The Best Guitarist in Dublin

Subject: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 06:36 PM

not my opinion, but the title of the YouTube video featuring the remarkable Niall Lawlor, street musician extraordinaire.

how come none of our Irish Mudcatters have brought this remarkable talent to our attention ?

he busks on Grafton Street, after all.

anyway, savour his unique talents on This video

Jeff Healy meets Jerry Douglas imo ...

Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: skarpi
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 07:03 PM

he´s good but , your question , is it for folk , hillybilly or country ?

if it is for folk , well then he´s not the best .
hillybilly heard them better .
country heard them better ,



but thats me :>)

ATB Skarpi Iceland

Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Declan
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 08:10 PM

I've seen this guy busking in Grafton Street and he is very good.

Whether he's the best around is a debatable subject. There's some very good competition out there.

Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Zen
Date: 24 Jun 08 - 12:04 PM

Yes he's certainly very good indeed but I'd need to hear the contenders to say whether he's the best!

Zen

Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Gedpipes
Date: 24 Jun 08 - 12:38 PM

...what does best mean- fecking stupid question

Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 25 Jun 08 - 04:47 AM

I think he's stunning (haven't seen him live, but the clip makes me want to). Pity about the thread title because discussion of that meaningless word "best" has overshadowed discussion of Niall's fine talent. Murray did say, "not my opinion, but the title of the YouTube video" - and in the column to the right on that page there are a half dozen other "best" guitarists. It's only ever going to be a matter of personal taste, not worth debating. It might have been better if whoever posted that video had labelled it "my favourite guitarist" or something that can't be argued. Calling anyone The Best usually does them no favours.

Anyway, thanks Murray for bringing him to our attention. He certainly deserves wider recognition. I notice also from the comments that people who know him seem to say what a great guy he is. Has a CD out, apparently. Certainly what I saw here (wish the sound had been clearer) would entice me to listen further. Hope he'll manage to mosey down to The People's Republic* one day.


*Cork

Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Gulliver
Date: 25 Jun 08 - 10:52 AM

He has (or had) a residency in Whelan's in Aungier Street on, I think, Sunday evenings--I'll check next time I'm passing. He has a myspace site at http://www.myspace.com/nclawlor .

He's good, but as someone said, what does "best" mean? There are a lot of good guitarists in Dublin.

Don

Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 25 Jun 08 - 11:24 AM

Talking of great jazz guitarists from Ireland, do any of you guys over there see Louis Stewart at all?

Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Geoff Wallis
Date: 25 Jun 08 - 12:40 PM

Yep, I've seen Louis on several occasions over the last few years. He used to have a regular Sunday lunchtime spot at the Herbert Park Hotel, but that's not happened for a while. Considering his age, he now seems to play just the occasional gig in the city.

He does have a website, http://www.louisstewart.net, but it isn't particularly helpful.

Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Gulliver
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 12:10 AM

I called by Whelan's and sure enough Niall plays there every Sunday from 8:30 PM. I'd go there but I'm playing somewhere else that evening.

Cheers, Don

Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Big Tim
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 12:21 PM

What about Philip Chevron?

Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Declan
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 08:27 PM

I don't know what Philip is up to these days. I remember Phil Ryan when he was a school mate of mine, although a bit older than me.

Prior to Jimmy Faulkner's passing earlier this year, I don't think there was much doubt in my mind about who the best was. As Gedpipes says its a stupid question - Niall is great. Let's just acknowledge him for that.

Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 03:14 AM

What exactly is the stupid question that has been asked ?


I asked in the opening post, " how come none of our Irish Mudcatters have brought this remarkable talent to our attention ? "

Is that a stupid question ?

Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 04:23 AM

The Stupid question Murray, and don't be offended, is
what does 'best' mean. and I didn't say 'stupid question' I said fecking stupid question.

Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 04:37 AM

Murray, try PM-ing Joe Offer or one of the other clones and asking them to PLEASE change the title to "Great guitarist in Dublin" or something, before this thread goes west entirely. It's sparked some interesting input and I would hate to see it go down in flames.

"How come none of our Irish Mudcatters have brought this remarkable talent to our attention" is a perfectly valid question, and this Irish Mudcatter didn't because she had never heard of Niall. Now I have, and it's my gain. So get onto Joe -

Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Declan
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 05:17 AM

No offence intended on my part.

It might be a good idea to change the thread title, but it might be confusing for people reading it later on.

Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 05:21 AM

Didn't mean you, Declan -

Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Lowden Jameswright
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 06:24 AM

Technically he's brilliant - but sometimes less is more.

Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Betsy
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 06:39 AM

Not my cup of tea

Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Gulliver
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 08:33 PM

how come none of our Irish Mudcatters have brought this remarkable talent to our attention ?

If we were to bring every remarkable talent in Dublin to Mudcat's attention we'd be here till the cows came home...

I heard him still playing in Whelan's tonight as I returned home from my session. By then I was all music-ed out, so I didn't stop.

Don