China to Galway
I sat in the Rosin Dubh, in Galway, an hour or so before the gig. My wife
Jane and I had just flown from China, to see him play. I hadn't seen him live
in six years and it was time to see him play. I don't think he has played
in China yet, but I wasn't going to wait any longer. I sat with Jane and a
Guinness and just enjoyed the atmosphere. I like the feeling of this place,
dark and cosy. As the time grew closer I was taken over by a feeling of nervousness
about the gig before me, I am not quite sure why, I wasn't the one who had
to go on stage. Maybe the memory of the wonderful concert and sweet sound
of six years ago, was about to be shattered. Maybe over the years I had built
that night up to such almighty proportions that it would soon be brought done
to Earth with a bump. Maybe be it was the years of trying to play those dam
tunes just like he does, finding out what he does and how he does it ! I kind
of hoped the guy simply had 27 fingers on his left hand, so it would give
me a good excuse why I couldn't do it...................? One thing I did
know was that I had been waiting for this for a long time.
Anyway, the Guinness was going down nicely and the company was perfect for
such a night. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw a man, shoulder length
wavy hair, jeans, training shoes and a large instrument case..................................he
had arrived. Just as I had remembered him for years back, except a little
older, but then, weren't we all ! He walked straight past and disappeared
through a doorway with hanging curtains, kind of like Mr Ben used too in the
cartoons. He went back and forward a few times with various cases and objects,
then he was gone.
This was my chance to say '" Hello ". I talked myself in and out
of it 32 times, before heading in the direction he had gone earlier. I entered
the room and looked around. There he was, down on one knee sorting out some
cables. He looked over his shoulder and said " sorry, the place isn't
open yet, I am still setting up " I walked closer and introduced myself.........................his
face lit up, like he had seen an old friend, the mood instantly changed. He
was extremely friendly and talked very warmly. We told him that we had been
to the Patrick Street gig days before and he said I was an ' EJIT ! ' ( I
was! ) Why didn't you come and say hello................Then he pulled from
his bag a green book. It was his book that I had been searching for, for ages,
' Aiming for the Heart '. It is now available from Heupfred Musik, BUY IT
! It is brilliant ! He had made my night already !!! I gave Andy a video of
a short movie I made a few years back using one of his songs. It was not a
movie about the song but I hope he enjoyed it anyway.
Back to the Guinness, and a quick flick through the book. I was genuinely
surprised that he had remembered me from my e-mail and more that he remembered
the book. With all the things going on in his personal life, work, constant
traveling, the tour and the nights gig, and he remembered the book !
When the doors opened we got a table right in front of the stage. From here
I could definitely see what those 27 fingers were doing ...........right !
I had asked earlier for permission to record the night, so I happily put the
camera on the table, made a few technical adjustments of height with a few
beer mats......................I was ready !
Then out of the blue, Andy came and sat at our table and chatted away to us
like we were old friends. We talked about music, Travel, instruments and I
could have listened to him for hours. His character, humour and knowledge
was something you could loose days in, there was so much to talk about and
so many questions to ask. Infact, Andy has started adding a few diary pages
to his web site, and I really enjoy the insight to his traveling life. I guess
sometimes it is difficult for us to understand what type of life the famous
live, and I love Andy’s very human approach.........................I
wish I had better words to describe it, he has seen the big lights and big
bucks but takes the bus through south America. I like that, Anyway...................back
to the music!
Andy wandered off to talk to someone about 20 feet away, and after a few minutes
called back to me. " Hey Kieron ! Did you pay to get in ?" I mistook
it for him checking that we had actually paid to get in, a quickly produced
my tickets as evidence ! " Well go and get your money back, you are on
my guest list as friends from China !" You should have seen the size
of the stupid grin on my face as I walk up to the doorman, FRIENDS of Andy
Irvine..................I liked the sound of that and very much appreciated
too !
SET 1
After the first set Andy rejoined us at the table, and we picked up on a
few bits of conversation that we had started earlier, but there were just
so many people he had to see and talk with but we were very grateful for the
time he spent with us.
At the end of the night Andy signed a copy of
SET 2
