With laughter comes inspiration. This is the essence of Shamus and Steve’s Crazy Celtic Journey to Glasgow Vol. 2
Life is hard. I’ve been reflecting on that for the past few weeks now that reality has started to sink in. Three things continue to save me: Humor, curiosity and sweetness from friends who never fail to see the good in me. Yes ladies and gentlemen, I put humor above all. That capacity to laugh at ourselves and others clear the air of disagreements and awkwardness.
I’ve been visited upon by the funny muse when I started following the Shamus and Steve’s Crazy Celtic Journey to Glasgow series by musician and linguist Steven Hawson. The more I listen to his series, the more I realize the depth of creativity that he has put in these recordings. I see them as part documentary, part comedy adventure. It is also a love letter to the lovers of the Celtic culture. It recognizes the three things about people like us:
The love and appreciation of all things Celtic
The love for diversity and respect of other cultures
The celebration of learning history and its importance to the present.
Shamus and Steve’s Crazy Celtic Journey to Glasgow, Vol. 2 is an exciting follow-up to Volume 1. It is also longer with more characters and punch lines that will tickle your inner clown. I admire Steven Hawson’s ability to create many colorful characters and events with convincing candor. Think of this as a combination of On the Road/Even Cowgirls Get The Blues/Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle but with a Celtic treatment.
There are 13 tracks representing 13 chapters of a novel.
In Vol.1, we were left with Shamus and Steve stopping for a night halfway through their trip. Remember, this story is about the twins going on the road to see the first annual Glasgow Celtic music festival in Montana. The album opens with Steve waking up to discover a spider bite on his left cheek.
Steve: You mean I’m going to have a swollen face at the festival?!
Shamus: Well, only on the left side. You’ll just …have to put your best face forward I guess(snicker).
You see, the hapless optimism of Shamus always gets Steve(or both of them ) into trouble. They meet a handful of colorful characters along to way: The Hari Krishna Cowboys in Cheyenne.The Turkish carpet store owner who explains the relationship between the Celts and Anatolia. There’s also an exciting police car chase which makes Steve throw his accordion out the window. There is also a hilarious encounter with a fake Druid (who talks like Yoda). There are many interesting encounters that you will enjoy as you listen along but it is for you to find out. I don’t want to spoil the fun.
Shamus and Steve’s Crazy Celtic Journey to Glasgow Vol.2 establishes Steven Hawson as an excellent story-teller with a comedic spirit. This is really a must for those who want to take a Celtic history shortcut. As for me, it’s a cure for sadness. Laughter is the best medicine courtesy of my two heroes Shamus and Steve!
Steven Hawson has been described as the “Weird Al Yankovic” of Celtic music. Now, with Shamus and Steve’s Crazy Celtic Journey to Glasgow, the Albuquerque-based musical gagman has taken his deft (and daft) talents where no Celtic laddie has gone before! A multi-faceted musician and gifted voice actor, Hawson breaks new creative ground in this two-volume comic misadventure with an array of off-beat characters, “Monty Pythonesque” sketches, unorthodox settings of Irish and Scottish melodies, and an intricate story line replete with egg-headed non-sequiturs and side-splitting banter. Destined to become an instant classic, Shamus and Steve’s Crazy Celtic Journey to Glasgow is a must have for everyone who enjoys the Celtic genre…and a good clean laugh.
Here’s a video os Steve Hawson (banjo) by the way when not doing comedy, Harlow Pinson plays the fiddle.:
***
Huzzah!
More exciting things going on in the Celtic music scene and here they are:
The Court of Equity is the acoustic alter-ego of Scottish folk rockers The Picts. The song Killiecrankie is the first track on their album ‘Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect’ The Songs and Poems of Robert Burns, Volume 1.
Also in this epidsode:The Picts Of Scotland and Karen Matheson
Douglas McQueen Hunter
Douglas McQueen Hunter talks about The Picts and the new band,The Court of Equity inspired by the music of Robert Burns.
If you are a Scottish music insider then The Picts is not new to you. They proved to be very influential among Celtic fusion bands in Scotland. My curiosity was fueled after seeing the video of the song The peak. The haunting accordion intro and the dark blue lighting are captivating. Then, the music explodes into a traditional inspired fusion of drums, acoustic guitar and other instruments. The camera revolves and the music becomes hypnotic until it reaches the ending with a crunch..
