Report From O’Dowd’s Little Dublin 7/11/2007
Yes I went to see the bould Eddie Delahunt perform in Kansas City for the first time since his return from Ireland.
The perfect surface of Brookside Boulevard, dug up weeks ago, was now replaced by a darker even more perfect asphalt.
It was a beautiful night. Which of course means there was a huge crowd up on the deck. Irish people I imagine.
Eddie plays inside. It was one of those nights where late on everybody watching gets name-checked in song. And more than once.
For my money though, Mike Sweeney received too many song dedications.
Accompanied by bodhrán player Gabriel Reyes, there was no accordion player last night - so Eddie produced his mouth organ. The Mini-Brett I believe it was called. Or the Brett-Organ or something.
Typing this post I have received four mosquito bites. And the summer was going so well. Yes it is sunrise - 6.03am - but no, I am not typing outdoors. It’s probably a revenge attack for the three mosquitos I killed in my house last night. Haven’t seen this mosquito though - a Stealth-Skeeto.
There was a large crowd early on last night at O’Dowd’s Little Dublin on the Plaza. From dinner time when I wasn’t there. (Because I was here - eating dinner)
Eddie Delahunt sang that new song again last night. It seemed finished this time, but I have a feeling the words are going to change every time anyway.
In Ireland until Sunday, Eddie was down in the southwest. Dingle and the Gap of Dunloe. Paidi Lynch’s. Ventry. And Cork.
And he saw Máirtín de Cógáin. I hear you ask, What’s love got to do with it? Nothing anymore. Now Frank Pig Says Hello. At the Granary. And Máirtín was off to rehearsals. He’s an actor, remember.
And Eddie saw Jimmy Crowley. Not by accident you understand.
And Delahunt off the plane not but 48 hours and singing he wishes he was back in Ireland. Well the duck he killed doesn’t. Think of the irony if that duck was on its own holidays, and wishing he was back in America before meeting the Delahunt vehicle. Eddie didn’t even have to foot the bill.
Five mozzie bites.
Jimmy Crowley is moving from Cork to Florida. Dunedin. If I’m right, that’s Seven Nations territory. Collaborations do you think? And at least two in-town Celtic festivals during the year.
Some drunk insisted I lift my glass and toast his well-held beer bottle. I did. At the close of business a Kansas woman who spoke like Rosaleen Linehan somehow and for some reason, turned up. It was one of those nights. Conductors, drunks and film-makers. And that was just my table.
All very distracting when I was trying to draw pictures for American Hell. I managed one.
Approaching the midnight hour and therefore the Twelfth, Eddie whistled us the Sash. A pity a few pseudo-provos weren’t in to bang their glasses along to it. I marched to the jax but the way was blocked.
On the darker more perfect than ever asphalt of Brookside Boulevard, the bicycle made it home as fast as it made it to the Plaza, the only down side being the lack of tennis balls.
Brand New Song still sounds great. Buy it.
Eddie goes on the road the next couple of roads. You can see him at the Dubliner in St Louis (Washington & 10th), this weekend Saturday July 14th, 2007 at 9:30pm, and then up in Weston a couple of weeks later at O’Malley’s on Friday and Saturday, July 27, and 28, 2007. Let him know if you fancy traveling up yourself.
Remember, Eddie is a Live Aid baby. Well, grown up. Birthday on the 13th. Friday the 13th. July. Mike Kelly’s Westsider. See the Events Calendar.
See Also:
• Review of 1st Birthday Party of Delahunt’s Cafe &
• Review of 2006 Bloomsday Celebration in KC
• Eddie Delahunt’s CD Original Sing Reviewed
Eolaí gan Fhéile:
