Howya christy how’s it going?
My parents are heading down to Wexford tomorrow night to see you.
My father told me that he was working on the roads in 1981-82 in naas beside the naas road at the round there where the ball is now.
He told me he was working and a big car pulled up and he seen you in the car. He said he seen his reflection in the car window and he said to his own reflection: howya John have you any oul autographs or tapes?
Just wondering do you remember this?
Christy's reply
The Naas Sliothar…I remember helping them to push it up onto the mound…we had an awful time of it.. we had to go into Eddie Marum’s afterwards and from there to Tom Fletcher’s…the porter was flyin, the Nuns were cryin and when we went back the Sliothar had moved off the mound and we had to start the whole bleddy business all over again…a Cat’s Flux…..if you want to share it ,whats John’s surname and where are ye from?
Hi Christy, coming over tomorrow with my young daughter Bethany to watch the Bohs v Sligo, then onto Drogheda on Saturday to see you, Dec and Jimmy! Could you possibly play any track from: Beeswing, Companeros or Metropolitan Avenue for her please?!
Many thanks
Martin
Christy's reply
Martin ,you’ll be in good company at The Bohs game…some great singers from The Góilín Club are ardent Bohemians…you’ll recognise them if you hear them..porter sharks one and all….good requests there…Bethany knows her songs alright
Hi Christy,, these local gigs are a great idea 🙂 newtown mount keneddy 25 min and gorey tom just 10 min down the other direction. looking forward. Hope all is well. Adam
Hi Christy
Amongst the acres of tributes to George Martin,I read no finer words,nor was there better imagery than in your description of the ‘rough diamonds’.
Hi Christy,just joined your guestbook.Just love your music,and have for a very long time.Hope to see your gig in Swansea later in the year…..Regards,Lee.
Hi Christy
A gloomy day that started with the sad news of George Martin’s passing and seemed like it was going to be a day to drag a man down….then it was transformed by a friend sharing a recording of the good vibes of you and the Trad lads flying the rafters off the Cork Opera House.I’m immensely grateful to hear the sound that I’ve been reading about for awhile now……and beautiful,it is.Great interplay of voices and instruments with textures a plenty.Its a masterclass and I can see why you’ve eased into the project ,reating it as an organic process.
Fair play to all involved and fantastic for you to have such a broadminded approach throughout the never ending tour.
‘I’d give all for the price of a flight…..’
Regards and respect,
Dave
Christy's reply
Respect to George Martin, gentle artistic genius,….he took those rough diamonds , cut and fashioned them to last forever……
we loved the Cork Opera House…I felt at home sitting amongst The Trad Outfit by The River Lee
Hey Christy,
Heard you the end of last year mentioning a new album and heard you mention it at the Barras gig in Glasgow. Is there any update on when we can expect it? Not been doing much online lately, new baby in the house, so kind of out the loop at the minute regarding upcoming music but really want to hear the new record. Hope you’re well, keep keeping on.
Joe McKenna
Christy's reply
congrats on the new arrival..hope all is well…
still working on the next album..its proving to be an interesting gestation…we had to delay the recording…then while mixing we realised that some tracks were not as accomplished as first thought, that we needed to do some re-recording..then some different songs came into the reckoning..we have abandoned deadlines and release dates until such time as the work feel complete…..dont know when it will be finished but we’ll keep you posted
In relation to Trump, I am amused at everybody getting their knickers in a twist since he is merely saying what a huge number of people in this country believe. For the Republicans to claim that they are horrified is nonsense, since this is the kind of stuff the party espouses. I live in an area that is almost entirely white American and I hear Trump type talk all the time. Another factor is that America is a celebrity culture and Trump is a big media figure, so that gives him a massive boost from the get-go. (Remember, Arnold was elected governor and Reagan became president. The mind boggles.)
I don’t think Trump really believes half of what he says, but he knows what people want to hear and so out it comes. He hasn’t articulated any definitive policy statements so far, choosing instead to spout one outrageous thing after the other. Far worse, in my opinion, is Cruz, a right wing ideological “Christian” bigot who believes that climate change is a hoax, is vehemently opposed to gays, and would nuke people at the drop of a hat, to name but a few of his positions. He is the person who is polling closest to Trump at the moment and is deemed more acceptable, but is a far more dangerous character. Tonight, however, following a few more primaries, it looks increasingly likely that Trump will be the nominee, and when that happens, I can see him toning down the rhetoric somewhat and trying to play nicer to court the Republican “establishment”. He knows, too, that he will have to appeal to Democratic voters to have any chance of success when the election proper occurs.
Lincoln, in the Gettysburg Address, talked about “government of the people, by the people, for the people”. A more accurate description of the U.S. would be “government of the money, by the money, for the money”. This is a plutocracy or an oligarchy, not a democracy at all.
I always enjoy your Chats, Christy. Keep them coming..
Christy's reply
Thanks Lizzy….the world has become so small…I remember as a small boy reading in our daily paper….”news has reached us of an earthquake in China 6 weeks ago”….
Have you heard a song from John Gorka “Broken Bottles”? just heard it last week.
We are in political turmoil here… 10 days after a General Election and we don’t have a Government…and still we get news items about Trumpf on our airwaves and media
Thanks for your feedback
Christy
Seems like in “Smoke and Strong Whiskey” That the eyes of the world are upon us. One can only hope the we as a country will do the right thing when the time comes. Most people I meet in Ireland last week were already convinced of the the inevitable. Time will tell if we can step back from this brink or we slide into a political abyss.