Douglas McQueen Hunter joins us today. He is our featured artist and he talks to us about interesting points relating to his musical career and other things. I found interesting bits about his bio:
” He is the front man and founder member of ‘The Picts’ and ‘The Court of Equity’. Douglas is also a composer, song-writer and the co-author (Along with his father- artist Colin Hunter McQueen) of the world-wide acclaimed book on Robert Burns “Hunters’ Illustrated History of the Family, Friends and Contemporaries of Robert Burns” which was released in 2009 for the year of homecoming. He has produced albums with ‘Badenoch’, ‘The Picts’ and his first solo album ‘Ghosts’.
Instruments: Vocals, Six and Twelve String Guitars, Mandolin, Mandola, Bodhran and percussion.”
As you can tell this is a very relaxed conversation. We go back and forth in various topics but as any good conversations, everything has to flow naturally. He also helped me choose the pictures to go along with this interview.
I enjoyed this chat with Douglas McQueen Hunter and I am looking forward to the new album!
What do you do apart from music that very few know about?
Apart from music, I’m a jujitsu coach and run my own martial arts clubs…. also author of book on Robert Burns www.facebook.com/drumbow
What made you become a big Robert Burns enthusiast? What is it about the man that speaks to you?
I’ve been surrounded by the works of Burns since I was a child and was brought up singing his songs… Burns knew how to express every emotion in beautiful word… which as a song writer is something I strive for. If I could do it even a fraction as well as him then I’d be happy. Interestingly, my own Great great Grandfather James Gibb was a neighbor of Burns when Burns lived in Mauchline, Ayrshire and according to A.B Todd, a 19th century Ayrshire author, James Gibb used to debate religion with Burns and sell him lime for his horses.
The drumbow projects is fascinating because it goes back to the time or Robert Burns. I see that your bloodline is linked with his. How do you see the future of this illustrated book? What do you want to happen?
When I was researching the book (Hunters’ Illustrated History of the Family, Friends and Contemporaries of Robert Burns) I had to research lots of the history and genealogy of Burns, his family and friends. This led to me discovering over three hundred old parish records and documents, which allowed me to correct long standing errors and mistakes that had been compounded for decades by authors and biographers of the poet.
Doing this also threw me in at the deep end and created a real passion for genealogy which led me on to doing two years at Strathclyde University; studying a Post Grad Diploma in Genealogy. Not that I was particularly interested in gaining any academic qualification, but because I really wanted to get as great an understanding in the subject as I possibly could. I have lots of new projects and Ideas at the moment for new books, but I’m not quite ready to reveal them yet ha ha!! But music and song-writing still comes first in my heart.
Let us talk about your music especially The Picts which you founded . You have one single with an accompanying video called The Peak.It’s been gaining lots of viewers in youtube. Tell me the influences that shaped the sound of the Picts and also the Island itself.
I guess each of the guys who started the Picts and those with us who have played with us over the years all brought their own influences with them and help to develop the sound of the band. The Island like Moving sands our second album was a compromise between the band members to shape the sound. There are successes and failures on both albums. I’ve not listened to them for a long time. I think the Live EP we recorded a few years ago is the best representation of the band…
I still can’t get over the fact that you teach martial arts! That’s totally interesting.
Ha ha .. I’ve done Judo from the age of 7-17 then left martial arts for many years and finally took up Jujitsu 12 years ago … I enjoy seeing people happy and learning.. Great fun and keeps everyone fit (including me).
Is this Martial Arts family thing?
No … My folks just took me along to classes when I was a little and I loved it.
Do you think the jujitsu spirit carries itself into your musical performance? Especially when you play with passion ?
I suppose it depends on what I’m playing… It’s tricky because The Picts are a working band therefore have different setlists for different types of gigs… One gig may be a festival playing original material, the next gig may be a function doing more mainstream covers … All to keep the wolves from the door… So as a professional band we always need to look as if we are enjoying it, even though we are singing the same song for the 1000th time (laughs).
You mentioned you just finished the CD and your mind needs a little relaxation. Do you listen to music, meditate etc?
After a gig I generally go for a wander round the 24 hour shops to clear my head …. It can be hard to sleep after a gig. Especially after a far away gig when we maybe get back at 5 or 6 in the morning.
Wandering.. that sounds very zen
Yeah generally the second day after the gig is when the cloudy head and tiredness hits me and I can’t string two coherent thoughts together(laughs).
That explains why musicians need a ‘downer’ after a great gig. The adrenaline after the playing is there ..it doesn’t go away..and you need to do something about it.
Yeah although I suppose it depends on the gig… We’ve done that many that its sometimes hard to get a buzz from a gig… But yeah after really good gigs there can be lows.
After quiet a while being onstage..Do you still get moments of being surprised or overwhelmed when it comes to your audience?
Very rarely…
No stage freight…Nervousness..Cold hands?
I was trying to think of an example…No never.. Very rarely get nervous… maybe a wee bit anxious if I’m going to sing a new song but I do get very sleepy before I go on stage…. Maybe that is anxiety coming out in different ways.
How about strange acting audience…Did you experience awkward situations and how did you deal with them?
We’ve kinda had everything at some point… Girls fighting in front of us pulling hair, fights breaking out, you name it… But we just kinda get on with the music… Like any rock concert!
We used to play in pubs and bars in the early days …They can be rough. We don’t do that now.
Why The Picts?
Well its apart of our bloodline here and heritage …. It’s who we are
I’ve always been fascinated with the mysterious Pictish stone symbols etc and wanted to know more. Would you be exploring more of this in the future through your band?
I’d love to.. At the moment there has been talk about another Picts album, but I’ve no idea if it will happen… I’m sure it will at some point, the priority at moment is to focus on The Court of Equity with the new albums coming out. How do you describe your new project band The Court of Equity in terms of the sound. Will you be doing vocals there?
All the Picts are in The Court of Equity.. It’s really the acoustic version of the band which focuses mainly on the works of Robert Burns .. yeah I sing most of the songs.
So this is till your band only with a different moniker !
Yeah it was a long project but long over due… the first album (volume one) will be released this month and the second in the summer 2013.
Who did the album artwork,mixing,lyrics etc?
The album was produced by myself and Greg Friel, Tracy who does all of our artwork and covers done in this album too…. All the lyrics are traditional by Robert Burns. The music is traditional except for the modern arrangements and compositions by ourselves.
If you were to choose between singing and playing instruments which would you favour the most?
Honestly… I don’t mind.. But the passion even greater than performing live for me is song writing… So looking forward to finishing my new solo album next year.
The Court of Equity band members:
Douglas McQueen Hunter
Singer, guitarist, front man and founder member of ‘The Picts’ and ‘The Court of Equity’. Douglas is also a composer, song-writer and the co-author (Along with his father- artist Colin Hunter McQueen) of the world-wide acclaimed book on Robert Burns “Hunters’ Illustrated History of the Family, Friends and Contemporaries of Robert Burns” which was released in 2009 for the year of homecoming. He has produced albums with ‘Badenoch’, ‘The Picts’ and his first solo album ‘Ghosts’.
Instruments: Vocals, Six and Twelve String Guitars, Mandolin, Mandola, Bodhran and percussion.
Jeremy Stirling
Founder member of ‘The Picts’ and ‘Court of Equity’, Jeremy is a composer and arranger of Scottish music. He has played on all the band’s recordings and written compositions for each album. He has played with the band at all the major events like T-in-the-Park, The Interceltique Festival of Lorient and the Glasgow George Square Hogmanay Bash in front of 40,000 people. He has previously played and recorded with bands such as King Joseph’s Drum and The Laughing Phrogs.
Instruments: keyboards and Pianos.
Grant McConnell
An award winning multi-instrumentalist with ‘The Picts’, Grant is a champion accordionist and founder member of ‘The Court of Equity’. He has toured extensively with both bands at home and abroad since 2004 and contributes many of his own fine compositions and arrangements. Grant’s great passion and love for music is an inspiration to all who work with him. He is the primary lead player in both bands.
