Reading: Hellblazer: Original Sins - graphic novel
Music: Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder
TV/Movie: Amazon Women On the Moon
Link o' the Day: The Journal of Music In Ireland

The Mighty Bill Cutlip asked on facebook last night what my set-list was like--and here we have it--somewhat. All sessions vary as far as set lists go, but what I have below is a typical set list for the Ward's Pub session. If you know your Irish tunes, you can tell this is a pretty 'bread 'n butter' sort of list. There are a bit over 50 tunes here, and I've listed only the ones that know well enough to play along with. Most I can play easily with my eyes closed. Others, like the Galway Hornpipe or Byrne's, might take me a round or two before I'm completely up to speed. We usually play sets of two tunes, three-times each, although it's not unusual to mix it up a little bit. I've paired the most common set pairings, but they're not set in stone.

Lark In the Morning -- Cliffs of Moher
Red-Haired Boy -- The Merry Blacksmith
A Cup of Tea -- The Earl's Chair
Health to the Ladies -- Connaughtman's Rambles
Mountain Road -- Silver Spear
Humours of Tulla -- The High Reel
Delahunty's Hornpipe -- The Harvest Home
The Spanish Cloak -- The Sally Gardens (reel)
Ashoken's Farewell -- Them Golden Slippers
Johnny McEljon's -- Far From Home
Alexander's Hornpipe -- Byrne's Hornpipe
The Blarney Pilgrim -- The Kesh
Sixpenny Money -- Ten-Penny Bit
The Hunter's Purse -- The Banshee (reel)
Father Kelly's Reel - The Star of Munster
Maid Behind the Bar -- Cooley's Reel
Morrison's Jig -- Trip to Sligo
Castle Kelly -- Julia Delaney

Tobin's Favorite
Kid of the Mountain
The Butterfly
The Old Favorite
The Hag at the Churn
Banish Misfortune
Off To California
Out on the Ocean
Saint Anne's Reel
The Star Above the Garter
Tam Lin's
Drowsy Maggie
Mickey Chewing Bubble Gum
Maggie In the Wood
The Concertina Reel
Galway Hornpipe
Garret Barry's
Lilting Banshee
Farewell to Erin
The Gravel Walks

I'm sure I'm forgetting a few.

Looks like a lot, and figure there's a list nearly equal in length of tunes I have a passing familiarity with (e.g., Greenfields of America, Primrose Lass) but haven't taken the time to really internalize yet. And there are many I used to know well, but don't get played much in sessions around here anymore--so they get a bit forgotten.

And there is so, so, SO much more to learn!

I'm told I'm making progress both in tunes and technique. I think I have a long, long way to go.

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Keeping on the topic of sessions, last night's session was a bit weird. Of the four or five regulars, only Bob and myself could make it. Okay, so we can have a night with just a fiddle and a banjo. Then Bob's bow went kablooie (technical term, trust me) and we weren't able to scare up another one on such short notice.

Bob hauled out his banjo and we had a two-banjo night. Then I remembered I had my bodhran in the back of the car, and Bob had a tin whistle, so we were able to mix it up a little bit, but jeez... two banjos at the same time is fun once or twice a night--and something I actually look forward to. But for a whole night?

So I got to dust off my mad bodhran-playing skillz.

Weird night, but the crowd was very understanding and still seemed to have a good time. I think I have a couple of old bows still lying around from my disasterous attempt at learning the fiddle. I think I'll bring them down to keep behind the bar for emergencies.

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In keeping with the whole Irish music theme, today's link goes to The Journal of Music In Ireland a bi-monthly publication covering a wide range of music in Ireland--and not just the trad stuff.

Cheers!