Liam Clancy has died. He was the last surviving member of the Clancy Bothers and Tommy Makem, the wonderful Irish balladeers.
That's Liam on the left, his brothers Tom and Pat, and Tommy Makem on the right.
Here is a short radio story of his passing. Lots more can be found on his life and the music he shared with us all. You would do yourself a favor to have a bit of this music in your collection.
I don't care what anybody says about Snoop, the dude's dialed in. This video cracks me up.
I met him once on a film shoot. He made the crew wait for hours on two of the four days he was there. He'd stay in his trailer while everyone, around 80 people, waited. Or he'd show up to location six hours late, then go into his trailer and not come out. No one was allowed in. No producers anyway. They begged me to hurry him along when I went in to mic him. No way. The room was full of fresh smoke and half-eyed smiles. They were watching girls peewee football. I think he sponsors a league; probably his kids. I asked him what he'd be doing in the upcoming scene so I could adjust the mic placement and he said, "How the fuck do I know?" And I really don't think he did. They all laughed. I think my response was, "All righty then." And I did my thing. That cat is one skinny ass dude.
But when he'd finally show up on set, he'd nail his parts in one take. He put the other actors to shame. He could riff off the cuff no problem. And on the last day he showed up and did a song that he'd just made up a few hours prior in his studio; all pertinent to the film; all mixed and ready for radio. He was real. I got paid those days to play chess with the other sound guy. Snoop would never remember us. And except for that song he did with Willie Nelson, I don't listen to his music, and I'm not much on being late. But Snoop's a master of his universe. And he's having a blast. I respect that.
Enough politics for a while. Its gonna take O-man some time to get things rolling anyway.
Back to music.
I'm just back from Monte Rio in Northern California. Recorded what may turn out to be two records at Emberly - the amazing home of Rock and Ron. I went with the intention of recording ten blues tunes by slide guitar fat cat Michael Walsh...
... and wound up recording an additional 11 songs by Ron's sister Jeanie. She had us all in tears with her never recorded 30 year old tunes. We created some Goat Family mayhem when the tape wasn't rolling. And even when it was. But no one will ever hear that drunken disorderliness. Though one cut may become a soundtrack for an installation in Alaska, emanating from the bowels of a rustic outhouse. It was all too much fun.
That's Liam on the left, his brothers Tom and Pat, and Tommy Makem on the right.
