On Friday, I went into the studio with my good friend and music partner Jamie Haeuser of Gunns & Drums. We spent the day recording a CD called This Is the Best Irish Music CD Ever Recorded. It is ALL DONE!
April Fools!
Okay, I had to add some sort of April Fool's joke in there. One Friday, we DID record music for an album. We finished all the vocals and autoharp. We just need to record Jamie's bodhran, mix and master it. The album will actually be called How America Saved Irish Music.
That album title is not a joke either. The CD takes a look at the American (and world influence on Irish music). Many artists have done this same theme, but I think ours is a little different. First, there are no instrumental Irish tunes on this CD. The instrumentation is an autoharp and bodhran and vocals with harmonies. Many of the songs merge a little blues and swing in them. This is a wholly Irish American CD. The only song missing that might truly drive home the title is “Danny Boy”, but that just doesn't fit the theme quite right–America's influence on Irish music.
[rant]
Next time you meet someone currently living in Ireland, ask them where to go to hear Irish music. Every time I do that, the answer is the same, “No one places traditional music any more outside of tourist traps.” That's not entirely true, but it's not inaccurate either. You can find it, but in Ireland, it's a dying commodity. If it wasn't for America and the millions of Irish ex-patriots around the world, Irish music might've disappeared.
Next time you go see Lunasa (currently on tour IN THE U.S. with a new album), think about this… The band wouldn't exist with YOU! They are an Irish band who gained popularity because they are from Ireland. Yes, their music is fantastic and they have some amazing musicians. But without America, they would've never have found a place in the world. Hell, the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem only became popular because they found a niche, rebel songs for Irish ex-patriots!
Now we have the Makem & Spain Brothers. Spectacular vocals, but these are Irish Americans who found their start because of the success of Irish American musical ex-patriotism… Are you getting my drift yet?
The guitar was never a part of traditional Irish music, nor was the banjo or the bouzouki, or even the autoharp. While Irishmen might be credited with introducing those instruments to the trad community, but they rhythms are American! About the only place you can actually hear Irish rhythms is in an Irish session. Almost every Irish band I've ever heard, rocks out for their contemporary audiences because that's what they know.
[\rant]
Whew! The point of that rant was to say that Gunns & Drums will have a new album out within the next year. Once Jamie finishes recording the drums, we'll have a better idea as to when. Our hope is to release it this fall. I'll keep you informed.
In the meantime, see if I'm right. Prove to me I'm wrong. Until you do I'll continue to prove and cherish the fact that it was America who saved Irish music!
Hi, Gunn Runners!
Let me add to Marc’s rant. May the circle of Irish American music never be broken – Irish music certainly informed American music in many forms – and one of the most surprising is jazz. Yes, jazz. My hometown’s original music form developed, among other places, in the city’s Irish Channel, a working class neighborhood where African Americans and Irish Americans lived together. The late Neil Cassidy shared this view; he maintained that the Irish Gaelic word “teas” – Pronounced tay-ahs – which means “fun,” was the origin of the word “jazz.” Most folks would not agree, but I know that having played drum in many a ceili, that there are structural similarities between an Irish music session and a jazz one. In any case, I know you will enjoy this CD, and I prmise to get right into the studio to finish up. There are a couple of songs where we do a lovely mash-up between the Irish and American versions…and one or two complete surprises. Oh, and Marc looks GREAT with short hair!
Warmly, with music,
Jamie Haeuser