Just got back from hearing patrick street

**Keith Newell** · Nov-10-2007, 3:29am

I just got back from the Alberta street public house in Portland Oregon and listening to Patrick Street. Kevin Burke, John Carty, Andy Irvine and Jed Foley. Wow! what fun. I have seen everyone live before except John Carty. He played Fiddle, tenor banjo and flute. I couldn't keep still.
New goal is to play as effortless as Andy and as economical as John on the Banjo....yes I know I build mandolins but play tenor banjo 50% of the time at Irish jams. Anyone else there tonight?
Keith

**chinatogalway** · Nov-10-2007, 5:43am

how was the sound without Jackie Daly ? Did the banjo take more of a lead ?

**steve V. johnson** · Nov-10-2007, 9:47am

Man, I LOVE the way these folks play. woo. I didn't know that John Carty played flute! Cool!

Jackie Daly will always have a special place in my heart, and I'll sure miss him with PS.

I hope to see PS on this tour...

Keith, do tell us more about the sound without Jackie?

Thanks!

stv

**Keith Newell** · Nov-10-2007, 10:53am

Yes it was great fun. I thought that John on the banjo did fill in a bit more with the banjo and it sounded good. Kevin and John did quite a bit of harmony licks in the background on fiddles when Andy was singing and playing, you still had a reed sound because Andy was playing harmonica and bouzoukie at the same time (tough to do!). The banjo though was a nice driving force, on one song Andy was singing John came in on banjo and it meshed perfect with Andy's voice, it had a very unique sound. Kevin was typical Kevin, funny, flawless, and was more than willing to let others shine. I see Kevin periodically because he lives in Portland.
They played a tune written by a female fiddler and I can't remember her name but Kevin said she has also moved to Portland so maybe we will all see her doing a gig. I can't remember her name though, I think she was from Canada? Anyone know?
Keith

**steve V. johnson** · Nov-10-2007, 11:20am

When Ged lived in Ohio we got to hear him with John Carty sort of often. They played at a huge feis in Cincinnati, with Bernie Nau (and someone else, whom I can't recall...), and on a couple of occaisions, Ged and John did concerts together.

Boy, there are two different fiddle styles, Kevin Burke and John Carty! Cool mix!

Thanks,

stv

**Bill Van Liere** · Nov-10-2007, 11:33am

Thanks for the report Kieth. I did not know those guys were still playing. Wish I was there. I never cease to be amazed at Andy's effortless ability to blend his instrument with his singing.

**ruraltradpunk** · Nov-11-2007, 9:32am

John Carty is playing a bit of banjo in Patrick Street too? How cool is that! He's one of my favourite banjo players - never over plays and always goes for feeling over speed, which is a winner in my book.

Jill

**otterly2k** · Nov-11-2007, 8:47pm

Looking forward to catching their show in Philly this week....

**John Goodin** · Nov-11-2007, 10:33pm

I just pre-ordered the new CD from Amazon last night. Can hardly wait.

John G.

**GD Armstrong** · Nov-12-2007, 12:24am

They did a show at my store on Sat. night - small venue - 50 people and then again at the Alberta St on Sunday. Very cool contrast, the one at my place was all acoustic while the one at Alberta St was through the PA. More delicacy & subtle acoustic - Much more drive & power with the sound reenforcement. They are all amazing!

**FredB** · Nov-12-2007, 12:29pm

DANG! They were at the Austin Celtic Festival a week ago and I missed them. I was catching up on some of the other groups at other stages chasing the down some bodhran playing ...there, I said it, the secret's out

I wish I had a "do over"

Fred

**Keith Newell** · Nov-12-2007, 10:03pm

OK GD Armstrong I'm wanting to know your "store" and since I live in the area I might come see it.....whats the name? I have heard Kevin Burke and Jed Foley years ago totally acoustic at the old Artichoke music store venue when they played in the window as a stage. Maybe 35 people there and it was magical.
Keith

**GD Armstrong** · Nov-13-2007, 12:14am

Hey I was at that Artichoke show too! My store is in Newberg, it's Newberg Music Center right in the middle of the old downtown on 99 heading back into P'tland. I'm usually there on Tuesdays & Fridays so I can spend the rest of my life in the workshop. I'd love to have you come out. Store phone is 503.537.2196.

**Paul Kotapish** · Nov-13-2007, 12:24pm

I saw the Berkeley show at the Freight. It was a full, but not packed house, and the response was very enthusiastic. The lads played very well, indeed, but I sure missed Jackie's playing. In general, I thought the tune sets from the new recording were the high points of the evening. The Sligo sets with twin fiddles were particularly strong. Kevin and John have very different styles on their own, but they sounded great together. John is a wizard on everything, and his banjo playing is very strong.

Andy Irvine's accompaniment figures on the mandola and whatever he calls the OM-like guitar thing are always a revelation, and they particularly shone on "Plains of Kildare," one of my favorites from his classic album with Paul Brady. Ged's guitar was a bit muddy in the mix, but his playing was punchy and energetic, with a few nice harmonized bits with Andy on some of the slower things.

As always, Kevin's fiddling was elegant and seemingly effortless. Made me more than a tad nostalgic.

**steve V. johnson** · Nov-13-2007, 3:40pm

Here is the Patrick Street page on the Green Linnet site, with the tour schedule:

http://www.greenlinnet.com/artists/patrick-street

Friends in PA, NY and MA can catch them this time around. #

Ged Foley's site says that there will be more Patrick Street US touring in
May.

Slainte,

stv

**otterly2k** · Nov-13-2007, 10:49pm

will be going to hear them tomorrow night in Philly. Will post afterwards...

**otterly2k** · Nov-15-2007, 9:57am

Fabulous concert -- nice venue, fairly small (maybe 150 people?), round room... just the right energy for a Wednesday night.

I got a great seat up front, so snapped a couple of pics with my palm pilot... they're not great, but it's something.

Here's Andy with the Sobell OM

**otterly2k** · Nov-15-2007, 9:59am

Here's the Sobell guitar-shaped zouk. Boy... that puppy has seen better days... has lots of cracks and the pickup is held in place with duct tape... but it sure does sound fine...

**otterly2k** · Nov-15-2007, 10:15am

Here's the whole group... sorry again for the poor picture quality.

I continue to be awed by Andy's playing - all over the neck, moving lines and all varieties of chords, delicate picking as well as driving rhythms, etc. I actually wished it had been boosted a bit in the sound mix... there were times when it got swamped by the guitar. FOrtunately, the guitar was excellent as well!

**Paul Kotapish** · Nov-15-2007, 11:43am

Interesting, Karen. In your photo Ged is on the opposite side of the stage from where he stood at the Berkeley, California, show. He was on stage right--next to Andy--that night.

**otterly2k** · Nov-15-2007, 11:47am

this was their set up all evening... I guess they're versatile that way.

**steve V. johnson** · Nov-15-2007, 1:14pm

Hey Karen, you're killin' me... sure wish I could have heard them this time around. Thanks for the pix!

I noticed the changed setup, too. The last two tours Ged was at stage right. Lotta pickin' goin' on!

Andy's and Ged's playing intertwine so amazingly. In a workshop once I asked Ged about it and he said that
Andy's playing (and his singing, too) are so original that Andy has 'the right of way,' and then Ged works around
whatever Andy does.

My favorite band.

There isn't a record newer than "Street Life" is there? Last summer Ged mentioned that they'd been recording, in Ireland, I think, but I've heard no more.

Thanks very much for the pix!

stv