Summer Time - Living IS Easy

I've been meaning to update this for quite a while. I've had ideas for a post come and go, but the impetus to write has been sadly lacking. Summer time brings welcome diversions from the normal way of things. Even despite our fine traditional Irish weather, there have been numerous chances to play, party, perform, and potter about on the streets, with good friends, new friends, and of course the odd homeless drunk. As everybody knows, Galway city has the friendliest drunks of nearly any city. Certainly any city I've ever been to, and it's quite heartwarming to see the way they have their own little community, and the friendly (if sometimes aggressive) way they interact with the general public.
Galway Arts Festival really brought the city to life. I personally didn't even realise it had started when I made the observation to a friend that there was "more of a party vibe" than usual. Having opted to volunteer once I knew what was going on, I managed to catch a performance of Enda Walsh's 'Misterman', featuring Cillian Murphy. The acting was superb, and the set and lighting was magnificent. The play itself, however, almost disturbed me. It was definitely powerful, but was exceedingly dark, telling the story of one man descending the ladder from 'harmless' to madness. It was a sold-out show twice a day for two weeks. I seriously don't know how the cast and crew managed it. Anyway, that was that.
The other major event of the festival I managed to attend was 'AfroCubism', the mind-blowing, genre-melding all-star line up of Malian and Cuban musicians that formed in 2010 to record and tour together. I had planned to write about that show the next day, but I was still too dazed from what I experienced to write anything remotely objective. The two 'stars' of the show were kora player Toumani Diabaté and Eliades Ochoa of 'Buena Vista Social Club' fame. Having said that, those two were merely the best-known of a stellar line up, each musician an outstanding performer of their instrument. The 13-piece group also featured electric guitar, double bass, congas, balafon, brass, ngoni, tama (Malian talking drum) and various other percussion, in addition to vocals from many band members. Eliades himself had a sore throat or a cold, which he explained to the crowd, after his first introduction, when he explained to us that his English was poor, and spoke in Spanish for the remainder of the show. Nobody cared. The music spoke more clearly than any language. I attempted to understand, but with my limited grasp of Spanish, I only caught a phrase aquí y ahí. Toumani also spoke to the crowd, explaining the rich cultural links between Cuba and Mali. In a rather surreal, and embarrassing moment (for me at least) he explained that the countries are similar because while they are both musically rich, they are physically very poor. The crowd, who had become used to cheering for everything he said, began to cheer this, but quickly stopped when they realised what he had said. It was only a short moment of embarrassment, but I still wonder how that may have made the performers feel. All I know is that what I felt, during the roughly hour and a half long show, was pure amazement. I don't often describe something as breathtaking, but I found myself literally short of breath after some of the pieces. Later, having discussed the show with some musician friends, and some non-musicians, I realised that my reaction was generally the one that the musicians in the audience experienced, while the non-musicians were actually quite underwhelmed by it all. I can only imagine that it is because the music is so constant, with very little in the way of crescendos, et cetera, that Western ears have become accustomed to hearing in popular music.
Anyhow, now that the Arts festival is over, the summer is taking a lull, I've escaped from the city for the mess that is Race Week, and this weekend I'll be heading to Malahide Castle in Dublin for my first live experience of Prince. I can't say I know what to expect, because I have NO idea, all I know is that I'm very excited!
So I'm going to try to update a little more frequently from now on, there'll be plenty happening between now and Christmas.
Peace, Love and Big Purple Hugs
Dermo.

for a girl

Her style and gracefulness set her apart -
She knows well that she'll always be deep in my heart.
Her green eyes twinkle merrily at a joke we can't hear
Her hair cascades softly, framing each ear
Which listen intently to all you may tell;
And trust when I say she'll remember it well
Her laugh comes on quickly, when times might seem bleak
and contrasts beautifully with her brown-freckled cheek
Yet sometimes a sadness will stifle her smile
a sense of injustice will those times prevail
The world is so much bigger than she can possibly heal,
But her constant attempts to is what makes the dream real
A woman of contrasts, of beauty and fun
her quirky attractions make her the one.

Hazy Moon

There's a hazy moon
I'm waiting for you
I cant say it aloud
But I adore you
The light is dim,
I cant see clearly
it hurts my heart
to want you near me

I miss your touch
That I never truly felt
And I miss your scent,
that I often smelt
I miss the love,
you've never shown
Like that hazy moon
I'll shine alone

That hazy moon
Looks down benignly
It mocks the pain
that I feel inside me
The night grows longer
Than I've ever known it
I've felt so strongly
But never shown it

The hazy moon,
It shines upon me
I'll wait in hope,
drink another whiskey
The days are long
The nights are lonely
but the hazy moon
it gives hope to me

I do love to read... despite what you've heard

I hate it when I've started reading a book, put it down for a day because it was intense, or because I was too hungover to read, or one of the many other reasons I give myself not to read, and in that time, I either start reading something else, or I forget that I was reading it, or I leave it in the bathroom and only read it when I'm on the throne. But the WORST thing that can happen, is when I try to return to it, and realise that I just don't want to finish it. Sometimes I submit to that feeling, but rarely. In an earlier post, I mentioned a book I was reading called 'The Lost City of Z' which I did not want to finish. I did finish it, however, and I'm glad I did, as it turned out better than I expected. Which is why I feel bad if I actually give up, as the book could turn around and become something gripping. I was inspired to write this post today, as I have just been looking at my bookshelf, and realised that I'm falling behind, as I keep accumulating books, at a much faster rate than I have been reading recently. I think a major reason is that I've been driving myself everywhere recently, whereas before, I used to just hop on a bus or train and read until I got to my destination.
Anyhow, I've compiled a list of the books I have half-read and forgotten about, and then one of the unread books, and attempted to put them in the order in which I intend to read them. I do enjoy making lists, I hope you enjoy perusing them!
until next time,
Peace and paperbacks
Dermo

Half-Read
1. Sword of Shame - Medieval Murderers (current reading)
2. The Yellow Cross - Rene Weis
3. Eachtraí Krishnamurphy - Gabriel Rosenstock (ongoing)
4. Krishnamurphy Ambaist'! - Gabriel Rosenstock
5. Ag Greadadh Bas Sa Reilig/Clapping In The Cemetery - Louis de Paor
6. For Whom the Bell Tolls - Ernest Hemingway
7. Ólann Mo Mhiúil As An nGainséis - Gabriel Rosenstock
8. The King's Gold - Arturo Pérez-Reverte

And once I'm done with those:
1. Lords Of The Bow - Conn Iggulden
2. The Voyage of The Catalpa - Peter F. Stevens
3. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee - Dee Brown
4. Boy With an Injured Eye - Ronan Sheehan
5. Attila - William Napier
6. Bullaí Mhártain - Síle & Donncha Ó Céileachair
7. The Doctor of Thessaly - Anne Zouroudi
8. Freacnairc Mhearcair - Michael Davitt
9. Resistance - Owen Sheers
10. The Devil is an Irishman - Eddie Lenihan

Hi Blog

sorry I've been avoiding you. Life gets in the way. lots of Suba Suba gigs. Life Festival, house hunting and job hunting have taken up all my time for the last two weeks. expect a proper update later this week.
Peace and love.

Lough Arrow's Side

I got this ballad from the singing of Tommy Kerins, a Sligo native who resides in Australia. He performed it at the Paddy Killoran Festival in Ballymote a few years ago, where it was filmed, and this is my transcription. The lyrics may not be totally accurate, but it's a good song.

Well God be with the good old days, when youthful I did roam,
Down by Lough Arrow's lovely banks beside my native home.
With mountain vales and fields so green and moorlands broad and wide,
and lovely woods that can be seen down by Lough Arrows side

The graceful scenes of Curlew Hills and Hollybrook I see.
And further on, and brighter still lies beautiful Lough Key.
Where often in the days gone by we sat there side by side
or boated on your waters bright down by Lough Arrows side.