If I could ask a question.. I am starting to try my hand at songwriting, and I was wondering for true poets like yourself and Shane, Do you tend to start with the lyrics or write a melody and try to create words that fit the feeling of the music. Is it just personal preference? Also, When your learning new material. Do you just focus on one song at a time or do you work on multiple songs at a time? Thank you for your time and answer. The Martin has been getting lots of use since you last played it. I think you left some lightning in it as it sounds better then ever.
Thank you again for everything and Ride on!
Thor Torgersen
Christy's reply
everyone has a different process…I have never been a prolific writer…truth is I am probably more interested in singing songs then writing them…every now and then I get a notion to write a song and the process begins…I can spend months or years or days on a lyric before it takes shape…if I cannot find a melody I will contact my good buddy Wally Page and he will compose a melody for my lyrics. In the meantime I could be working on a number of songs from other writers…so for me its lyrics first….for others its music first…In my experience songs and poems are very different lads and lassies….occasionally they cross over….
when working on songs I can sometimes work on 3 or 4 at a time …when I am in such a mindset I do experience shards of obsession and sleeplessness that verge upon mild insanity…then I know I might be on to something…excuse me Thor…I’m feeling a bit giddy
I was browsing the Record Store Day releases, (which is happening on Saturday April 26th next) and spotted that Christy’s debut album “Paddy On The Road” originally released in 1969, is being released on 180g vinyl, it also comes with a digital download code.
Wow, that was quite strong and lengthy entry on “The Donald” He has all but assured that Mrs. Clinton will be our next President. Too bad there was such an average crop of typical politicians on the Republican side of the aisle or Trump would have faded with his venomous rants and ideas. Congress would shut him down and absolutely Nothing would be done in Washington if he did get in.
Thanks for the response and the great time you and the Martin O’Connor band provided. I just love the sound of the fiddle… Brian Gleason
I have just come to know that you will be coming to Newcastle, Co.Down on September 15th this year to play in the Slieve Donard Hotel!!
I have a friend who lives in Newcastle who is also a singer and trying to make it in the music industry and has also sang in the Slieve Donard Hotel, I could be asking for a bit much here but he has always wanted to be able to sing ‘Ride on’ with you but had never been able to get to one of your concerts or get talking to you and now that you are coming to his hometown i thought it would be a great opportunity to maybe get a few tips on how to be successful in the music business and maybe get to sing ‘Ride on’ with you.
i am so looking forward to finally getting to see you perform, i have been waiting for this for a long,long time!!
Christy's reply
all is well this day so far, thanks be..
its a conundrum….there is music and there is the music industry….very separate entities…
with regard to the music the only “tip” I can share is practice, practice, follow your muse, copy everyone you like until your own style begins to emerge..then drop all your influences and seek to develop your own sound and style of singing/playing..practice, practice, each and every day for as long as possible
with regard to the”Industry”… can only share my own experience……I went on the road in 1966 and learned about the “Industry” through experiences, pitfalls and bad ( and some good) “Industry” people….. after 20 years on the road I began to know the fruits of success within the “Industry.”(I enjoyed the music from day1)…There is no manual for what you ask…..every band, artist, performer has their own modus operandi….
with regard to the gig in Slieve Donard….it takes us all day to do our gig..between travel, rehearsal, sound check and the gig itself ,it is not possible to meet
I’ll keep you posted about the Nick Drake gig.For anyone interested,’Cally’ (the manager of Nick Drake’s music estate) at Brytermusic is always helpful in providing info.Nick’s sister,Gabrielle is also always generous in her praise of Nick’s work and giving great insights.
Very pleasing to read of your chat with John Peel.Sadly,I never had the pleasure.A friend is the last UK journalist to have interviewed John.They spent several hours on a Summer Saturday afternoon phone call.Her recollection of his warmth is similar to yours .She was euphoric at John’s generosity and deeply saddened by his death only a few months later .A real loss,for many reasons.
Hi Christy,
As well as being a birthday month for some of us,May looks interesting for music…(not least ,your album ?)
20/5/16 the release of Dylan’s next studio album,’Fallen Angels’,but no specific content info known yet..
12/5/16 at Birmingham Symphony Hall (as part of the venue’s 25th anniversary celebrations),’Way To Blue’-the music of Nick Drake….hosted by Joe Boyd,who produced Nick’s first two LPs.The gig features the wonderful orchestrations of Robert Kirby and the band includes Danny Thompson.
I’m hoping to be there ,as it seems well worth a trip to Brum.Also poignant ,as Nick spent most of his (all too short) life near the city.(Ticket info is on BSH website and brytermusic )
I’m fortunate in that I saw Nick play a very rare gig,supporting Fairport at The Free Trade Hall.I treasure the somewhat impressionistic memory of the night.
I first heard Nick Drake on John Peel’s BBC Radio 1 show in the late 60s.I loved Peel’s style and his eclectic approach.I’ve been meaning to ask you for awhile,if you ever worked with Peel and ,if so,shared memories would be fascinating.
