We hold up our artists as the cornerstones of culture. Every nation does. Shakespeare is synonymous with literature in England. Goethe is the same for the Germans. Joyce is Ireland’s bard, and so on, so forth. Some rise so high, their country of origin gets lost in the collective cultural consciousness. How often do you … Continue reading Why You Should Become an Artist’s Patron
Short Story Published by Bridge Eight. January, 2020. Read Here. Continue reading Yeti
Selling your wares as a musician goes part and parcel with the job. When things are going your way, every gig is a joy, filled with nerves and adrenaline. The performance comes to an end, and afterward, rather than slunk backstage to greet an abundance of groupies, (in my case one young lad who digs … Continue reading Selling Your Wares As A Modern Musician
I was asked to write a piece on what my muse is for an upcoming show, “Confronting the Muse” happening in Berlin early January. After I wrote the following paragraph I got to thinking: the idea of muses can really mess with an artists’ head, especially when it comes to taking payment or credit for … Continue reading Confronting The Muse
It was back in the ye olde days of 2017. I had told everyone in Berlin I was going touring Ireland in September. “To launch the EP”, I said. But, in fact, I had no venues booked, no idea what touring actually entailed, or if it was even possible. I just said it enough and … Continue reading That Time Kilkelly (and Michael Brinkworth) Climbed An Irish Mountain (With Instruments)
“This part of the contract denotes that you won’t do anything sacrilegious during your performance”, said the amiable young event coordinator for the cathedral. “Oh”, I replied, nervously perusing every line in my mind’s eye depicting religion in the album. Seeing the worry set in my face, he added – “of course, you can be … Continue reading Gallivanting #6: Launch & Liverpool
Ireland just introduced a new dole, a social welfare for unemployed artists. It’s 200 euro a week, in your pocket, no questions asked. Soon as I heard this, my gut reaction was “can’t be, it’s too good to be true”. And that feeling has stuck with me, even as I read through the government statement, … Continue reading Should Artists Suffer For Their Art?
We – Dave and I, that is – arrive into Trivandrum, India from Singapore – a souped-up technological haven with good food, punishing sun and not a whole lot else. My only impression of Singapore previous to this came from a sailor I once met in Copenhagen – at least seventy, who had traveled the … Continue reading Gallivanting #5: Singapore & Trivandrum
I got booked to do a run of cover song shows in an up-scale hotel in Stuttgart, Germany. Cover gigs are a whole other breed of shows than what I’m used to. Firstly, they’re long. You play three sets, roughly 45 minutes each per night – if not longer. Secondly, I got spoiled rotten with … Continue reading Gallivanting #4: Stuttgart
No matter how far away a gig is, so long as it’s in Germany I’ll go. That’s the new, borderline psychotic deal I’ve made with myself. It’s justified 8 hour bus rides, each way, in the span of a single day with only a mantra in my head for comfort – “suffer now, money later. … Continue reading Gallivanting #3: Mannheim & Wuppertal