How nice a run-down schoolhouse stands along the public road
with fertile fields on either hand quite near to my abode.
where often in my youthful days i stayed at evening tide
from comrades grand I had to leave down by Lough Arrows side

I had to leave my native home and cross the raging sea
and settle in columbias land, my future home to be,
where pretty girls so fair and bright, so modest and blue-eyed
Are exiles on Columbia's shore far from Lough Arrows side

its now i think of the Highwood boys and the girls round Killadoon
Killashee and lakeview too, and likewise Ballindoon
and when at night the moon shone bright we'd dance at the corners wide
and sing and boast and drink a toast down back Lough Arrow's side

how often in my dreams ive seen the master teach at school
or watch the mistress cross the bridge each evening as a rule
Or watch bright Arrows waters flow as they did at eveningtide
when I was but a schoolboy lived down by Lough Arrows side

alas those days are past and gone, we neer shall see them more
when carefree lads we sported on the Heapstown hills galore
when as from home we had to go and cross the raging sea
and bid farewell to all we loved and to lough Arrows side

Needless Wordology

Right so today my blog is going to be a bit off the cuff, a little extraneous, maybe even superfluous to requirements. I am going to start by expounding upon the theory (that I am making up as I go along) that people who are intelligent, educated, or simply read a lot (none of which implies the other is present) have a particular tendency to use large words in various places in their daily discourse, in order to flaunt their assumed superiority in these matters over their erstwhile companions. Of course this habit is, to some extent, endearing in those who can pull it off well; but in the majority of people it makes them seem pretentious (an adjective I tend to overuse), obnoxious, or even obstreperous. The usage of such florid verbosity does not add, nor take away from their personality (or lack thereof) but simply confuses the hell out of the person listening. That is, unless the other person is also a wordmonger. The suffix '-monger' does not always denote a negative trade, but in this instance, I would lump a 'wordmonger' in with the likes of 'Warmonger' and 'Fleshmonger' in the negative camp. I would not use the term 'wordsmith' which implies a certain mastery of craft (I would not use it to describe myself, certainly.) Words are powerful. Words have life. They are not simple objects to be flung around in pursuit of superiority. At some points in everyone's life, a short period of time should be taken to reflect in silence. Allow your words to rest. Nobody has an infinite amount. We have as many as we need. For some that may be thousands, in the case of politicians, lawyers and other types who use the power of words and their inherent malleability on a daily basis to earn their salaries. Others may have no words at all. Lost child soldiers in Central Africa; illiterate farmers; mountain tribes in Nepal; and even the dispossessed in our own society, the homeless, the unfortunate, the sick, the elderly. These people have no words to describe what they suffer. Maybe it should be up to those of us who have the words to take a rest from using them for our own gain, and to use them to promote awareness. Some of the organisations which I want to use my words to promote include:
Simon Community of Ireland:
and especially Galway Simon:
Invisible Children:
and finally VCD Nepal:

Thank you. peace and love. not just from me, or for me. but from everyone, to everyone.
Dermo

This is a verse or two which I scribbled at 5am

Don't you try to bring me down
like sumo wrestlers do
I've got an evil masterplan
That's of no concern to you
a door closes in the dead of night
as I trip into the mist
so don't attempt to foil my plans
your presence may not be missed
so sleep you not oh foolish one
for your mindplay seems absurd
keep good watch on every move
for on deaf ears falls no word..

I think I might have to write some more for this, but it came out of nowhere and very likely that's where it'll go back to. still at least here is something for the archives.

Not To Worry

All in life is chance, as they say. It's probably true. Clichés do have that working in their favour.
Since my last update, I have become a little more adept at decision making, and moulding those chances to my own advantage. I finally took the plunge, rented a car, and drove it round on American roads. after a shaky start, I'm beginning to feel comfortable with it all. Now all I need to do is to figure out fun places to go in it. that shouldn't be a problem...
Also, for those who have never read my blog before, this is going to be a short post, I am currently not thinking so many jumbled thoughts as usual. I have been reading up on 17th/19th c. history and that is something which interests me. In other news, I am on a short trip to see that special someone, so I'm endeavouring not to spend all my time living vicariously through the internet.
Wishing you all Peace, Love and a Worry-free wallet.
Dermo

Eat Well, Live Well.