All good wishes,
Dave
Christy's reply
great to hear about the Nick Drake gig …thoughts of Nick always followed by wondering”if only”….such a loss to his family and loved ones …such a beautiful young man who left a wonderful legacy of music and words….I wish I could be at the gig in Birmingham
Planxty did a John Peel session in our early days (1973 ish) In truth I dont remember the session. In the late 90s I spotted John on the Dublin /Liverpool Ferry. Not sure whether I should intrude upon him I eventually ventured forth and said hello. He put his paper away and invited me to sit. I spent a lovely hour in his company. He was welcoming ,warm and full of music.
Hope all is going well on the road so far this year.
I had been meaning to drop by and thank you sooner. Unfortunately, due to illness, my mam had to miss your gig in the Galway Bay Hotel before Christmas, but she was absolutely thrilled with the card that you kindly took the time to write for her. The simplest things certainly mean the most at such a difficult time, so thank you! You kept the doctors talking for the weekend..I think they were fairly impressed 😉
Hopefully she will be well enough to see you next time. Would be lovely to have you back in Galway again soon.
“Let the music lift your spirits high”- and that it does. Go raibh míle maith agat x
Christy's reply
I try and play Galway every year..hopefully something will come up to bring us back to The Claddagh
Its a great gig town, always has been…I still glory in memories of early days….coming into Town with Planxty to play at the Old Hanger in Salthill..it was a great ramshackle venue (where Leisureland now stands)….meeting Mick Lally, Mickey Finn, Pete Galligan, cavorting in The Celler, Bridie Hogans, The Harbour Bar…Corky, The Rabbittes,Terry the Busker, Gerry Joyce,
“Over in McCanns theres a grand type of Dance Band a playin
Lashin out The Continental Céilí”
Well done on a fantastic gig Saturday in woodlands hotel, was delighted to get front row seats. It was my self & my fiancée first gig & won’t be our last, it was brilliant mix of songs, my own favourites are Bright Blue Rose & Quite Desperation & was delighted to hear you sing them with the brilliant backing from Declan, Sheamie & Jimmy.
Your a legend Christy & you’re music has done a lot for our family’s. There are albums records of Time Has Come, Voyage, Ride On & Ordinary Man put away safely.
Keep up the excellent work
Christy's reply
good luck to you and the future Mrs Magee…..always good to hear from new comers….
Morning Christy,
Further to the epic reply to Brian,I’ve just signed up to Louis CK’s newsletter.I don’t know much about his comedy, but he’s definitely got my backing!
Thanks for the tip off and hopefully,sooner rather than later,common sense will prevail in the ‘land of the free’.
Have a good day,
Dave
Christy's reply
check him out on youtube……he has been compared to Lenny Bruce
Christy: What a great trip it was! I made it to both shows in the beautiful Cork Opera House and they were marvelous. The Mairtin O’Connor Band was a treat for the ears and wonderful complement for your music. You and Hilary took care of me with another autograph of yours in my copy of your book, Thank You.
Visiting Cork City and Dublin on my way to a work event in Prague was topped off by your two great shows.
Thanks again and “Let the music keep your spirits high!”
Brian Gleason, Lowell MA USA!
Christy's reply
good to hear that your trip went well Brian….hope ye can sort out that Donal Trumpf before he gets hold of the reins…Louis CK sums him up pretty well
In a lengthy email he sent to fans on Saturday after a brief plug for his show “Horace and Pete,” Louis C.K. took very precise aim at GOP front-runner Donald Trump, saying bluntly: “This guy is Hitler.”
The comedian brings up Trump’s well-documented racist views, his conveniently shifting opinions and his generally unbalanced demeanor.
He also acknowledges that his message might not go over well, saying, “I’m sure a bunch of you are very annoyed by this. Fucking celebrity with an opinion.” He later adds, “I know that I’m only bringing myself trouble with this shit.”
“And really I don’t mean to insult anyone,” the comic continues. “Except Trump. I mean to insult him very much.”
Below is the full text of the email postscript.
P.S. Please stop it with voting for Trump. It was funny for a little while. But the guy is Hitler. And by that I mean that we are being Germany in the 30s. Do you think they saw the shit coming? Hitler was just some hilarious and refreshing dude with a weird comb over who would say anything at all.
And I’m not advocating for Hillary or Bernie. I like them both but frankly I wish the next president was a conservative only because we had Obama for eight years and we need balance. And not because I particularly enjoy the conservative agenda. I just think the government should reflect the people. And we are about 40 percent conservative and 40 percent liberal. When I was growing up and when I was a younger man, liberals and conservatives were friends with differences. They weren’t enemies. And it always made sense that everyone gets a president they like for a while and then hates the president for a while. But it only works if the conservatives put up a good candidate. A good smart conservative to face the liberal candidate so they can have a good argument and the country can decide which way to go this time.
Trump is not that. He’s an insane bigot. He is dangerous.
He already said he would expand libel laws to sue anyone who “writes a negative hit piece” about him. He says “I would open up the libel laws so we can sue them and win lots of money. Not like now. These guys are totally protected.” He said that. He has promised to decimate the first amendment. (If you think he’s going to keep the second amendment intact you’re delusional.) And he said that Paul Ryan, speaker of the house will “pay” for criticizing him. So I’m saying this now because if he gets in there we won’t be able to criticize him anymore.
Please pick someone else. Like John Kasich. I mean that guy seems okay. I don’t like any of them myself but if you’re that kind of voter please go for a guy like that. It feels like between him and either democrat we’d have a decent choice. It feels like a healthier choice. We shouldn’t have to vote for someone because they’re not a shocking cunt billionaire liar.
