I tried a search for ‘session’ but found it is not possible to search the forums for session as it is too common a word.
I would love to hear funny or strange stories and experiences from sessions. Interesting characters you have seen or met. General observations on the various types of sessions and the people therein. As my search failed if anyone knows of this type of thing already I would appreciate a link to it.
Here is one to start from myself. The session was a try before you ‘buy’ for the club concerned. Not buy really as no payment was needed other than hopefully some hospitality for the musicians. It was a club here in England with an Irish family running it and a fairly mixed group of people frequenting it. Some were great mixers and some were just mixed. Not a very ‘up market’ club, more of a charter establishment with some more discerning class of drinkers.
Most of the people seemed to be enjoying the music and fun and it was going pretty well. One man who was standing at the bar was not. While I was up there I heard him moaning about the music using words that were stronger than the drink. He was the type who did not like ‘new’ people coming into his club. He put on the juke box to try to drown out the session music which was so annoying to him. A lot of the other regulars in the club complained to him and moaned and shouted to him. Some of them came over to the players and said your man was a miserable trouble maker. He was now staring me out while standing with his back to the bar. His angry glaring eyes were fixed on me, challenging me. One of the regulars, Billy, was a good friend. A great fun loving, harmless drinker, as long as he stayed off black Russians. He was a reformed character having previously ‘done time’ in famous prisons. Detained for her Majesty’s pleasure as the authorities say here. I can’t really see dear old Liz out for a bevy with Billy though, ones jokes do not amuse. I know he had been in gangs when he was young but I knew nothing of the details. He had a reputation but I knew him to be to be fine. I am not at all violent but said to Billy that I would lump the juke box lover. Billy said don’t get silly. “Now just get everyone to sing along with the songs, everyone including those who don’t or even can’t sing, now is there chance’. So all the musicians joined in, singing like expert bodhran players or fiddlers with greasy bows. Within a few minutes your man looked even more miserable, finished his drink and walked out and we were left to get on with life with peace and goodwill.
I had a similar experience the other night at a session that has been going for many years. This regular in the pub kicked off at the end of the evening. He was very threatening. We got out without violence, but only just. Sadly, I can’t go to the next one, this week (it’s fortnightly). I feel bad about that, because the evening was left on a sour, and deeply threatening, note, and I would like to support the other guys in the session by at least turning up. But, rarely, I have something else on that night.
I think the music we love is becoming more and more unpopular here in the UK. People in general seem to just hate it. It’s decidedly getting worse. These things are happening all over the place.
Our musics are a niche market I will admit, but I have never had any experiences like what you describe. The punters in the bar are more likely to come up and ask for the Titanic tune or do riverdance impersonations.
As for strange session stories, one session I was at, had a some African dancers come in to the pub so we started jamming with them while they danced. They were really getting into it good style when the floorboards gave way. Nobody was hurt, and after everybody had stopped laughing (including the pub owner) we moved to a different part of the pub and got going again. (BTW the floor was replaced before the next session).
I’m peased to say that has not been my general impression of things. I agree it is a minority music but then other than maybe middle of the road pop most music is to some degree. Mostly there are a large number, the majority, who don’t like it, but they generally tolerate it here. It’s not surpising I think, the same can be said of most music. There are lots of young players who are really into it and into folk dancing etc. Folk festivals are still very well attended.
The band I play in did a wedding gig where a 14 year old gave a great break dance display on the the floor to our reels and said he loved the music though he had never heard anything like it before.
That’s great. I’m pleased to hear it. Maybe it’s just round here. Even places where it used to be “tolerated” (it’s never been more than that) are getting just plain hostile to the music. It doesn’t have words, and it doesn’t sound exactly like something that you’d get on X Factor or the like.
