I heard a terrific concert by Jimmy Crowley & Máirtín de Cógáin this evening at a very unlikely venue - the convent of the Sisters of Mercy in Auburn, California. They're touring California as Captain Mackey's Goatskin and Stringband. On Wednesday, November 19, they will be at Ireland's 32 in San Francisco. The bar is located at: 3920 Geary Blvd at 3rd Ave in SF's Richmond District. For directions, call (415)386-6173. The concert will start around 9pm.

This is real, traditional Irish music - it's not likely you'll hear them perform "Whiskey in the Jar" or "Black Velvet Band," but you will hear a wide variety of the best of Irish music in the traditional style, plus a few gems from modern songwriters.

Mairtin's Website is http://www.mairtinmusic.com/ and you can hear a sampling of his recordings on his MySpace page, http://www.myspace.com/mairtindecogain.


Jimmy Crowley's Website is http://www.jimmycrowley.com

The San Francisco Concert Wednesday is apparently the last stop on their tour. If you can make it, you'll really enjoy it.

Let's see if I can glean a fairly accurate set list from my notes:

Dick Darby the Cobbler
I Know My Love
Down Erin's Lovely Lee
"Queen of the White Star Line" (a song about the Titanic, written by Crowley)
Carrigdhoun (the source of the tune for "Mountains of Mourne"
"Tom Crean" (about a sailor who went to Antarctical with Shackleton) - not sure, but it may be this song.
"Maria de la Rosa," a Ron Kavana song about an Irish daughter of the Spanish Civil War
An updated version of Kerry Recruit about an Irish brigade in the Congo in the 1960's
Who Knows Where the Wind Blows?, by Tommy Sands about Irish soldiers in the American Civil War.
"Dublin Saunter," by Leo Maguire. (Lyrics posted here (click).
Óró, sé do bheatha 'bhaile, which Martin sang in the film, The Wind that Shakes the Barley.
The encore was a request from my pastor, who comes from Cork - Jimmie Driftwood's St. Brendan's Fair Isle.

Mairtin also told a terrific story, "Darmody's Motor Car," which you'll find on his MySpace page.

The Mercy Sisters convent is a retirement home and skilled nursing facility for the sisters, many of whom come from Ireland. It was fitting to have an Irish concert in the home of these wonderful Irish women.

-Joe-