Dublin and a New Guitar

I really have to keep this up better. More than a month has gone by since I last posted and I believe I was saying the same thing back then: “I gotta get better at this...” Oh well, if you don’t mind neither do I.

Early October finds me in Dublin, Ireland – bright sunny skies and a chill in the breeze. What a wonderful city! Oh, its only a ghost of its former self in a some ways – those great underwater days and nights of nonstop music, endless banter, volumes of rain, clouds of whatever, taxis and buses, dark allies and bright lighted hallways. It was a time to remember and some of us did. But those days have gone now, replaced by a higher standard of living and an opulence that sometimes looks like home and sometimes juts looks like better health care. People need health care so this is good. And Ireland now gets to be on the world stage as an equal, not just a dumping ground for leftover industrial waste. Good.

Anyway...... I have a new guitar – a Triple 0 size, rose wood backs and sides, mahogany neck, and spruce top. Made by the great English luthier Chris Toogood. I think I wrote about him before – but just to cap it off, Chris contacted me last year sometime to offer to build me a guitar san a endorsement. I, of course, was hesitant (“what if I don’t like it?”) and put it off for a bit. But we met up in England last January and he showed me one that he had built for himself . I was beautiful. But in some ways more importantly, we hit it off personally, we became friends. So, I agreed and I sent him some ideas and requirements. Well, just last week I flew over with Katy (the better half of my brain...) to play at Chris’ wedding and to be presented with the guitar. His bride to be – now his wife – is named Chriss (two S’s) so that made things all the more interesting and natural. The wedding was sweet and informal. The guitar... How do I say? It is extraordinary. It’s probably the loudest acoustic I have ever played – and it’s a smaller body than I’m used to. It has great sustain and an enormous amount of punch. Although being basically unadorned it is beautiful – great rounded lines with an extra large sound hole. In short, I am thrilled. I was so confident on the way over that I didn’t bring my work guitar and I’m glad I didn’t. It will now be my privilege to be getting used to it. Check out his web site for more info and for some photos: MySpace.com Toogoodguitars

We went out to see Andy Irvine last night at Whelan’s. In case you don’t know Andy was a founding member of Planxty and has continued to be a great and solid force in the folk scene over here – and around the world. The show he did was a benefit for the Irish Huntington’s Disease Society, and Woody Guthrie tribute. Yesterday was the 40th anniversary of his death from Huntington’s Disease. It was wonderful – a very moving night. Andy was on stage for more than two hours and most of that time was spent telling stories of Woody’s life. Andy used no notes, except for some lyric sheets to refer to – he freely admitted that most of the Guthrie songs had passed out of his repertoire years ago. The stories were told in a conversational style and after a while gathered a weight that was awesome. And the songs were played with grace and beauty. It was a great night. Thanks Andy.

I’ll sign off for now. Gotta get up early to start the tour. See ya soon...