kelly, Liam O'Flynn and bandmate Jackie Daly.
Now in 2007, Patrick Street bids a bittersweet adieu to Jackie Daly, who is retiring from the band. The new album, On the Fly, which is due out in October, has Jackie offering his farewell with two tracks, one of polkas and another of reels, both featuring his distinctive accordion style. Whatever Sliabh Luachra swing the band loses with the departure of Jackie and his button box, it gains something new with John Carty's fiddle, flute and banjo greatly broadening the group's sound.
Perhaps the real highlight of this new era for Patrick Street, though, is the double-fiddle sound of two of the finest players of our era. Carty and Burke's musical styles are closely aligned; they are both students of the north Connaught style. On the Fly highlights their shared enthusiasm with tunes honoring past Sligo fiddle masters Jackie Coleman, Michael Gorman, Paddy Killoran and Lad O'Beirne.
On the Fly is the band's 11th album and the most decidedly traditional. All but two of the tracks feature traditional pieces, heavily weighted in northern Connacht origins, as one might imagine. Carty and Burke each post an original tune- Burke's airy hornpipe "The Long Acre" and John's haunting piece "Seanamhac Tube Station."
Andy turns in excellent performances of traditional songs for this album with the Scottish, "Erin go Bragh," "The Rich Irish Lady" learned from his early influence Peggy Seeger and "Sergeant Small" , an Australian song of migrant workers which mirrors the American experience. Ged Foley, whose reliably excellent guitar work provides the glue, gives us a striking rendition of "The Galway Shawl."
On the Fly captures Patrick's Streets musical transitions and whets the appetite for even more musical evolution in the group's live performances and recordings.
Patrick Street will be touring in the US in November, starting with appearances at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, and the Austin Celtic Festival. On the Fly will be released on Loftus Records (an independent label owned by Kevin Burke) in October. It will be available via band member Web sites and at performances.
www.kevinburke.com www.andyirvine.com www.johncartymusic.com www.gedfoley.com