bands

Poitín and Rain Today…

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 7 Comments

Hi guys. It’s been raining on my side of the globe. The sky is always beautiful when it happens. I finished my shift at 4 in the morning and then had to spend time logging in to Facebook to check what’s new in music or what the ‘community’ is talking about. Then I had to visit MySpace and check my bookmarks for bands I haven’t reviewed yet-or recommended to you. I also had to check my email for newsletter and goodies. This is how I get my news. Nothing extraordinary. The YouTube thing comes on the last part when I am, sure I want to post a video. I know videos are not really helpful for the site because they make navigation slow. But then again if only  there is  a way for me to post music other than videos then it would work for me. But videos are more interesting right?

It seems that a lot of new talents are coming up in the music biz. It is great that there is an awareness brought about by the Internet and music festivals. It would be cool to see more bands doing it for themselves, releasing albums under an indie label and just continue to cheer us with more interesting music.

I realize I haven’t been more conversant in my earlier article because I thought it would take you away from the main focus which is music. But then I realize that doing the same formula will make everything impersonal. You do want someone to talk to you right? To make you feel better and cheer you up. I know the times have got more challenging. But I know positivity will get us somewhere. Just hold on.

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The Czech Republic is not only interesting for the old statues and churches. It is also a place of talented people. Years ago I befriended a musician who is so passionate about music that he put up his own chat site. He got married but moved on…But then I know one way or another he is still making music out there… What brought me back to my musings is this interesting band called POITÍN and they make amazing  and energetic music. This makes one proud being part of the circle. This is after all our collective musical culture which has nothing to do with race and nationality. Please listen to their music here:

You can also catch them in facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Poitin-Celtic-World-Music/105492236430?v=wall and twitter.
An interesting line up of members too:
Jaroslav “Oto” Machácheck – fiddle (founder member and chief beard sucker); Jakub Siegl – guitars; Jan Brabets – bouzouki, banjo, tin whistle, backing vocals; Jeremy Marc King – lead vocals, bodhran; Sasha Shantorova- flute and whistles; Dick Savage- Didgeridoo, spoons, egg, backing vocals…
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Got the Celtic Woman CD!
Thanks to Daly Communications especially to Fior Urena in New York for sending me my first Celtic Woman CD. It’s like Christmas all over again.
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A Lament for Patricia

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 3 Comments

I learned today that Patricia Neal passed away at 84 due to lung cancer. I remember her fondly as 2-E (Mrs. Failenson) in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. This woman had a strong screen presence further fuelled by her husky voice. More of the story here: http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-patricia-neal-20100810,0,5106158.story?page=1

I could not think of a better song to dedicate to her passing than this song by the Scottish group Capercaillie. Tighinn Air A’mhuir Am Fear A Phosas Mi is taken from their album Nàdurra.


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Ad for the new Sue Aston album:


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Follow Folk/World band No Crows via facebook and twitter

Found It! Breabach and Le Vent du Nord Back to Back Video

/ mrbaxteria2008 / Leave a comment

Someone uploaded this awesome video(plus another).  It gives us more idea what to expect from these bands! I love the  hurdy- gurdy . Those two pipers really took the stage down. Marvelous!

Le Vent du Nord with Breabach - Live At CC 2010

Freshly Baked(From the Top #3 Online Music Stores)

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 3 Comments

Breabach

I admit there are three sites I constantly check when I want to know new releases.  I also sum up some of the top-selling acts . Bands like Lomradh or BBC Transatlantic Sessions occupy the top spot. Find out for yourselves and take you pick from the following:

MusicScotland.com

Claddagh Records

and

All Celtic Music

Croatian Band The Skelligs Plus Nathan and Jon Pilatzke’s Step Dancing

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 2 Comments

The bodhran gives off a very distinctive Celtic sound. There is a haunting quality to it. Perhaps it is the collective instinct that reminds us of prehistoric sounds before written language was even invented. Somehow, association plays a big part in giving off a distinct flavor to the sound that the instrument produces. Let’s take for instance the sound of the viol. Though it is an instrument mainly associated with baroque or renaissance music, Jordi Savall made its Celtic debut. Even the balalaika can have infinite possibilities. It is the marriage of style with cultural identity in an instrument that makes something happen. 

Well… we all know that sometime in the past everyone in Europe could have been Celts if not for the rise of Julius Caesar. Does it ever make you wonder what could have happened if instead of the Romans, Celts ruled the world instead? Does it make you shiver? Smile or inspire fear perhaps? We all know that history about the keltoi was written on accounts of Caesar’s own prejudice. THEY were after all the ENEMIES.

 

Now for the music.

Inspiration comes in the most unexpected places. No matter where you are, it is possible to feel a deep connection to a culture so different from your own. But to burrow from Loreena McKennitt, that there is more in us that can keep us together than tear us apart.

The Skelligs proved this point. A four-piece band from Split Croatia (Hrvatska), The Skelligs play a variety; mainly Irish traditional mixing it with jazz, blues, funk, classic, Latin-American and other traditional music. The result deserves a standing ovation. From clear acoustic rendition, they make the music fused and groovy, sometimes straight in style, sometimes very unexpected. Combination of composed and improvised music to burrow a description from their myspace page.

Band members:

Zasmina Pankova Pokrovac – fiddle and box

Goran Borovcic Kurir – guitar

Milan Pistalo – guitar

From MySpace…

….In an environment where the knowledge about Irish music is extremely humble, further more, this same environment has never had the opportunity to listen live the Irish music; the performances of «The Skelligs» were seen with a mixture of skepticism, surprise and thrill. With no exceptions in the audience, either young either old, there wasn’t anyone who hasn’t been fascinated by this «new-found» music sound, even often taken to dancing, thanks to it’s catching rhythm.

Since the first public performance (2000.) the group has been frequently performing in clubs, open air stages, theatres and halls in Croatia, Netherlands and lately in Ireland. The national television (HRT) shoots 2004. a 25 minutes documentary about the group. «The Skelligs» recorded 2006. the soundtrack for Croatian première of “The Weir” by the famous contemporary Irish playwright Conor McPherson. 

If you love step dancing , then I am sure Nathan and Jon Pilatzke are familiar names. I first saw them on the Live in Nashville DVD of The Chieftains. I think they’re absolutely amazing. Originally from Toronto, Ontario. Both are good in step dancing(in the Cape Breton tradition) as well as playing musical instruments. They formed a 6-piece Celtic fusion ensemble called Quagmyre which is yet to give us news.

With Quagmyre…..