We should choose based on what direction the country should go.
I get that all these people sound like bullshit soft criminal opportunists. The whole game feels rigged and it’s not going anywhere but down anymore. I feel that way sometimes.
And that voting for Trump is a way of saying “fuck it. Fuck them all”. I really get it. It’s a version of national Suicide. Or it’s like a big hit off of a crack pipe. Somehow we can’t help it. Or we know that if we vote for Trump our phones will be a reliable source of dopamine for the next four years. I mean I can’t wait to read about Trump every day. It’s a rush. But you have to know this is not healthy.
If you are a true conservative. Don’t vote for Trump. He is not one of you. He is one of him. Everything you have heard him say that you liked, if you look hard enough you will see that he one day said the exact opposite. He is playing you.
In fact, if you do vote for Trump, at least look at him very carefully first. You owe that to the rest of us. Know and understand who he is. Spend one hour on google and just read it all. I don’t mean listen to me or listen to liberals who put him down. Listen to your own people. Listen to John Mccain. Go look at what he just said about Trump. “At a time when our world has never been more complex or more in danger… I want Republican voters to pay close attention to what our party’s most respected and knowledgeable leaders and national security experts are saying about Mr. Trump, and to think long and hard about who they want to be our next Commander-in-Chief and leader of the free world.”
When Trump was told what he said, Trump said “Oh, he did? Well, that’s not nice,” he told CBS News’ chief White House correspondent Major Garrett. “He has to be very careful.”
When pressed on why, Trump tacked on: “He’ll find out.”
(I cut and pasted that from CBS news)
Do you really want a guy to be president who threatens John McCain? Because John McCain cautiously and intelligently asked for people to be thoughtful before voting for him? He didn’t even insult Trump. He just asked you to take a good look. And Trump told him to look out.
Remember that Trump entered this race by saying that McCain is not a war hero. A guy who was shot down, body broken and kept in a POW camp for years. Trump said “I prefer the guys who don’t get caught.” Why did he say that? Not because he meant it or because it was important to say. He said it because he’s a bully and every bully knows that when you enter a new school yard, you go to the toughest most respected guy on the yard and you punch him in the nose. If you are still standing after, you’re the new boss. If Trump is president, he’s not going to change. He’s not going to do anything for you. He’s going to do everything for himself and leave you in the dust.
So please listen to fellow conservatives. But more importantly, listen to Trump. Listen to all of it. Everything he says. If you liked when he said that “torture works” then go look at where he took it back the next day. He’s a fucking liar.
A vote for Trump is so clearly a gut-vote, and again I get it. But add a little brain to it and look the guy up. Because if you vote for him because of how you feel right now, the minute he’s president, you’re going to regret it. You’re going to regret it even more when he gives the job to his son. Because American democracy is broken enough that a guy like that could really fuck things up. That’s how Hitler got there. He was voted into power by a fatigued nation and when he got inside, he did all his Hitler things and no one could stop him.
Again, I’m not saying vote democrat or vote for anyone else. If Hilary ends up president it should be because she faced the best person you have and you and I both chose her or him or whoever. Trump is not your best. He’s the worst of all of us. He’s a symptom to a problem that is very real. But don’t vote for your own cancer. You’re better than that.
That’s just my view. At least right now. I know I’m not qualified or particularly educated and I’m not right instead of you. I’m an idiot and I’m sure a bunch of you are very annoyed by this. Fucking celebrity with an opinion. I swear this isn’t really a political opinion. You don’t want to know my political opinions. (And I know that I’m only bringing myself trouble with this shit.) Trump has nothing to do with politics or ideology. He has to do with himself. And really I don’t mean to insult anyone. Except Trump. I mean to insult him very much. And really I’m not saying he’s evil or a monster. In fact I don’t think Hitler was. The problem with saying that guys like that are monsters is that we don’t see them coming when they turn out to be human, which they all are. Everyone is. Trump is a messed up guy with a hole in his heart that he tries to fill with money and attention. He can never ever have enough of either and he’ll never stop trying. He’s sick. Which makes him really really interesting. And he pulls you towards him which somehow feels good or fascinatingly bad. He’s not a monster. He’s a sad man. But all this makes him horribly dangerous if he becomes president. Give him another TV show. Let him pay to put his name on buildings. But please stop voting for him. And please watch Horace and Pete. – Louis C.K.
Hi christy .fabulous concert in woodlands last night came from wexford (up yella bellies ) to see you .beautiful mix of songs id follow you around if I could afford it as a carer it was such a treat to see you and spend the night which one be once a year.
One song I can’t find name of .
In verse was “hows your mother hows your “ma” you payed it last night .bought one your cds last night .can’t wait to see you again .keep up fab work ..
Your a legend
Christy's reply
whallup ye model…glad you had a good night in The Deise..that song is called “The Tuam Beat”. Writted by Pádraig Stevens of Tuam. I have just recorded it. Hope to have it out in the next month or so. keep an ear out. Its a beautiful song to sing..every verse is like a wee song in itself..it flows along real sweet …..not everyone’s cup of Irel but surely mine….lets follow the shimmy shammy
Howya christy how’s it going?
My parents are heading down to Wexford tomorrow night to see you.
