desoto_hia873 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
desoto_hia873) wrote2007-08-03 11:04 am
desoto_hia873) wrote2007-08-03 11:04 am
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Tommy Makem
Tommy Makem died of lung cancer yesterday.
I saw Tommy Makem perform live twice while living in St. John's, Newfoundland. He was, for lack of a better superlative, amazing. The first time was a concert at the Arts and Culture Centre. I had a seat at the far right end of the first row, which was a little hard on the neck, but certainly gave me that up-close-and-personal feeling. The second time was at an Irish music festival. He was the closing act at the end of a long evening, and many people in the audience had consumed quite a lot of beer by the time he came on. Drunken hecklers had given a couple of the later performers a bit of a hard time, and I was worried that they'd do the same to Tommy.
Out he came around 11 pm, dressed like a janitor and with no backup musicians. It was just him, a stool to sit on, and one of the oldest banjos I've ever seen. He said a few words, then started to sing. He had the entire stadium mesmerized before his first song had ended. Really. Mesmerized. No one in the previously bawdy crowd even spoke while he was performing. I've never seen anything like it.
I've a fine, felt hat
And a strong pair of brogues
I have rosin in my pocket for my bow
O my fiddle strings are new
And I've learned a tune or two
So I'm well prepared to ramble and must go.
Rest ye well, Tommy.
I saw Tommy Makem perform live twice while living in St. John's, Newfoundland. He was, for lack of a better superlative, amazing. The first time was a concert at the Arts and Culture Centre. I had a seat at the far right end of the first row, which was a little hard on the neck, but certainly gave me that up-close-and-personal feeling. The second time was at an Irish music festival. He was the closing act at the end of a long evening, and many people in the audience had consumed quite a lot of beer by the time he came on. Drunken hecklers had given a couple of the later performers a bit of a hard time, and I was worried that they'd do the same to Tommy.
Out he came around 11 pm, dressed like a janitor and with no backup musicians. It was just him, a stool to sit on, and one of the oldest banjos I've ever seen. He said a few words, then started to sing. He had the entire stadium mesmerized before his first song had ended. Really. Mesmerized. No one in the previously bawdy crowd even spoke while he was performing. I've never seen anything like it.
I've a fine, felt hat
And a strong pair of brogues
I have rosin in my pocket for my bow
O my fiddle strings are new
And I've learned a tune or two
So I'm well prepared to ramble and must go.
Rest ye well, Tommy.
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God rest you, Tommy.
no subject