Dervish in philly

**otterly2k** · Mar-05-2007, 1:51pm

Hey - I just had a chance to see Dervish in concert here in Philly this past weekend. Really wonderful show... with that characteristic Crump bouzouki sound (Michael Holmes) in excellent counterpoint with a lovely mandola (Brian McDonagh) -- I think the 'dola was a Foley... not 100% sure... anyone know?

**otterly2k** · Mar-05-2007, 10:14pm

guess not... Stv? are you out there?

**PCypert** · Mar-06-2007, 9:50am

Lucky. My brief time with a Crump GOM lead me to Dervish...what sound and energy...can't wait to get to see them play live someday.

Paul

**steve V. johnson** · Mar-06-2007, 1:56pm

Hi, I'm here! But I'm not sure what it is that Brian is playing these days. The last time I saw them live, which was several years back in Ireland, I think the dola was a Gibson, but I'll go back and check the pix I took and report back.

And Phil Crump told me, maybe a year ago, that he had made another new B-III (big!) zouk for Michael. I recall that I asked Phil if it was very different from the other, and he said that it was only different in a few subtle details... Subtle to him and Michael, I guess, might be pretty significant to us peasants... <GGG> (and zouk nerds).

The arrangements they achieve with all that pickin' goin' on are just astounding to me... Capos all over the place, too... woo.

stv

**Steve L** · Mar-06-2007, 2:10pm

I saw them a couple of years ago and I would bet money Brian was playing a Foley. Sometimes actually seeing people playing a lot of weaving complex lines takes a bit of the impenetrable mystery out of it, but I didn't have that experience with Dervish. I spent the whole concert in a state of delighted astonishment.

**Greg Ashton** · Mar-06-2007, 2:21pm

I can add that I've read that Brian tunes the dola CGDG and then capos often at the 3rd fret (DAEA plus a half tone).

**PCypert** · Mar-06-2007, 7:49pm

I read at one point it was an old Gibson, but you know how folks change all the time...

Paul

**BBarton** · Mar-06-2007, 8:18pm

Saw them last year and Brian was without the old Gibson H -- apparently the airline took care of that. 'Not sure what he's playing now.

**otterly2k** · Mar-06-2007, 9:26pm

This was definitely NOT a Gibson... almost certain it was a Foley...

Re: Michael's Crump... yes, it was big (he's a big guy) and deep... I read on their website that it's spruce over rosewood. Lovely instrument and great sound.

Delighted astonishment, yes... I really love how they trade back and forth with such facility... in particular, it makes key changes very quick as one of the rhythm instruments cuts out and the other picks up in the new key (while the other guy moves his capo)... clever trick, that!

As a non-mando aside, the vocalist was wonderful and also a VERY good bodhran player... tunable bodhran that she actually played bass lines on. Bones too, and fun to watch, with great stories and humor. A class act all round... I only wished we'd have heard a LITTLE bit from the players... they let the singer do almost all of the talking, and I'd have liked to get to know the other band members personae a little...

Musically, tho, really really fine.

**Unseen122** · Mar-07-2007, 12:02am

I heard they had been playing with a Piper recently, are they still playing with them?

**danb** · Mar-07-2007, 4:09am

Ah good old Dervish. Seamus (12-string on stage) also plays the mandolin (and the fiddle!).. sessioning with Seamus was always a thrill ride

Brian used to play a pair of teens Gibson H1 mandolas, they were tuned up to play along with an Eb flute that Liam was playing at the time (I suppose this circa the "playing with Fire" and "harmony hill" CDs).

**PseudoCelt** · Mar-07-2007, 9:58am

Dervish will be representing Ireland in this year's Eurovision Song Contest. I'm not sure if this is a good or a bad thing...

For those who don't know about Eurovision, it's a showcase for the creme de la creme of European music. Kind of...

Patrick

**otterly2k** · Mar-07-2007, 10:04am

Dan- Seamus is not in the line-up these days ...who's playing now? -- Brian McDonagh (Mandola- also played some 12-string), Liam Kelly (Flute and whistles), Tom Morrow (Fiddle), Shane Mitchell (Accordion),Cathy Jordan Vocals, (bodhrán and bones ), Michael Holmes (Bouzouki)

Avery-- no pipes, but Liam is a terrific player of flutes and whistles...

**steve V. johnson** · Mar-07-2007, 11:37am

OK, I found a pic from the Dervish concert at the Gathering Festival in Killarney, Febr 28, 2004.