My father told me that he was working on the roads in 1981-82 in naas beside the naas road at the round there where the ball is now.
He told me he was working and a big car pulled up and he seen you in the car. He said he seen his reflection in the car window and he said to his own reflection: howya John have you any oul autographs or tapes?
Just wondering do you remember this?
The Naas Sliothar…I remember helping them to push it up onto the mound…we had an awful time of it.. we had to go into Eddie Marum’s afterwards and from there to Tom Fletcher’s…the porter was flyin, the Nuns were cryin and when we went back the Sliothar had moved off the mound and we had to start the whole bleddy business all over again…a Cat’s Flux…..if you want to share it ,whats John’s surname and where are ye from?
Hi Christy, coming over tomorrow with my young daughter Bethany to watch the Bohs v Sligo, then onto Drogheda on Saturday to see you, Dec and Jimmy! Could you possibly play any track from: Beeswing, Companeros or Metropolitan Avenue for her please?!
Many thanks
Martin
Martin ,you’ll be in good company at The Bohs game…some great singers from The Góilín Club are ardent Bohemians…you’ll recognise them if you hear them..porter sharks one and all….good requests there…Bethany knows her songs alright
Hi Christy,, these local gigs are a great idea 🙂 newtown mount keneddy 25 min and gorey tom just 10 min down the other direction. looking forward. Hope all is well. Adam
must have a yarn along the way
Hi Christy
Amongst the acres of tributes to George Martin,I read no finer words,nor was there better imagery than in your description of the ‘rough diamonds’.
Thanks,
Dave
Peter Sellers…Hard Day’s Night…..
Hi Christy,just joined your guestbook.Just love your music,and have for a very long time.Hope to see your gig in Swansea later in the year…..Regards,Lee.
see you there Lee…Trek On
Hi Christy
A gloomy day that started with the sad news of George Martin’s passing and seemed like it was going to be a day to drag a man down….then it was transformed by a friend sharing a recording of the good vibes of you and the Trad lads flying the rafters off the Cork Opera House.I’m immensely grateful to hear the sound that I’ve been reading about for awhile now……and beautiful,it is.Great interplay of voices and instruments with textures a plenty.Its a masterclass and I can see why you’ve eased into the project ,reating it as an organic process.
Fair play to all involved and fantastic for you to have such a broadminded approach throughout the never ending tour.
‘I’d give all for the price of a flight…..’
Regards and respect,
Dave
Respect to George Martin, gentle artistic genius,….he took those rough diamonds , cut and fashioned them to last forever……
we loved the Cork Opera House…I felt at home sitting amongst The Trad Outfit by The River Lee
Hey Christy,
Heard you the end of last year mentioning a new album and heard you mention it at the Barras gig in Glasgow. Is there any update on when we can expect it? Not been doing much online lately, new baby in the house, so kind of out the loop at the minute regarding upcoming music but really want to hear the new record. Hope you’re well, keep keeping on.
Joe McKenna
congrats on the new arrival..hope all is well…
still working on the next album..its proving to be an interesting gestation…we had to delay the recording…then while mixing we realised that some tracks were not as accomplished as first thought, that we needed to do some re-recording..then some different songs came into the reckoning..we have abandoned deadlines and release dates until such time as the work feel complete…..dont know when it will be finished but we’ll keep you posted
In relation to Trump, I am amused at everybody getting their knickers in a twist since he is merely saying what a huge number of people in this country believe. For the Republicans to claim that they are horrified is nonsense, since this is the kind of stuff the party espouses. I live in an area that is almost entirely white American and I hear Trump type talk all the time. Another factor is that America is a celebrity culture and Trump is a big media figure, so that gives him a massive boost from the get-go. (Remember, Arnold was elected governor and Reagan became president. The mind boggles.)
I don’t think Trump really believes half of what he says, but he knows what people want to hear and so out it comes. He hasn’t articulated any definitive policy statements so far, choosing instead to spout one outrageous thing after the other. Far worse, in my opinion, is Cruz, a right wing ideological “Christian” bigot who believes that climate change is a hoax, is vehemently opposed to gays, and would nuke people at the drop of a hat, to name but a few of his positions. He is the person who is polling closest to Trump at the moment and is deemed more acceptable, but is a far more dangerous character. Tonight, however, following a few more primaries, it looks increasingly likely that Trump will be the nominee, and when that happens, I can see him toning down the rhetoric somewhat and trying to play nicer to court the Republican “establishment”. He knows, too, that he will have to appeal to Democratic voters to have any chance of success when the election proper occurs.
Lincoln, in the Gettysburg Address, talked about “government of the people, by the people, for the people”. A more accurate description of the U.S. would be “government of the money, by the money, for the money”. This is a plutocracy or an oligarchy, not a democracy at all.
I always enjoy your Chats, Christy. Keep them coming..
Thanks Lizzy….the world has become so small…I remember as a small boy reading in our daily paper….”news has reached us of an earthquake in China 6 weeks ago”….
Have you heard a song from John Gorka “Broken Bottles”? just heard it last week.
We are in political turmoil here… 10 days after a General Election and we don’t have a Government…and still we get news items about Trumpf on our airwaves and media
Thanks for your feedback
Christy
Seems like in “Smoke and Strong Whiskey” That the eyes of the world are upon us. One can only hope the we as a country will do the right thing when the time comes. Most people I meet in Ireland last week were already convinced of the the inevitable. Time will tell if we can step back from this brink or we slide into a political abyss.
