Back to the Pour House

I’ll be taking a break from writing Vortex: Book 3 of the Veins Cycle to  play a return engagement at Riley’s Pour House this Saturday, June 16. If you’re coming, you can expect four sets of Irish and American music – and a few surprises.

You see, I like mixing things up.

I love the trad tunes, of course, and I’ll be playing plenty of them at this show, but I learned an important lesson about pub performances while playing at Sean Og’s  in County Kerry a few years back.

Now trust me. This is a true story. (Have you ever known me to make things up?)

My brother John and I had just finished a sweet version of “Leaving Liverpool” when a woman came pushing through the crowd.

—Hey, she says.  Can you play ‘Summertime?’

—‘Summertime?’ John says. You mean like from Porgy and Bess?

—Yeah. And if not, how about ‘Sweet Home Alabama?’

So we played them both. And ever since, whenever I do a pub show, I make a point of blending the traditional with the unexpected.

So if you’re coming, expect to hear the likes of “Leaving Liverpool,” “Finnigans Wake,”  and “The Rising of the Moon” performed alongside songs by Johnny Cash, The Talking Heads, Neil Diamond – and Lynyrd Skynyrd. I’ll also probably do a few of my own (someone’s got to play them!).

You can also expect great food, friendly people, terrific atmosphere, and Guinness.

Music starts at 8: 00 and ends 70 songs later at midnight.

Hope to see you there!