Playing the KAC

Friday the 13th turned out to be a luck nite for Craobh Dugan, the Irish Group that I play with.   We had a gig at the Kirkland Arts Center, one of CNY's best venues for acoustic music.    It was the 30th anniversary of the Centers coffeehouse series, and Craobh Dugan was the first group ever to perform there, so it was a privilege to be on stage in this setting.   Three of our members, Jim O'Looney, and Mike and Chris Hoke performed at the first concert.   That concert showed that the Utica Rome area was indeed a great audience for acoustic music and 30 years of success at the KAC, under the direction of volunteer Ginger Parker, has grown to bring our area some of the biggest names in acoustic music (David Bromberg - my all time #1) over the past three decades.    And Ginger and the KAC continue to do so while also giving the stage to local acts like us.

Playing the KAC is a treat.  It's like a glimpse of what life must be like in the big time - a really lively room that is acoustically as good as any I've played in - along with one of the best sound men around, Tom Bell.    The sound is superb both onstage and in the audience.   This is my second time playing on this stage (Played here about 6 years ago with the Tired Hands Sting Band - opening for Silk City) and I really enjoy these performances.  

The pre-show experience is great - hanging in the back room with the other musicians, warming up, a bit of banter, last minute changes in the show, seeing the nerves start to show,  watching the place fill up, retuning the mandolin for the 10th time (even though for once it seems to be in tune) , and the anticipation as showtime is imminent.

For me the best part is always when the show starts.  The jitter are gone, and it's time to play and share the music we have been practicing with the audience.   There are few things in my life that are as much fun as those moments on stage performing music and sharing what I love with a people who appreciate it.   Beyond fun?   And to be doing it with a group of musicians who are so talented - I feel like the weakest link in the chain when I hear what the others are playing and am glad they allow me to come along for the ride.   I don't know anyone around our area with the knowledge of Irish Music and the ability to play it like Jim O'Looney and Mike Hoke.   As Yogi Berra says, "You can observe a lot just by watching" and playing with them has helped my Irish style playing come a long way.    The rest of the group is pretty darn good too - Skip, Ed, Mike, Kevin, Chris, and Mary Margaret are all pretty good musicians as well and each bring unique talent to the mix.

The show  was one of the best (the best??) we have played in the two years I've been with the group.   The effort and practice everyone in the group put in came out in the performance.   I know Irish Musicians are supposed to look serious and sometimes the complexity of the tunes puts that expression on your face, but most of the time I was on stage I could feel a big smile forming. 

The audience showed their appreciation time and time again, not only during the show, but as I was leaving many folks came up to me and told me how much they enjoyed the show.  

Yep, it felt like the big time......