{"id":2506,"date":"2012-11-17T00:50:57","date_gmt":"2012-11-17T00:50:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lawrencecconnolly.com\/archive\/?p=2506"},"modified":"2023-07-07T22:44:16","modified_gmt":"2023-07-08T02:44:16","slug":"from-world-fantasy-to-rileys-pour-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lawrencecconnolly.com\/archive\/2012\/11\/17\/from-world-fantasy-to-rileys-pour-house\/","title":{"rendered":"From World Fantasy to Riley\u2019s Pour House"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Still decompressing from World Fantasy<\/a> in Toronto, I\u2019ll be resurfacing\u00a0at Riley\u2019s Pour House <\/a>this Saturday (November 17) for a marathon performance \u2013 four hours, four sets, 60+ songs. A real aerobic workout, and I can\u2019t think of a better way to spend a Saturday night.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d like to tell you about that show, but first a few words about the music sessions that took place at World Fantasy.<\/p>\n

What a blast!<\/p>\n

Organized by Christopher and Barbara Roden<\/a>, the sessions were a late addition to the program, announced by word of mouth a few hours before the first one went live\u00a0at 10:00 p.m.\u00a0Friday, November 2.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Joining me were MaryAnn Harris<\/a>, Charles de Lint<\/a>, and Patrick Nielsen Hayden<\/a>. We took turns calling the songs, sometimes playing solo, but generally jamming together on\u00a0Celtic, country, and folk-rock standards.\u00a0We did originals too, with Charles performing \u201cA Dog Named Johnny Cash\u201d and \u201cCherokee Girl\u201d —\u00a0 both featuring wonderfully catchy hooks that I haven\u2019t been able to shake yet.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Along the way we were joined by Howard Fox<\/a>, an artist\u00a0from Israel whose remarkable paintings generated considerable buzz at the art reception (with one painting going on to win the convention\u2019s Member\u2019s Choice Award.) Playing harmonica, Howard accompanied me on a rendition of\u00a0 Lennon and McCartney\u2019s \u201cFor You Blue.\u201d Then he asked me to lay down some improvised progressions. “Keep it going,” he said, and as I did he made up a\u00a0song that he called\u00a0\u201cFantasy Fair\u201d — completely improvised\u00a0—\u00a0proving that he is as skilled at lyrics as he is with painting. This was Howard\u2019s first World Fantasy Con. Let\u2019s hope it\u2019s the first of many.<\/p>\n

The crowd grew as the night progressed. A lot of folks sang along, some danced, and when we called it quits around midnight, we were all committed to doing it again.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>On Saturday we were joined by Martin Springett<\/a>, who introduced his original tunes with stories about some of his past performances.\u00a0Introducing\u00a0his instrumental \u201cThe Dragon<\/a>,\u201d he spoke about playing for a group of children, all of whom listened with eyes scrunched tight, picturing dragons taking flight while he played.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>And then came another improvised performance, this time from Ellen Klages<\/a>, who\u00a0asked the audience to call out a song topic. \u201cManual typewriters!\u201d someone shouted, and she was off \u2013 nine minutes of improvised blues about platens, carbon paper, writer\u2019s block, and Nebula Awards. No summary can do it justice. Fortunately, you can catch the whole thing on YouTube.<\/p>\n

Click on the link at the end of this post . . . and enjoy!<\/p>\n

Also joining us on that second night was singer Angela Keeley, who provided an eclectic mix of songs ranging from the bawdy \u201cScotsman\u201d to the teen-angst standard \u201cLast Kiss.\u201d Great stuff!<\/p>\n

I understand there was a third session on Sunday, but by then I was on the road, heading back to Pittsburgh with all those earworms stuck in my head. I didn\u2019t bother with the radio. The memories were enough.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>I\u2019ll be playing some of those same songs again tomorrow night when I\u00a0perform at\u00a0Riley\u2019s \u2013 the Pub that was recently honored by Irish Echo as one of the best Irish Pubs in the States. For good reason too. Food, drink, ambience, friendly people, music\u00a0\u2013 Riley\u2019s has it all.<\/p>\n

I usually open the night with ballads and ramp up from there, but this time I\u2019m planning to start with some rocking sea shanties. Lauren Connolly-Moore will also be on hand, lending her sweet harmonies to some contemporary tunes. I’ll hope to see you there.<\/p>\n

So . . . were you at World Fantasy? Did you attend our jam sessions? Do you have anything to add, amend, or comment on?<\/p>\n

Are you a fan of the Pour House? Do you have any requests for tomorrow night?<\/p>\n

As always, the comment section is open . . . as are my email box\u00a0and Facebook page. Use the comment\u00a0option below or the little email and FB icons above. I’d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n

Now fasten your seatbelts. Here\u2019s\u00a0Ellen Klages with her nine-minute blues improvisation \u201cManual Return.\u201d<\/p>\n