If I could ask a question.. I am starting to try my hand at songwriting, and I was wondering for true poets like yourself and Shane, Do you tend to start with the lyrics or write a melody and try to create words that fit the feeling of the music. Is it just personal preference? Also, When your learning new material. Do you just focus on one song at a time or do you work on multiple songs at a time? Thank you for your time and answer. The Martin has been getting lots of use since you last played it. I think you left some lightning in it as it sounds better then ever.
Thank you again for everything and Ride on!
Thor Torgersen
everyone has a different process…I have never been a prolific writer…truth is I am probably more interested in singing songs then writing them…every now and then I get a notion to write a song and the process begins…I can spend months or years or days on a lyric before it takes shape…if I cannot find a melody I will contact my good buddy Wally Page and he will compose a melody for my lyrics. In the meantime I could be working on a number of songs from other writers…so for me its lyrics first….for others its music first…In my experience songs and poems are very different lads and lassies….occasionally they cross over….
when working on songs I can sometimes work on 3 or 4 at a time …when I am in such a mindset I do experience shards of obsession and sleeplessness that verge upon mild insanity…then I know I might be on to something…excuse me Thor…I’m feeling a bit giddy
Oops, forgot the link confirming the release of “Paddy On The Road”
http://recordstoreday.co.uk/exclusive-releases/rsd-2016/christy-moore/
I was browsing the Record Store Day releases, (which is happening on Saturday April 26th next) and spotted that Christy’s debut album “Paddy On The Road” originally released in 1969, is being released on 180g vinyl, it also comes with a digital download code.
Wow, that was quite strong and lengthy entry on “The Donald” He has all but assured that Mrs. Clinton will be our next President. Too bad there was such an average crop of typical politicians on the Republican side of the aisle or Trump would have faded with his venomous rants and ideas. Congress would shut him down and absolutely Nothing would be done in Washington if he did get in.
Thanks for the response and the great time you and the Martin O’Connor band provided. I just love the sound of the fiddle… Brian Gleason
Hi Christy, hope all is well.
I have just come to know that you will be coming to Newcastle, Co.Down on September 15th this year to play in the Slieve Donard Hotel!!
I have a friend who lives in Newcastle who is also a singer and trying to make it in the music industry and has also sang in the Slieve Donard Hotel, I could be asking for a bit much here but he has always wanted to be able to sing ‘Ride on’ with you but had never been able to get to one of your concerts or get talking to you and now that you are coming to his hometown i thought it would be a great opportunity to maybe get a few tips on how to be successful in the music business and maybe get to sing ‘Ride on’ with you.
i am so looking forward to finally getting to see you perform, i have been waiting for this for a long,long time!!
all is well this day so far, thanks be..
its a conundrum….there is music and there is the music industry….very separate entities…
with regard to the music the only “tip” I can share is practice, practice, follow your muse, copy everyone you like until your own style begins to emerge..then drop all your influences and seek to develop your own sound and style of singing/playing..practice, practice, each and every day for as long as possible
with regard to the”Industry”… can only share my own experience……I went on the road in 1966 and learned about the “Industry” through experiences, pitfalls and bad ( and some good) “Industry” people….. after 20 years on the road I began to know the fruits of success within the “Industry.”(I enjoyed the music from day1)…There is no manual for what you ask…..every band, artist, performer has their own modus operandi….
with regard to the gig in Slieve Donard….it takes us all day to do our gig..between travel, rehearsal, sound check and the gig itself ,it is not possible to meet
Thanks for a great reply,Christy.
I’ll keep you posted about the Nick Drake gig.For anyone interested,’Cally’ (the manager of Nick Drake’s music estate) at Brytermusic is always helpful in providing info.Nick’s sister,Gabrielle is also always generous in her praise of Nick’s work and giving great insights.
Very pleasing to read of your chat with John Peel.Sadly,I never had the pleasure.A friend is the last UK journalist to have interviewed John.They spent several hours on a Summer Saturday afternoon phone call.Her recollection of his warmth is similar to yours .She was euphoric at John’s generosity and deeply saddened by his death only a few months later .A real loss,for many reasons.
All the best,Dave
Hi Christy,
As well as being a birthday month for some of us,May looks interesting for music…(not least ,your album ?)
20/5/16 the release of Dylan’s next studio album,’Fallen Angels’,but no specific content info known yet..
12/5/16 at Birmingham Symphony Hall (as part of the venue’s 25th anniversary celebrations),’Way To Blue’-the music of Nick Drake….hosted by Joe Boyd,who produced Nick’s first two LPs.The gig features the wonderful orchestrations of Robert Kirby and the band includes Danny Thompson.
I’m hoping to be there ,as it seems well worth a trip to Brum.Also poignant ,as Nick spent most of his (all too short) life near the city.(Ticket info is on BSH website and brytermusic )
I’m fortunate in that I saw Nick play a very rare gig,supporting Fairport at The Free Trade Hall.I treasure the somewhat impressionistic memory of the night.
I first heard Nick Drake on John Peel’s BBC Radio 1 show in the late 60s.I loved Peel’s style and his eclectic approach.I’ve been meaning to ask you for awhile,if you ever worked with Peel and ,if so,shared memories would be fascinating.