So I promised to start blogging more. I've been in California for the last two days, and the life and climate of this country give rise to many, many different topics to blog about. Maybe this is why many Californians are bloggers. who knows?!
To begin with, I must praise the climate. Warmth and daylight make people happier, and there does seem to be a certain sense of 'sunniness' from the people here. Even if they are serving you coffee in Starbuck's. It is a pleasant place to wander around. Now don't get me wrong, I'm sure it has its downside and seedy underbelly too. I have been lucky to see nice parts of it. Okay, enough gushing about the good things.
I promised someone I'd blog about cattle. Yesterday, as we drove north towards San Jose, we were passing by miles upon miles of rolling green pasture. To the west, the mountains rose up about 3/4 miles away. The shade of green was so healthy-looking, I was disappointed to see it so empty. In Ireland that amount of grassy hillside would sustain more cattle or sheep than currently make up the livestock population. Why are there no sheep on the hills? It may just be a symptom of homesickness, wanting to see green hills with the little white dots all over, sheep climbing up to pastures that cows probably couldn't get to. Either way, I wondered where the cows were. I'd seen the TV ads for California dairy products, where the tag-line says "California cows are Happy Cows." Well, I discovered shortly afterwards, and these cows did not look like they were happy. For about 2 miles along the highway, and about a mile deep, what could only be described as a multitude of cattle were pent up in a corral, nose to tail, and barely enough room to even swing a tail, at that. I wondered at the mindset that thinks this is good farming practice, and wondered even more at the quality of the beef or dairy produced. Even this is probably considered 'humane' or 'organic' farming. I do not claim to know anything about farming practice, but I do know that in the modern world, it is all about profit. Quality in food, just like standards in hospitals or durability in products, has been sacrificed in the name of the almighty dollar. I always attempt to eat organic foods, wherever possible, but in the present climate, it is often hard to find food that is organic or homegrown which does not cost a week's wages.
Today's dinner was beef or fish, neither of which was labelled as to origin. I tried both, and found the beef hard and stringy, and the fish soft and tasteless.
I have, in the past week or so, been seriously considering vegetarianism. I think that it would be very difficult for me to give up bacon and ham, and more especially fish. Most other meat I could very well live without. I plan to start my new diet as soon as this crazy touring schedule ends. I think semi-vegetarian is as good a plan as any.
On a completely different note, I saw a band called The Steelwells perform in Visalia and am their new biggest fan. I had a chat with the drummer after the gig and he was a sound guy. In fact they all seem like sound guys. I reckon their music will do well over in Ireland. I'm going to be bigging them up for the next while. check them out: http://thesteelwells.blogspot.com/ http://www.myspace.com/thesteelwells or on Twitter @thesteelwells
And finally, on a note that ties together California, music, and living well, I must just add that I have been back listening to Jackson Browne quite a lot recently. His melodies and lyrics just move me. Sublime.
Peace, Love and Gut Health to you all.
Dermo

Mad as March Hair

So today, I got a haircut for the first time since about June 2010. The length of my hair was not the problem, but the sheer weight and thickness of it was weighing down on my spirit, mind and body. I was hoping to somehow thin it out without losing TOO much of the length. So today I took the plunge. normally I'm quite wary of barber shops, basically because I've had so many bad haircuts, many of which result in me going back to almost a military-style short cut. Surprisingly, this did not happen. The venue is a small town in rural Pennsylvania, built almost entirely on hills. after googling the place, I found a barber right down the street. I walked in, unsure of what to expect. it immediately felt like I was in a 1950s style movie barber shop. old-fashioned and friendly and what is more, they actually gave me what I asked for. And more: a hot towel, straight razor shave and beard shaping. I feel better groomed and less scruffy than I have for a very long time.
Other than that, I finally finished the 'Lost City' which was actually not that bad, except it ended up being an anticlimax. my next book to start, which will probably be tomorrow, is Ernest Hemingway's 'For Whom The Bell Tolls.' I am looking forward to it, I haven't read a novel in quite some time.
Today was quite pleasant, I spent the afternoon listening to music which I haven't heard in a while, some of the staples being Tom Petty, Neil Young, and some of the more obscure Tom Waits tracks.
a minor note this week is the occurrence of a small festival called St. Patrick's Day. It is generally celebrated in the USA the weekend beforehand, and last Saturday saw us playing two shows back to back in Roanoke, Virginia, before heading bar-wards to engage in some debauchery. the day itself will be a quiet one for us, as we are playing in a casino in the afternoon, and are spending the evening and the majority of the night on the bus from upstate New York to Charlotte, North Carolina. Touring can take its toll on one, physically and mentally. At this point many of us are feeling the strain, so not partying too much is probably a good thing..
Having said that, I am currently exhausted, and am going to go grab a quick nap before show time.
I love my work.
Peace, Love and naps.
Dermo

