Gig, Dolan's Upstairs, July 3rd 2007

A good night was had by all.

Blas, the summer school run by the IWMC (or is the IAWMD or the IWADM or the....I have every intention of referring to it as the IWMC regardless. I don't handle change very well) generally blesses those of us left in Limerick for the summer with a few decent gigs to see us through those dark weeks between festivals. Last night saw Niall Keegan and Sandra Joyce take to the stage with the divine Muireann MacAmhlaidbh and the equally divine Clive Carroll. Muireann's dad Fergus (a 100% bonafide gentleman) and Niall's sister Naoimhe fiddled a bit, while the MA flute class of 2002 - Kirsten Allstaff, Majella Bartley and Mick McCabe joined in for a very flute-y finale. I was breathless (see, what I did there was...).

Anyway, pints before tunes, as the saying goes (or at least the title of this blog). When we arrived we were shocked and appalled by the huge number of persons in at OUR gig. (Never be afraid to be self absorbed. It's a good lifestyle.) Anyway, we stood out on the terrace with our pints (beer in case you're wondering) and thus heard the first half of the concert through a solitary speaker, over the chatter of what seemed like thousands of European (Spanish? Italian? Not sure) students who, it transpired (via the slightly unreliable chatter in the smoking area), were all there as rent-a-crowd. Not very cool really - surely a gig that's three quarters full of dedicated gig goers is better than one too full of half arsed students who just want to get away somewhere to feel each other up in peace without the irritating whinge of folk music disturbing them.

Anyway, luckily, they all left for the second half, and we went inside. It kicked off with Clive Carroll. Now. Every single time I see this man play, I still find the stuff he does slightly unbelieveable - you find yourself sitting there, puzzling at the physics of the whole thing. Needless to say, I was spellbound, particularly by the furious rendition of the Hungarian Dance by Brahms (don't quote me on that. I'm fond of making up composers for pieces to make me sound knowledgeable). Next up, Muireann and Sandra did some singing. I rarely get to hear Sandra sing, and it's always such a treat.

Niall was awesome as usual - it's not exactly my favourite style of flute playing - rather too jazzy and complicated for my tastes - but I can really appreciate the technicalities of it. Niall and the flute class of 2002, with Sandra on bodhran, Naoimhe on fiddle and Clive on guitar finished the evening.

All good clean fun, but not amazing. I like lots, but I won't be raving about it for years to come.

In other news, Finbarr Dwyer is back in July - that was a great night the last time - should be good.

More personally (and self indulgently), I'm going back on Weight Watchers tonight. Yes. Before Miltown. Hilarious. So, it'll be more than Glasses of Wine and Tunes for a while. Pints still sounds better though - it's nice and pithy (not pissy, children). And I'll be back on them before the week is out.

Toodles, poodles.