All good wishes,
Dave
great to hear about the Nick Drake gig …thoughts of Nick always followed by wondering”if only”….such a loss to his family and loved ones …such a beautiful young man who left a wonderful legacy of music and words….I wish I could be at the gig in Birmingham
Planxty did a John Peel session in our early days (1973 ish) In truth I dont remember the session. In the late 90s I spotted John on the Dublin /Liverpool Ferry. Not sure whether I should intrude upon him I eventually ventured forth and said hello. He put his paper away and invited me to sit. I spent a lovely hour in his company. He was welcoming ,warm and full of music.
Hi Christy,
Hope all is going well on the road so far this year.
I had been meaning to drop by and thank you sooner. Unfortunately, due to illness, my mam had to miss your gig in the Galway Bay Hotel before Christmas, but she was absolutely thrilled with the card that you kindly took the time to write for her. The simplest things certainly mean the most at such a difficult time, so thank you! You kept the doctors talking for the weekend..I think they were fairly impressed 😉
Hopefully she will be well enough to see you next time. Would be lovely to have you back in Galway again soon.
“Let the music lift your spirits high”- and that it does. Go raibh míle maith agat x
I try and play Galway every year..hopefully something will come up to bring us back to The Claddagh
Its a great gig town, always has been…I still glory in memories of early days….coming into Town with Planxty to play at the Old Hanger in Salthill..it was a great ramshackle venue (where Leisureland now stands)….meeting Mick Lally, Mickey Finn, Pete Galligan, cavorting in The Celler, Bridie Hogans, The Harbour Bar…Corky, The Rabbittes,Terry the Busker, Gerry Joyce,
“Over in McCanns theres a grand type of Dance Band a playin
Lashin out The Continental Céilí”
Dear Christy,
Well done on a fantastic gig Saturday in woodlands hotel, was delighted to get front row seats. It was my self & my fiancée first gig & won’t be our last, it was brilliant mix of songs, my own favourites are Bright Blue Rose & Quite Desperation & was delighted to hear you sing them with the brilliant backing from Declan, Sheamie & Jimmy.
Your a legend Christy & you’re music has done a lot for our family’s. There are albums records of Time Has Come, Voyage, Ride On & Ordinary Man put away safely.
Keep up the excellent work
good luck to you and the future Mrs Magee…..always good to hear from new comers….
Morning Christy,
Further to the epic reply to Brian,I’ve just signed up to Louis CK’s newsletter.I don’t know much about his comedy, but he’s definitely got my backing!
Thanks for the tip off and hopefully,sooner rather than later,common sense will prevail in the ‘land of the free’.
Have a good day,
Dave
check him out on youtube……he has been compared to Lenny Bruce
Christy: What a great trip it was! I made it to both shows in the beautiful Cork Opera House and they were marvelous. The Mairtin O’Connor Band was a treat for the ears and wonderful complement for your music. You and Hilary took care of me with another autograph of yours in my copy of your book, Thank You.
Visiting Cork City and Dublin on my way to a work event in Prague was topped off by your two great shows.
Thanks again and “Let the music keep your spirits high!”
Brian Gleason, Lowell MA USA!
good to hear that your trip went well Brian….hope ye can sort out that Donal Trumpf before he gets hold of the reins…Louis CK sums him up pretty well
In a lengthy email he sent to fans on Saturday after a brief plug for his show “Horace and Pete,” Louis C.K. took very precise aim at GOP front-runner Donald Trump, saying bluntly: “This guy is Hitler.”
The comedian brings up Trump’s well-documented racist views, his conveniently shifting opinions and his generally unbalanced demeanor.
He also acknowledges that his message might not go over well, saying, “I’m sure a bunch of you are very annoyed by this. Fucking celebrity with an opinion.” He later adds, “I know that I’m only bringing myself trouble with this shit.”
“And really I don’t mean to insult anyone,” the comic continues. “Except Trump. I mean to insult him very much.”
Below is the full text of the email postscript.
P.S. Please stop it with voting for Trump. It was funny for a little while. But the guy is Hitler. And by that I mean that we are being Germany in the 30s. Do you think they saw the shit coming? Hitler was just some hilarious and refreshing dude with a weird comb over who would say anything at all.
And I’m not advocating for Hillary or Bernie. I like them both but frankly I wish the next president was a conservative only because we had Obama for eight years and we need balance. And not because I particularly enjoy the conservative agenda. I just think the government should reflect the people. And we are about 40 percent conservative and 40 percent liberal. When I was growing up and when I was a younger man, liberals and conservatives were friends with differences. They weren’t enemies. And it always made sense that everyone gets a president they like for a while and then hates the president for a while. But it only works if the conservatives put up a good candidate. A good smart conservative to face the liberal candidate so they can have a good argument and the country can decide which way to go this time.
Trump is not that. He’s an insane bigot. He is dangerous.
He already said he would expand libel laws to sue anyone who “writes a negative hit piece” about him. He says “I would open up the libel laws so we can sue them and win lots of money. Not like now. These guys are totally protected.” He said that. He has promised to decimate the first amendment. (If you think he’s going to keep the second amendment intact you’re delusional.) And he said that Paul Ryan, speaker of the house will “pay” for criticizing him. So I’m saying this now because if he gets in there we won’t be able to criticize him anymore.
