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......

My Musical Year - Ah Spring.....

The more I reflect on 2011, the more I occurs to me what a good year it was for music.   One of the things I appreciate most was joining "Craobh Dugan", the local branch of Comhaltas, an international organization devoted to preserving and promoting the Music and culture of Ireland.   For an Irish Polack it was a bit of a homecoming.   Irish Music has always had a strong appeal, and I've dabbled a bit over the years, but never got serious enough to learn the music to reach a level where I could perform.    In 2010 I decided to jump in with both feet and join the group.   Haven't looked back since, and it's been one of the more rewarding experiences of my musical career.   I truly enjoy all the friendship and the music we all make together.   It's pretty cool to sit in with some truly outstanding Irish Musicians and play and learn the art.   And they are good fun to hang out with. 

So what has all this got to do with Spring 2011?  That's peak performing season for the group with St. Pats day in March.    I don't quite remember how many shows we did, but there were plenty.    And most were done in Nursing Homes.    Craobh Dugan does a lot of shows for the folks who truly appreciate having a live performance and don't have the means or ability to get out and see it on their own.   It's  a great way to give a bit back, and I think I enjoy these gigs as much as any stage performance we do.   When one old timer came up to me after a show, nearly in tears, telling me how much he appreciated and enjoyed the show - better than a standing ovation!!  

The performance part of Craobh Dugan has also been a real boost to me - without which I never would have learned to read music, or got the idea to buy and learn Irish Tenor Banjo (which is coming along slowly but surely)   But having the performances has pushed me to learn (and more important appreciate) a lot of tunes I never would have approached.   Not to mention all the fun along the way..... there will be more to follow for sure.