As promised months ago (okay, so I’ve been busy!), the new website has the “Flute Comparison Page” where models of different flutes are used to play the same tune, roughly the same way.
Also, the first look at the ongoing Rudall Research Project is there, too. Not much (I’m still cataloguing several dozen, so more for the site is coming hopefully by next month) but you’ll see what I’m doing and what I’m looking for. Please PLEASE provide any info that might be missing.
Also, check out the Nicholson book section for a look at a photo of a neat painting of the man himself, Charles Nicholson!
Hope all is well with everyone!
Note to Conal: Sorry I missed you in Milwaukee! I couldn’t find your booth, so I spent most of my time playing tunes with Jimmy Noonan (great Rudall he’s got!) and Vinny Cronin (who plays a way-cool Binyon flute).
(open mouthed and drooling) You got to play tunes with Jimmy Noonan
I was on the roof of the Park East friday night. There was a fairly good session up there. Providence’s guitarist plays a mean banjo, and he’s a nice guy to boot.
[ This Message was edited by: energy on 2002-08-23 02:18 ]
Energy,
You saw Providence in concert? My good buddies Peter Molloy and David Cory are filling in on flute/whistle and guitar/banjo (respectively) during the North American tour. Both are really, really good guys. Since they aren’t playing in concert around here I won’t have a chance to hear them as a band. How were they?
As for Jimmy Noonan, it’s rare to hear him playing, although he’s in the pubs around here all the time. Mostly he’s busy drinking and socializing.
Best,
Chris
jimmy’s a goof…great guy, talkative and sociable. VERY high energy!
he played a tad with seamus connelly on stage a few times, but otherwise the best way to get him was around the park.
Never made it to the Park East roof because other sessions around town had me too pooped by the late night.
Also spent a little time with Gary Shannon, a fine flute player with Kilfenora (and a couple solo albums that I love listening to)
Providence was good. It was hard to measure any of the bands by the crowd, for some reason the audiences on Saturday were really tough to crack. There were problems with the mixing, the sound guy couldn’t seem to get all the instruments mixed just right. The flute seemed too loud, and you couldn’t hear Michael O’Reilly much at all. I liked their show, but they didn’t knock me flat, either. However, at the Park East I heard Dave mention that the crowd had been whooping it up for them the day before. That’s when I would really have wanted to judge them as a band.
But in my oppinion, award for best band of the weekend goes to:(…dramatic pause…)Bohola!!! Actually, I saw only a little of Bohola’s stage show, but they made my day with their playing in the ceili tent.
And Dave, I actually spoke with Garry Shannon several times-seemed like a nice guy.
And to close up my this official report on the fest (brought to you by Erasers-Don’t make a mistake without one! Sorry.), I wasn’t at all impressed by the highly touted North Cregg. Their playing was way too smooth, like they had no fire in their music. I had the pleasure of meeting their fiddler on friday night, though.
David - what a wonderful start. The beauty of these instruments demands the attention of us all. I see there is a R&R in New Zealand - I am going to make it my mission to see and hear it. If you want any local specific research done let me know. Best to all. Warren
Hi Nate
I wasn’t in Milwaukee but I do know the members of North Cregg, and another friend was also there. She said (and she’s a big fan) that the sound was so bad that if she’d never heard them before, then she wouldnt want to see them again. Just to clarify a bit - they’re usually brilliant.
Deirdre
Sorry to hijack this thread David. Those flute samples are wonderful, thank you!
Now back to hijacking the thread…
About North Cregg - that’s really unfortunate about the sound. North Cregg is awesome, and nothing if not full of life and fire. It’s too bad, a bad sound situation can really ruin a concert. I went to a Cherish the Ladies concert once that was totally spoiled by bad sound and I had to explain to all my friends that wasn’t how they really sound.
About Providence - I’d guess that the bad sound also put a damper on their show a bit. You might also be interested to know how Peter Molloy and David Corey ended up playing with them. John Whynne, their usual flute player, was unavailable for the North American tour for some reason, so they called Peter in Boston about a month before the tour began and asked him to fill in. He spent about a month locked in his room with his tune book and playing away at the sessions trying to learn all the tunes and get his playing up to where he wanted it to be. Two days before The North American tour was meant to begin Peter recieved a call on his cell phone. Paul Doyle, their guitarist was not going to be let in into the US on account of having the same full name and birthday as a suspected IRA terrorist. Providence was looking for someone to fill in in N.A. Peter told them about David, who is a prodigy banjo and guitar player (he’s only 21) and that was that. Peter called up David and said “Hey David, do you want to be part of Providence for a couple weeks? You’ve got two days to prepare.” David agreed and that was that. So off they went on tour, but to complicate matters further, Peter was not able to go on the Canadian segment of the tour due to his US visa having expired many months ago. If he had gone into Canada he wouldn’t have been able to return to the US. He is currently engaged in an effort to obtain a greencard.
So, there you have it.
Both of those bands really kick arse, so you might consider giving them another try.
Best,
Chris
[ This Message was edited by: ChrisLaughlin on 2002-08-25 13:15 ]
Chris, that thing about Paul Doyle would be funny if it wasn’t so serious. But anyway, if North Cregg or Providence ever come through the area, I’ll probably go see 'em. I’m already counting the days 'till Lunasa comes to town next March…
And did you mean ‘prodigy’ in reference to Dave? I’ll agree to that, his playing up on the roof made my night.
Nate
[ This Message was edited by: energy on 2002-08-24 22:48 ]
but I do know the members of North Cregg, and another friend was also there. She said (and she’s a big fan) that the sound was so bad that if she’d never heard them before, then she wouldnt want to see them again. Just to clarify a bit - they’re usually brilliant.