Please pick someone else. Like John Kasich. I mean that guy seems okay. I don’t like any of them myself but if you’re that kind of voter please go for a guy like that. It feels like between him and either democrat we’d have a decent choice. It feels like a healthier choice. We shouldn’t have to vote for someone because they’re not a shocking cunt billionaire liar.
We should choose based on what direction the country should go.
I get that all these people sound like bullshit soft criminal opportunists. The whole game feels rigged and it’s not going anywhere but down anymore. I feel that way sometimes.
And that voting for Trump is a way of saying “fuck it. Fuck them all”. I really get it. It’s a version of national Suicide. Or it’s like a big hit off of a crack pipe. Somehow we can’t help it. Or we know that if we vote for Trump our phones will be a reliable source of dopamine for the next four years. I mean I can’t wait to read about Trump every day. It’s a rush. But you have to know this is not healthy.
If you are a true conservative. Don’t vote for Trump. He is not one of you. He is one of him. Everything you have heard him say that you liked, if you look hard enough you will see that he one day said the exact opposite. He is playing you.
In fact, if you do vote for Trump, at least look at him very carefully first. You owe that to the rest of us. Know and understand who he is. Spend one hour on google and just read it all. I don’t mean listen to me or listen to liberals who put him down. Listen to your own people. Listen to John Mccain. Go look at what he just said about Trump. “At a time when our world has never been more complex or more in danger… I want Republican voters to pay close attention to what our party’s most respected and knowledgeable leaders and national security experts are saying about Mr. Trump, and to think long and hard about who they want to be our next Commander-in-Chief and leader of the free world.”
When Trump was told what he said, Trump said “Oh, he did? Well, that’s not nice,” he told CBS News’ chief White House correspondent Major Garrett. “He has to be very careful.”
When pressed on why, Trump tacked on: “He’ll find out.”
(I cut and pasted that from CBS news)
Do you really want a guy to be president who threatens John McCain? Because John McCain cautiously and intelligently asked for people to be thoughtful before voting for him? He didn’t even insult Trump. He just asked you to take a good look. And Trump told him to look out.
Remember that Trump entered this race by saying that McCain is not a war hero. A guy who was shot down, body broken and kept in a POW camp for years. Trump said “I prefer the guys who don’t get caught.” Why did he say that? Not because he meant it or because it was important to say. He said it because he’s a bully and every bully knows that when you enter a new school yard, you go to the toughest most respected guy on the yard and you punch him in the nose. If you are still standing after, you’re the new boss. If Trump is president, he’s not going to change. He’s not going to do anything for you. He’s going to do everything for himself and leave you in the dust.
So please listen to fellow conservatives. But more importantly, listen to Trump. Listen to all of it. Everything he says. If you liked when he said that “torture works” then go look at where he took it back the next day. He’s a fucking liar.
A vote for Trump is so clearly a gut-vote, and again I get it. But add a little brain to it and look the guy up. Because if you vote for him because of how you feel right now, the minute he’s president, you’re going to regret it. You’re going to regret it even more when he gives the job to his son. Because American democracy is broken enough that a guy like that could really fuck things up. That’s how Hitler got there. He was voted into power by a fatigued nation and when he got inside, he did all his Hitler things and no one could stop him.
Again, I’m not saying vote democrat or vote for anyone else. If Hilary ends up president it should be because she faced the best person you have and you and I both chose her or him or whoever. Trump is not your best. He’s the worst of all of us. He’s a symptom to a problem that is very real. But don’t vote for your own cancer. You’re better than that.
That’s just my view. At least right now. I know I’m not qualified or particularly educated and I’m not right instead of you. I’m an idiot and I’m sure a bunch of you are very annoyed by this. Fucking celebrity with an opinion. I swear this isn’t really a political opinion. You don’t want to know my political opinions. (And I know that I’m only bringing myself trouble with this shit.) Trump has nothing to do with politics or ideology. He has to do with himself. And really I don’t mean to insult anyone. Except Trump. I mean to insult him very much. And really I’m not saying he’s evil or a monster. In fact I don’t think Hitler was. The problem with saying that guys like that are monsters is that we don’t see them coming when they turn out to be human, which they all are. Everyone is. Trump is a messed up guy with a hole in his heart that he tries to fill with money and attention. He can never ever have enough of either and he’ll never stop trying. He’s sick. Which makes him really really interesting. And he pulls you towards him which somehow feels good or fascinatingly bad. He’s not a monster. He’s a sad man. But all this makes him horribly dangerous if he becomes president. Give him another TV show. Let him pay to put his name on buildings. But please stop voting for him. And please watch Horace and Pete. – Louis C.K.
Hi christy .fabulous concert in woodlands last night came from wexford (up yella bellies ) to see you .beautiful mix of songs id follow you around if I could afford it as a carer it was such a treat to see you and spend the night which one be once a year.
One song I can’t find name of .
In verse was “hows your mother hows your “ma” you payed it last night .bought one your cds last night .can’t wait to see you again .keep up fab work ..
Your a legend
whallup ye model…glad you had a good night in The Deise..that song is called “The Tuam Beat”. Writted by Pádraig Stevens of Tuam. I have just recorded it. Hope to have it out in the next month or so. keep an ear out. Its a beautiful song to sing..every verse is like a wee song in itself..it flows along real sweet …..not everyone’s cup of Irel but surely mine….lets follow the shimmy shammy