Chiff & Fipple

Yesterday, March 25, 2006, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of Chiff & Fipple. If you missed it, do not despair. The celebrations continue until mid-May!

Also, don't worry if you failed to throw a party on that specific date, because that specific date is a tad arbitrary. Kind of like December 25 for Christmas. Sadly, there are no records to tell us precisely when Chiff & Fipple started, although I'm fairly confident it was 1996. I'm sure sooner or later, someone riding a camel will come across an earthen jar containing yellowed documents that give us a more precise date. Until then: March is Chiff & Fipple anniversary month.

On St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2006, Cherish the Ladies were musical guests on the Imus in the Morning radio program, broadcast from Boston and simulcast on MSNBC television. The Ladies came to play and were warmly received by the distinguished audience at this meeting facility in Boston. In the course of a three-hour program they were able to perform three songs.

The first performance was "The Cat's Meow," their up-tempo signature piece which featured a trio of fine Irish dancers.

After that performance, Imus said to the band "ix-nay on the instrumentals and dancing."

In an effort to meet the needs of the ill-mannered radio curmudgeon, Cherish the Ladies performed a vocal. No dancing.

Imus' response: "I must say the singer looks great." Imus continued, "That said, don't dance, and don't play your dopey instruments. And don't play something that sounds like a funeral dirge. We're not drunk. It's morning."

At that point, Joanie Madden bounded over a table (at which were seated Imus' other guests, Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin) and beat Don Imus to death. Later, Imus' body was removed with Joanie's O'Riordan whistle still lodged in his esophagus.

A visibily shaken Presidential Historian Doris Kearns-Goodwin, speaks to reporters after incident. (Her comments were later learned to be very similar to Gov. Romney's, and were not attributed to Gov. Romney by Kearns-Goodwin.)

Deceased Don Imus with Pat O'Riodan whistle lodged in and perforating esophogus. (Artist rendering courtesy of Industrial Light & Magic)

Ok, she really didn’t, but she should have.

Don Imus: Enemy of Irish Music.

Dear Dale,

CF readers might be interested to know about my latest recording, Beauty Is Everywhere (Powers Run Records), made with a reunited Devilish Merry, a group with whom I performed in the 1970s. After dispersing across the country, we again find ourselves in more or less the same time zone and have begun gigging again, recently completing a Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation grant for new compositions in a traditional vein. Like our earlier material, Beauty Is Everywhere blends Appalachian-Irish styles with a dash of Middle Eastern/Latin rhythms — music that’s alternately mellow and edgy, enchanting and nefarious, like what you’d hear wandering in the shadows of misty Glendalough and suddenly coming upon Dock Boggs and Jimi Hendrix sitting with a lost tribe of Zulu shamans drinking poitín and jamming their brains out. Thanks to the miracle of modern technology, we recorded Beauty Is Everywhere in dribs and drabs, so I was quite surprised when the final CD appeared and it turns out I’m a featured soloist on every track, including three of my own new instrumental pieces. Sounds pretty good overall, and you can dance to it. You can check www.devilishmerry.net for info.

A new line of whistles, with a not-very-catchy name, yet to be tested in the C&F labs:

VI. NAMRFC: North American Midwest Regional Fleadh Cheoil (also not real catchy).

Dear Dale,

The North American Midwest Regional Fleadh Cheoil for May 12 (evening) and May 13, 2006 in St. Louis, Missouri. This is a qualifying event for the All-Ireland Fleadh which is scheduled for August 25-27, 2006 in Letterkenny Co. Donegal. To get more information go to www.slia.org and click on "Midwest Regional Fleadh".

We look forward to hosting whistle fans and other Irish musicians in St. Louis.

Many thanks,

Laura Crites

Midwest Regional Fleadh Chair 2006

St. Louis Irish Arts Comhaltas Branch

We're pleased to introduce Oz Whistles! The little Whistle shop in Oz dedicated to all whistlers, from beginners to professionals, traditional or contemporary, near or far, it's likely that we've got the whistle for you!

We're located in the beautiful garden village of Leura in the Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia.

Our website and show room are still under construction. If you would like to make an appointment to visit our shop, or if you would like more information on our products, please contact Mitch Smith.

It's for whistle and other traditional instruments. Students seeking teachers and teachers accepting students, by country, state, city. Enjoy!

Thanks to everyone for everything. Chiff & Fipple has been a great thing in my life. I've made many friends and enjoyed a lot of fine music. What's better than that, really?