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
Entry tags:
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.
no subject
Lucky you. I never saw him anywhere but on TV....
(no subject)
no subject
God rest you, Tommy.
(no subject)
no subject
When I heard of his illness the end of last year, I prayed for him often, but apparently it didn't work. How does this "healing prayer" thing work, I wonder.
I also think it's about time we were further along than we are in treating cancers of various kinds. I mean, it's the 21st century, and the rates of nearly all cancers are going through the roof (due to environmental toxicity and degradation, IMO). People have been researching cancer for decades now; how come nobody's yet figured out how to send cancer cells a genetic-based self-destruct message?
I miss Tommy terribly already, but am quite blessed in being able to see him in action many times, including with the Clancy Brothers' 1984 Reunion tour over in Ireland. Performers of his caliber come along in centuries; I am a folk musician myself, but I wish I could figure out how to connect with listeners the way he always did...
(no subject)