Thoughts
Change is Contstant – Rockwood Friday / Song Club Tonight
Wednesday September 15th, 2021 Saoirse’s started school. She’s in 3k, which is like pre pre kindergarten, or Junior Baby Infants. She told me to be brave and to try not to cry. She’s Two and threeeee quarters now. I’m only 43. Good thing I am somewhat busy. I have two real world gigs this week…
Read MoreThe Greatest Hits Of All Time
June 30th, 2021 The Cheeseman on the radio announces the GREATEST HITS OF ALL TIME. Pronounces. Announces. Denounces. I find myself irritated by the presumption that what came before is better than the new. Or worse, that it is better than what is yet to come. In fairness, ‘He Ain’t Heavy (He’s My Brother)’, is…
Read MoreThe Life Cycle of Frogs
East Durham, May Something-th, 2020 I promised her frogs. ”If you’re very quiet we might see frogs.” I’ve been promising this for weeks. Clearly having forgotten the precise timing of the life cycle of frogs, a life cycle that was so thoroughly imparted to me at St. Jospeh’s National School circa 1982. I have…
Read MoreShe Makes Me Want to Wash My Hands
March 10th, 2020 Rockaway Park, NY I have a tiny human. I have friends and family that are more vulnerable than I am. I’ve washed my hands a bajillion times recently. I’m more hygienic than I’ve ever been. I’ve also touched my face a bajillion times. Have you ridden the subway in the last…
Read MoreHappy Birthday Rockwood Music Hall
Rockaway Beach, NY, February 27th, 2019 Rachel said this new place Rockwood Music Hall, was pretty small and an excellent listening room. Two things I desperately craved. I was still living in Ireland when my friend Rachel Loshak told me about Rockwood Music Hall. In those days I was touring Europe an awful lot. Scheming…
Read MoreRandom Acts of Kindess
Random Acts of Kindness – Brooklyn, January 24th, 2019 I’ve been trying to notice kindness. Trying to actively look out for it. To practice it. During winter, in this divided nation, in these dark and cynical times, I find it helpful to see the everyday good in people. Something as simple as holding…
Read MoreThe Body of a Starling – When a Zucchini is an Eggplant – Winning
March 19th, 2018 – The kitchen, Brooklyn Four night light candles encircle the body of a starling. A grown sober woman is sitting on one of those 25 cent horsey things. And she’s invested the quarter. The horse is moving and singing like a sick ice-cream van. The fulling grown seemingly sober and sane…
Read MoreIn the Kitchen at Parties
Hotel Am Brillantengrund, Vienna – Thursday November 16th, 2017 I’m sitting in the cafe at Hotel Am Brillantengrund in Vienna. I like this place. Myself and Clare stayed here last year. It is super relaxed, artsy and cool. The coffee is really great. Leafy courtyard. Minimalist art. And tomorrow I’m playing a concert in the…
Read MoreAll Of This For Beauty
Andrea’s Kitchen, Piove di Sacco, Italy – November 7th, 2017 They tell me it didn’t rain in the North of Italy for sixty days. Until I arrived. It has been raining almost constantly since. Italian farmers, you are welcome. Aside from the damp, all is going well so far. I’m feeling well rested, well fed,…
Read MoreCome on Tour with Me
JFK International Airport, Terminal 4 – Saturday, November 4th, 7:22am I’m sitting in a brightly lit cafe. Trying to pry my eyes open with a watery coffee. I am putting the coffee in my mouth but it might be more effective to pour it directly into my eyeball. A somewhat tortuous version of “They Can’t…
Read More