Instruments: Piano Accordion, Six and Twelve String Guitars, Bass Guitar, Vocals and Backing Vocals.
Dave Murray
Dave is well known for his enthusiasm for the life and works of Robert Burns and his family, performing recently in the new Andrew Dallmeyer productions ‘The Mother of All Burns’ and ‘The Cauldron’. He has appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival on a number of occasions. Dave is the former Pipe Major with Haddington Pipe Band and as a leading member of the Grant’s Braes Burns Club he was responsible for the renovation and restoration of the grave in Bolton Kirkyard of Robert Burns’s mother, sister and brother who lived nearby at Grant’s Braes.
Instruments: Highland Bagpipes, Techno-pipes, Harmonica, and Whistles.
thats myself and grant at Edinburgh International Fringe festival
Grant with his pet Traffic Cone
Douglas McQueen Hunter
Live at the Bruton Theatre, East Lothian
Douglas McQueen Hunter
David and Grant in studio
Video shoot with Bryan Leitch.. (that’s Bryan with his back to us)
Jeremy on Keyboards, David Murray, Grant McConnell, Guest singer Victoria Graham and myself
Winterfest Festival at George Square Glasgow
Live at the Bruton Theatre, East Lothian
Greg Friel (co-Producer along with me) David and Neil McDonald (Picts / court of equity Drummer) recording the new album
the whole band
Jeremy, Me, Neil, Grant and david
David and Grant
T in the Park … Scotlands biggest music festival
Grant
***
The Picts Of Scotland – Last Of The Free(1/6)
Since we are into the music of The Picts, I think it is important to include this video. If you picked up the book by Anne Rice called Lasher then you will learn that she was writing about the myth of the Picts in Scotland. Look for the other parts of this video in youtube.
***
My Love Is Like a Red Red Rose – Karen Matheson
A Red, Red Rose
A Red, Red Rose
by Robert Burns
My love is like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June :
My love is like the melody
That’s sweetly played in tune.
As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in love am I :
And I will love thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry.
Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi’ the sun :
And I will love thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.
And fare thee weel, my only love,
And fare thee weel a while !
And I will come again, my love,
Thou’ it were ten thousand mile.
It is the first week of December folks and I assure you there are many reasons to update this site. The scene is boiling with great events from your favorite Celtic bands either those I know and don’t know. This is a great year and 2013 will prove to be a good year in music!
New CD from The Picts
Douglas McQueen Hunter
Scottish band The Picts have just finished recording a new set of tunes and they are working on polishing the craft. According to front man Douglas McQueen Hunter:
“I’ve been up to my eyes in the new cd coming out… I’m tied up tonight and tomorrow. All the recording is done now…. just paperwork and CD artwork”
Douglas is also in the middle of an interview with yours truly so you can see he has his hands full 😉
***
An Tain
I did mention before in the Martin Tourish interview that he’s working on a music based on The Tain. Here is a snippet of the music:
According to Martin: ”
In the final act of An Táin the Brown Bull and White Bull finally meet and gore and slay each other in a furious and frenzied, slaughter which shakes and tramples the entire country. The Brown bull emerges the gore-spattered victor but his great fury proves too much and his heart cracks like a nut in his chest.
Release/catalogue number: lmm011002
Release date: Feb 1, 2012″
Awesome. Wait for that one!
***
The Celtic Tenors in NYC
Zelienople, PA.
The Celtic Tenors are making rounds in NYC. They are getting more and more love from their American fans. A few weeks back they made a successful concert in China. It is just a matter of time before they conquer the world 😉
According to them:
“Tomorrow (3rd December) we will be singing a song as part of a Benefit gig for Huntington’s Disease at Playwright’s Theatre on 42nd Street NYC. Delighted to be appearing with Michael Brunnock — at Bohemian Pizza”
***
Have a Cornish Christmas
Here is a nice track translated to Cornish by Matti Clarke. Yes the season is really looking up 😀
***
Celtic Music live The Czech Republic
” Been meaning to see Pipes and Pipes for ages, and I’ve got no excuses this time. They’re in Plzen and their support includes Cheers!Hurrah!”