There are a very few people who, despite not being connected with the music, still seem to like it, but they’re in the tiny minority. Perhaps I should move house …
Nor mine (although the sessions around here are predominantly, although not exclusively, English in musical style, if that makes any difference ). They seem to be thriving. At a couple I go to regularly people come especially to listen to the music (gluttons for punishment some people ) and at my local there are definitely faces on a session night that are not there other nights when it isn’t on. New sessions are springing up with a new on in Oxford and a French one here in Wantage about to start.
I’ve no stories of aggro although at a recent session out in one of the villages one Irish chap got so morose that all he could do was bawl his eyes out and clap loudly after every tune shouting ‘Beautiful, beautiful’ and then blubber some more in to his hankie. He was a bit ‘tired and emotional’ and propably had the mother of all hangovers the next morning.
Nothing threatening around where I live; management wouldn’t tolerate it anyway, if it was overt. If ever there are begrudgers, we’re more likely to laugh at them for their trouble, tit being rightly for tat.
I guess my main beef is with those folks who come in and ask why we don’t play any Old Time and/or Bluegrass. Well, first of all it’s none of their business, but since they already don’t get that, instead I ask them if they go to Old Time and/or Bluegrass sessions. The answer, perhaps not so curiously, is always “Yes”. Then I point out that there are a lot more Old Time and/or Bluegrass sessions around town, far more than Irish, aren’t there. The answer is also, of course, “Yes”. Then I ask if people play Irish music (not just tunes) at Old Time and/or Bluegrass sessions. The answer of course is, “No.” Then I ask do they dislike Irish music, and of course they protest, “Not at all.” Then usually I look at them and say something like, “I don’t see a problem here,” and leave it at that.
Be that as it may, it’s better HR than giving 'em a cuff on the noggin and telling 'em to &#$% off. And it’s no loss with the ones who’ve had a few - it’s even more disorienting for them when you force them out of their twirlies for a moment this way, because when you let go, they spin all the harder. It’s fun to watch them wobble away cod-eyed.
Maybe it’s not WJWD, but hey: it’s a session. The craic must be upheld.
This is an interesting discussion. I’m rather surprised by the tensions present in the original land where this music came from. I mean, I understand not playing “Come Out and Fight” in Northern Ireland and avoiding “The Haughs of Cromdale” in England, but I wouldn’t have guessed it was a matter of declining taste and not political tension. Stateside people seem to really like Celtic music, especially younger types. Most people I know would jump at the chance to hear some good Celtic tunes, mainly because unless you’re actively looking for it, it’s not too common at least where I’ve been.
That may well be a big part of it. Here in the States it’s usually just one cultural artifact out of many, rather than a charged potential source of national antagonisms. OTOH, Ben hasn’t clarified that old tensions have anything to do with it.
Some people are just philistines, and maybe they’re simply getting uglier, is all. Could be their shoes are too tight. Could be they don’t like to see others having fun, or are jealous of those who can play music.
I think it’s simply a case of ignorance. People think that “music” means the processed pap (with words and screechy voices) that passes for pop nowadays. Anything else offends their ‘sensibilities’. And, honest to God, they’re getting more vocal, and even more physical about it. The session 10 days ago simply closed early because our music was, apparently “f***ng sh1t” and we were disturbing their darts match. And this was even though we were in a different room and they had a jukebox on in theirs.
The main culprit then waited outside the pub (where the landlord couldn’t see what he was doing) and followed me down the road to my car when I left. I got away because I got in the car quickly and drove off. But this sort of event is becoming fairly common round here. All you lucky guys where it doesn’t happen. Like I say, I should probably move house.
Of course, there’s always the possibility that my playing, and that of my friends, really is so bad that it deserves this kind of treatment.
How old are these people? What sort of demographic do they occupy?
Code for “It was fetching and they were nonplussed to find themselves transfixed, which was socially embarrassing and therefore unacceptable.” Did the landlord ask you to quit early?
This is very disturbing. There’s no call for it. None.