Brain Vomit

So today I have decided to do many things that I normally would put off doing, seeing as I got up early and am not hungover. (Somehow I think those two things might be relative..) Anyhow, the point is that I am not good at multitasking, or ordering my priorities. So I went to the pool. then I ate a sandwich. then I took some photographs of the snow. now I am finally getting down to business. Writing. while eating a sandwich. And putting fresh strings on my mandolin, while listening to bluegrass. This is how I tend to be productive; putting aside a small amount of time to do all the important things I need/want to do, so I can later justify not doing anything. Luckily eating all those sandwiches means I can put off having dinner until I finish.
So today's entry is not really about any one thing, seeing as I have a lot of thoughts going on at the moment. The band is playing a 3-day run of shows in a fairly prestigious (i.e. expensive) ski resort up near the Canadian border. Skiing has always seemed a rather pointless exercise to me. Those who know me will know that I usually find most exercise pointless, and of course I hate the cold. So the idea of paying ten thousand dollars to spend a weekend going up a mountain on a chairlift and then sliding back down seems silly. But it is these people who are paying my wages. And we get to use the hotel's facilities (gym, hot tub and pool) which is okay by me.
I do not like the cold. Did I mention this?
I'm reading a book called 'The Lost City of Z'. It is about a real-life character, an Amazon explorer in the early twentieth century. It's not often I don't want to finish a book, but this chap was an extremely disagreeable person, and even reading about him makes me hate him. And who wants to read a book that makes them angry. It would be the literary equivalent of me voluntarily watching a Julia Roberts film. Nobody needs unnecessary anger in their life. having said that, I'll probably finish the book..
Also, if anybody wants to buy me a Fender Telecaster, feel free. I really want one, but budget cuts must be made... :(
Furthermore, I have never driven a car in the US. It can't be that hard, right? They let 14 year olds do it..
Okay, now I need to finally post this, and go set up for tonight's show. This life doesn't come easy...
Peace and Love (and Sandwiches :D)
Dermo

Millennium - Tom Holland

(Abacus, 2009)
It's been probably ten years since I wrote a book review, so I've decided to start attempting to do so. This first effort is on the latest offering from popular historian Tom Holland, a wide-ranging overview of what is commonly known as the 'Dark Ages'.
'Millennium' attempts to illustrate the emergence of unified, Christian, kingdoms in the time period surrounding the first Millennium AD. The general tone of the book lends itself to narrative, as Holland portrays each historical figure, be they king, Pope or emperor, as a character in the overall scheme of things, and how each character shaped the future of the world as they knew it. The major overarching theme of the book focuses on the doom and gloom felt by European Christians in the lead-up to the first Millennium, when many people started looking at the world around them, and seeing signs of decay, violence and death, feared the Day of Judgement was at hand. The conviction of this that many people felt was set in stone by the Church, and each particular failure of Armageddon to arrive was followed by disappointment, then excuses, and finally a new 'Day of Judgement' would be seized upon. I personally enjoyed the way Holland closes the book with a sort of closure upon this theme. He has, early in the text, set the dates which he will deal with between AD 900 and AD 1100. In the final chapter, he deals with the immediate lead-up to the First Crusade, yet does not go into detail on the Crusade itself. Instead he merely states, in a succint summary, that "Antichrist did not appear."
At first I found this to be an anticlimax, after the rather rushed final chapter (in which he deals with about 20 years of pan-European history in 80 pages), but upon reflection, realized that this one short line summed up the entire book. Despite detailing the evolution of the Holy Roman Empire, France, England, Scandinavia and Kievan Rus in the course of the book, the major theme of the book is closed with that final line, and the reader can move on, because the author had given them enough information to understand much more about these 'Dark Ages'.
This review is only partial, but Mr. Holland has also added a detailed timeline, notes section, and index, which provide a LOT of further in-depth reading. I enjoyed the book very much. I suppose that's probably the best review I could have written at all...