I -think- I can figure out how to get it posted here... let's see...

**steve V. johnson** · Mar-07-2007, 11:37am

Hey, I got it right.

Yep, there's yer Joe Foley mandola.# And capo'd at the 3rd fret, just as mentioned above!

(And in front of it is an AKG 414BULS microphone. #And, Ali O'Riada, the youngest son of Irish traditional music pioneer Sean O'Riada, was the sound mixer that night.)

stv

**danb** · Mar-07-2007, 11:43am

Yeah that peghead is either Foley or Abnett, the body looks more foley to me!

**otterly2k** · Mar-07-2007, 11:48am

thx Stv, thought so.

**steve V. johnson** · Mar-07-2007, 1:02pm

Dan, is Mr Abnett still building instruments?

Thanks,

stv

**dwhitty** · Mar-07-2007, 1:19pm

My 2 cents....

# #Hi guys...excuse the interruption (I am new here). That mandola in the Dervish pic looks exactly like a miniture of my Abnett zouk. The tailpiece with the red felt cloth under it, the shape of the scratch plate and even the label inside(what I can see of it). I would be very suprised if that is not one of Peter Abnetts instruments.
# #Abnett is still building instruments. #Google "Peter Abnett" to see find his site.

# # # # # # # Slainte # Dale

**zoukboy** · Mar-07-2007, 1:22pm

Originally Posted by (danb @ Mar. 07 2007, 12:43)

Yeah that peghead is either Foley or Abnett, the body looks more foley to me!

It's an Abnett. I saw Brian in his pub in Sligo last week and had a go at it.

**Unseen122** · Mar-07-2007, 2:02pm

Originally Posted by (otterly2k @ Mar. 07 2007, 11:04)

Dan- Seamus is not in the line-up these days ...who's playing now? -- Brian McDonagh (Mandola- also played some 12-string), Liam Kelly (Flute and whistles), Tom Morrow (Fiddle), Shane Mitchell (Accordion),Cathy Jordan Vocals, (bodhrán and bones ), Michael Holmes (Bouzouki)

Avery-- no pipes, but Liam is a terrific player of flutes and whistles...

Did they mention anything about a new album in the works? I heard a rumor.

Liam is a great player, probably in my top five of favorite Flute players. Plus, Eb Flutes always play like a dream. I notice he is playing a Burke Low Whistle in that picture also, those are very nice.

I was supposed to go to NYC over the weekend (and Monday) to see Flook with Michael McGoldrick on Sunday and Dervish on Monday. Unfortunatly my ride fell through.

**steve V. johnson** · Mar-07-2007, 2:39pm

Dale, thanks for the clarification, the confirmation that Mr Abnett is still building, and not least of all, WELCOME!

Roger are you still in Ireland? I'm jealous... <GGG> So ... how was your go on Brian's mandola, eh?

"Unfortunatly my ride fell through. "

Owwwww. Condolences!

Thanks,

stv

**1860** · Mar-07-2007, 2:50pm

Originally Posted by (PseudoCelt @ Mar. 07 2007, 16:58)

Dervish will be representing Ireland in this year's Eurovision Song Contest. I'm not sure if this is a good or a bad thing...

For those who don't know about Eurovision, it's a showcase for the creme de la creme of European music. Kind of...

Patrick

I am still trying to remember some of the Eurovision song entries that best clash with the "creme de la creme". There was the one that one last year from Finland where they looked like Mutant Alien Thingamajigs or something and played heavy metal.... or....

anyways Dervish sounds like a refreshing change for Eurovision, real music!

**danb** · Mar-07-2007, 4:57pm

Originally Posted by (zoukboy @ Mar. 07 2007, 19:22)

Originally Posted by (danb @ Mar. 07 2007, 12:43)

Yeah that peghead is either Foley or Abnett, the body looks more foley to me!

It's an Abnett. I saw Brian in his pub in Sligo last week and had a go at it.

AH! I remembered from Han Speek's bouzouki, though I was leaning towards Foley

**otterly2k** · Mar-07-2007, 4:59pm

Thanks, Dale and Roger, for clearing up the source of the mandola. I knew SOMEBODY here would know!

Avery-- yes... they did mention a new album in the works... they said the whole Eurovision thing has disrupted their timeline or it'd already be out and they'd have had it for sale at the concert. But it'll be out soon. (also... re: flute players... do you know Shannon Heaton?)