i just called to say i love you
Hello,
Thanks to those who showed up for shows on my tour, the most recent date which was at Flat Lake Festival last Friday.
A quick word on Flat Lake. We were asked by the lovely folk from ORIGINS to perform a set at the Gonzo Theatre tent on Friday night of this special festival; it was quite unlike any other I’ve attended. Flat Lake is mellow and family friendly while at the same time managing to embody a surreal chaos. It’s a mix of Father Ted and Salvador Dali, of high creativity and artistic naivety, the haphazard and ever shifting schedule of events leaving you totally bewildered as to where and when shows take place. You suspect that from within the drowsy stately house overlooking the gentle zaniness, Patrick McCabe is the lunatic puppeteer, master-minding the whole un-corporate affair.
Our set was well attended and Enda Roche, Christophe Capewell and I played with spirit. There were many great performances over the weekend - I really enjoyed Louis De Paor and Nuala Ni Domhnaill’s recitals, John Banville, the hilarious Brown Bread Players, Trevor Browne, Lennon vs McCartney, Jinx Lennon, Colm Keegan, the destructive set from Whipping Boy (‘fuck off bad energy!’’ quoth the bard), Bill Coleman, BRMB, Enda Reilly and Stephen James Smith, and finally the joyful circus of Harry Bird and the Rubber Wellies wrapping up the festival in true glee. Special.
And so to the album. The one very hopeful thing I’ve taken from writing this forthcoming collection is that I’ve written a lot of new songs, stories, and lyrics. I’m happy I got to try a lot of these new pieces on my latest jaunt. I was afraid for a while that there might be another record after this but new waves of songs are falling again and I know there will be more. That may be the nature of writing - when you’re looking for songs they’re elusive but when you think you’re finished, the mind frees up and gives you more. I think I’ve developed as a writer and hopefully this will be evident on the new record.
Snippets
Here’s an interview new music champion Peter Nagle conducted with me recently - I talk a little about the process of writing the album there.
On the tour I played at the Debt Records curated night in FUEL in Manchester. Here is a recording of ‘Ways To Kill’ from that gig.
Also, my collaboration with Enda Reilly ‘Ag Ól ag Ól ag an Garbhóg’ will be soft released very shortly. I’ve a few more shows over the next while. You can keep an eye on the gigs page here.
Ok, that’s all for now. Take care.
P