There is no excuse to see this even when you are in the Czech Republic. The invitation is in Czech but it means one thing: Great music 😉
Nejnašláplejší tuzemská punkrocková kapela Pipes and Pints přijíždí se svou novou desku „Found and Lost“!
Nové album je stále o dravém punkrocku s charakteristickým zvukem skotských dud, ale mnohem vyzrálejší o zkušenosti které kapela nasbírala během uplynulých tří let, kdy s debutovým albem „Until We Die“ objela prakticky celou Evropu. Za tu dobu se z Pipes and Pints stala kapela minimálně evropského formátu a není jistě náhodou, že si je pod svá křídla vzal respektovaný label “People Like You records” a
produkce na novém albu se ujal zkušený producent Darian Rundall, který úzce spolupracuje například s “Epitaph records” a “Hellcat records”.
Jako speciální host se celého turné zúčastní klubový objev Dirty Blondes a v Plzni je navíc doplní jihočeská legenda melodického punk rocku Suffer, která zde odehraje jeden ze svých posledních koncertů a zároveň představí poslední desku “Bee-Songs From The A-Cide” a plzeňská folk punková naděje Cheers!.http://www.pipesandpints.com/ http://bandzone.cz/dirtyblondes http://www.suffer.cz/cz http://bandzone.cz/cheersstart: 20:00
vstup: 170,-/200,-
If you haven’t checked yet, this is a great site for anything traditional. Yes, there are many styles of music and sometimes it is hard to look for something you want if you are not sure where to go and also who is in authority for such matters. Well, I tell you now, Tradconnect is the best in the tradmusic online sites. You can sign up and chat with other members and even get to have a good chat with owner Tony Lawless.
Song for Advent fromPhil Holland and Dave Palmley / Celtic Duo
Here’s a message from Phil and Dave:
“Here’s a wee Christmas Carol for you from Celtic Twist…The Coventry carol….our own arrangement and recording…to get you in the Christmas spirit now that advent is upon us…please share with all your friends and family this year at Christmas….
all the best, Phil and Dave”
Seriously this is one awesome track. It has all the ingredients of what makes a perfect yuletide song: atmosphere, beautiful instruments and heavenly singing.
***
Babel Pow Wow project by Dom Duff
“2013 will see the release of my new album Babel Pow Wow. Celebrating all cultures od the world, in my breton folk rock mood and language.
I am looking for people to help make the album possible by purchasing a copy in advance, or if you would like to contribute more to the making of the album by purchasing one of the other rewards on offer.
The money raised will cover the musicians fee, mixing, mastering and duplication.
Yes I truly support this project and I think this will be a great one.
***
WGBH Music: Carlos Nuñez – Aires de Pontevedra
I am glad my friend Greg Shea always updates me with only the best videos in Celtic music. Today we have Carlos Nunez:
Born in Galicia, Spain, Carlos Nuñez began playing the bagpipes at the age of eight. He met Paddy Moloney of The Chieftains as a teenager and later became known as the “7th member” of the band. In Europe, he plays to sold out stadiums and arenas. He has toured throughout the world and continues to wow audiences with his high-spirited Celtic music.
Nunez kicked off his latest North American tour from the intimate confines of The Burren Irish Pub in Somerville, Massachusetts. This is their closing encore of the night, “Aires de Pontevedra”.
Audio Engineer: Antonio Oliart
Camera/Editing: Greg Shea
Camera: Annie Shreffler
Producer/Host: Brian O’Donovan
***
Barrule booking for more gigs in 2013!
According to the band:” Barrule from The Isle of Man are booking for 2013… Got any festivals that you would like to see us play next year? Let us know, and more importantly, let them know too!”
It was Anne Rice (who can trace her roots in Scotland) who introduced me to the Picts and the Pictish culture in her novel Lasher.It’s part of the series about the lives of the Mayfair witches. You can say that Pictish is related to Celtic or they look the same. But there is a difference. The are the ‘painted people’ of ancient Scotland inhabiting most of the North Eastern part. A beautiful example of their art can be found here: http://www.penandprint.com/images/scotland/2007_dec/pictish_stone_lrg.jpg
It was 
Celtic Music Fan 