Remote as that must be, then these “friends” of yours should have a meeting with the landlord about it if it bothers them so much, and not behave as thugs instead. Failing that - and somehow I think such will be the case - YOU should have a meeting with him, and see what kind of solution there may be for it. If you’re being menaced to the point of fear of physical harm, this is important, and if I understand anything I’ve heard about British law, it would be of great interest to the authorities.
The landlord was very supportive actually. But short of calling the cops, he wouldn’t have been able to do anything on that particular night. He certainly didn’t ask us to quit early. In fact he said that we were always welcome. But the fun had gone clean out of it. And this guy (the complainer/troublemaker) was loud, abusive and extremely aggressive, even with the bar staff. No way could we have carried on playing. Frankly, apart from anything else, I feared for my instruments. I wanted to get them in their cases and out as quickly as possible.
Mid-40s, what used to be called “working class” which, these days, is code for “unemployed”, at least here in the UK.
This guy’s behaviour (and that of one or two friends of his) would certainly have been “of interest to the authorities”. But I have no desire to make things difficult for the pub, which is where the difficulty lies in situations like this.
In my world that alone would get a guy kicked out and no question, maybe for good. The three ineluctible rules of the bar, as far as the bar is concerned, are these: 1) The bartender’s authority is next only to God’s (metaphorically, of course); 2) You DON’T abuse the staff for your pleasure; and 3) It is not your constitutional right to be served, particularly if you act like a dick. Good patrons who reject barbarity accept this social contract, for rights extend to the help, too. Is everyone afraid of him so?
It’s really unfortunate to even have to speak of rights, when simple human consideration could take care of things.
I live in Alabama, and in a college town. This creates an interesting mix of white trash rednecks and college students, with some overlap. The students in my experience are open to the music, or at least tolerant. It’s the other demographic that tends to give the dirty looks. I’ve seen people that can’t wrap their tiny brains around the idea of someone that’s “not a queer” willingly play a flute. Last week, from across the room I saw a couple of rednecks mocking my finger movements and laughing while I played whistle.
But, it’s not all bad. We were ousted from our former venue when the bar changed owners. Now we’re in a chain restaurant that hosts kid’s night on the same night. Which could easily be horrible, but some of those kids have enjoyed it more than any adults I’ve seen.
Last week I was on a trip visiting relatives that took me to several large cities across the US from east coast to west. As usual, I did my session.org search for some music in each locale. In one large metropolitan city listing it was recommended to call first. So I called the chap that apparently ran the session. He sighed, paused and asked me where I was from. When I said Hawaii he said, “Well, there can’t be much Irish music there! This high level session and is not for beginners.” When I said I wasn’t a beginner he then began to interrogate me. How many tunes do you know? What speed do you usually play a reel? What is the time signature of a slip jig? When someone starts a tune you don’t know, what do you do. How many times do you have to hear an unfamiliar tune before you can play it? On and on it went. The longer this interrogation progressed the more flippant my answers became. I didn’t hang up because I was incredulous at what was happening. This session did not sound like a fun evening and I did not intend to go. Apparently while on the phone with me he googled my band’s web page and said reluctantly that since I was in a band he guessed it would be okay for me to come. I asked if he would be there. He said, “Oh yes of coarse!” “Well, in that case”, says I “I’ll be giving it a pass.”
That evening, after a dinner with my family we were looking for a place to have a drink and there, two doors down, was the pub in question. We went in to check out this “high-level” session and the jerk who ran it. Well, as it turned out, it was indeed a high level of music and craic! Everyone was very nice and welcoming (I still had my instrument with me)…except one curmudgeon in the corner. I asked the fellow next to me if that was the fellow who ran the session. He said, “Not anymore… Too big an a** hole.” All evening every time he opened his mouth to complain about something several people would tell him to shut-up. Funny dance they had going there.
PS: Now that session.org lets any member edit the original listing, I removed his number. Hopefully nobody else will have to suffer this insufferable fool… He was a good player though.
) and at my local there are definitely faces on a session night that are not there other nights when it isn’t on. New sessions are springing up with a new on in Oxford and a French one here in Wantage about to start.