Oh Lordy

well there are mutants and zombies. I would personally prefer to be a mutant, as long as it wasn't one of those crazy mutations like the guy from the Fantastic Four. an extra finger or toe wouldn't be so bad. pointless, perhaps, but could possibly make life easier. in other news, I really like living on a bus. sometimes. even though it makes 'normal' life seem like something alien, I've gotten quite fond of my bunk rocking me to sleep at night. I finished reading my latest book recently, and will probably dedicate a blog to that in the next few days. In other news, my sunburnt elbows have finally gone back to normal after Puerto Rico, and I have had a very positive week. I'm not sure why that is, but I have an idea. Anyway, my bandmates have described me as a 'new Dermo' and the whole positive mental attitude is as infectious on the bus as harp player no. 1's sore throat. So we're all feeling a bit under the weather, but also are all in a really good mood (mostly) which is a total sea-change from some of the previous tours we have done together. as they say, the band that coughs together... umm I don't know where that was going, but you get my drift. Lucky for us then, since we are playing gigs almost 5 nights a week from now until April! Overall, this whole touring thing has its ups and downs, but currently spirits are up. This pleases me.
until next time: peace and love.
Dermo.

Here's to new friends.. and ships.

I'm on my second-last day in Puerto Rico, a fun little island, and what can I say? I'm going to be cheesy but honest and say that, like most journeys I've made, it has been the people here who have made my stay so good. my travelling companion is a diminutive blonde firecracker, whose utter disparity with my own personality has made for constant entertainment on both of our parts, and we have Definitely learned a lot about each other. from day one, moving into the newly-opened San Juan International Hostel we met open, entertaining, contrasting and fascinating people. their website is http://sjihostel.wordpress.com/ and if you follow me on Twitter, their tag is @SJiHostel. I'm hereby recommending all weary travellers to book in advance for this hidden gem. having not booked in advance, we have stayed at various places, but ended up coming back, almost every evening, whether it be for poker, rum, or just good old-fashioned witty banter. As a nerd of all things historical, I made a point of taking some time to myself to ogle over the extensive fortifications in the old town. The weather- and salt-stained masonry of the Spanish colonial period, intermingled with more recent US militaristic concrete creates a shocking contrast, but a fitting example of what makes this the 'Gateway to the Caribbean'. as you enter the old town proper, down by Plaza Colón, the sprawling fortress of San Cristobal looms large to seaward, while the plaza itself is a nice place to chill and people-watch, especially on those days when the local rum has left a void between the ears. the 'Gateway' tag is especially deserved when you realize the amount of cruise ships which dock here, almost every day. there have been at least four different floating cities docked there in the last week. Crazy, right? Well, maybe not. I like the idea of a cruise, probably more than I might enjoy the actual journey. Being aboard ship makes me feel great. As soon as i feel the craft pitching and tossing on the waves beneath my feet I get a sense of excitement, of discovery, even, that flying in an aeroplane can just not compare. But the sheer size of these ships makes me wonder if anything but a storm-tossed sea would create that same feeling, and maybe I would not achieve that sense of adventure that makes me love being on the sea. I think the only way is to attempt it. And when I do, I shall be certain to record the experience right here. In a side note, while on the island here, we took a ferry to the smaller island of Vieques, off the eastern coast. It reminded me very much of the ferry to the Aran Islands off the coast of Galway. That, I suppose, is where I get my romantic notion of seafaring from. Another companion, early in our trip, was a medical officer on board a sailing vessel, and confirmed to me that my notion of sailing is quite probably a serious misconception.
On a totally unrelated topic, we also visited Arecibo Observatory, which is where they filmed the closing sequence of the James Bond movie 'Goldeneye' which was one of the first James Bond movies I think I had ever seen, and still remains a firm favourite. I know what you're thinking: "doesn't he know that Arecibo observatory has the largest reflecting telescope in the world, and is also home to the SETI foundation.. ?" well, I do know that, but as I'm an avid consumer of popular movie culture, the James Bond reference is what I first picked up on. And do you know what? I was very surprised that more people didn't get it straight away, some people I mentioned it to HAD NEVER SEEN THE MOVIE!!!! crazy? damn straight.
peace and love brothers and sisters
Dermo