Monday 28 January 2008

Ireland's Four Fields, 1/25-26/08

Thank you everyone for coming out! It was a fun weekend. We were glad to have Jim the Drummer back. He announced his presence with authority - and impressed a cheering table of Quarters players - by leaning over the stage rail just before the 2nd set and bouncing in a quarter from a couple yards away! Always heart warming to see the college education pay off - kids: don't be a fool, stay in school. Of course he requested (demanded) that this feat of skill be noted here in the blog - I'll assume the check's in the mail. He did play drums too, by the way, but it was a really good shot! Go ahead, challenge him to do it again next time you see us - I'd like to see a creative way to increase the difficulty level...

Other notable news - 40 Thieves and Ireland's Four Fields have become the Official Band and Pub of Birthdays. I counted 51 birthdays celebrated this weekend, many by drinking (shocker)! Happy Birthday everyone, even the liars! We've decided to start a new birthday celebration tradition, in which the entire band will come running up to your table, banging a drum and blowing whistles, stick a 2 1/2 foot Guinness hat on your head, and shove a cupcake with a green icing shamrock in your face until you blow out the little shillelagh candle, all the while singing some made up birthday song to the tune of "Who the F... is Alice". Kinda like what they do at Chevy's but without the sombrero.

Cheers!

Wednesday 23 January 2008

Ireland's Four Fields, 1/18/08

Second show without drums. I thought it went great, just really, really great! Everything sounded good, it was just really, really great. I hope no one saw my hands shaking. I mean quiting drums is one thing, but to do it cold turkey like we did, 2 shows in a row - not easy. I thought the rest of the band covered pretty well, but behind the scenes everyone coped in their own sad way. Randy vomited I think each time we left the stage, Charlie burst into tears several times - particularly at times where there should have been a drum solo - and Melanie didn't say a word to anyone all night - not one word.

Hopefully my hives and facial tic will dissappear by this weekend, when Jim is planning to rejoin us. Next time we're going to play without drums, I really think we should wean off them slowly - like Jim could play smaller and fewer drums through the course of a night, until he's down to just a toy drum and a couple popsicle sticks. That would make it so much easier. See you Friday and Saturday, I'm going to go for a smoke.

Sunday 13 January 2008

Harp and Fiddle, 1/12/08

Last night was fun, thank you to everyone for coming out! We were sorry Jim couldn't make it. He is still, we understand, convalescing. Which is a euphemism for feverishly coughing, puking and taking drugs - and not, unfortunately, either recreational or performance enhancing. The drugs, that is, not the coughing and puking.

Since he wasn't there, we were able to break out a couple Springsteen songs - one we hadn't done before and one we wouldn't normally do - without the disapproving glare. That and a Dylan song we'd never done were the only curve balls, I think. The rest of the regular sets sounded good, but...

Definitely a more subdued sound without the drums. Charlie and Randy decided it was closer to chamber music than we usually sound. (I guess they did notice my new Takamine cello after all.) And then after a couple pints they decided perhaps it was "gas" chamber music, which they thought would make a great Marilyn Manson album title. All of this was said off-mic, of course, but I assure you, in context, it was very funny.

See you next time!

Friday 11 January 2008

Randy's Corner

(A semi-regular view of Randy the Fiddle Player's extracurricular activites. Disclaimer - not always written or endorsed by Randy the Fiddle Player, though he does refer to himself in the 3rd person.)

Always wanted to be able to play the fiddle like Randy the Fiddle Player? Or just to hold a fiddle in his presence? Maybe just stalking him hoping to increase your cool by osmosis? Or just bored to tears when 40 Thieves is not playing?

Well, now you can learn the ancient art of Fiddle Playing from the master - Randy the Fiddle Player! And accomplish those other silly things as well. Just sign up for his Fiddle Playing class at the Vienna Community Center - click here for the info: http://www.viennava.gov/Town_Departments/page16.pdf

I can't believe Randy the Fiddle Player is the only one giving back, teaching others. The rest of this band is a bunch of slackers.

Thursday 10 January 2008

Injury Report for Saturday

Doubtful - Jim Sullivan, drummer
All other's expected to play.

Jim's a key guy for this offensive unit. Without him there, they simply won't be as loud. He's been battling flu-like symptoms for the last week, and even if he can go, will not be at full strength. The melody leads and harmonies should be relatively unaffected, but at some point that rhythm section is going to be trying to find the downbeat, and they could falter. It's going to come down to the consistency of Charlie McNamara. He's the bass player, and his notes are really low. Without solid drumming behind them, any band will look to those low notes to steady the ship. But they've done it before. We'll see how the rest of this experienced group handles the adversity when they turn on the lights, or kickoff, or drop the puck, or whatever the hell...