Hey! There's Cheese in your Chanter

Days – no weeks of pretty much a solid rain. So far, beginning the second of November, I have driven from Orcas Island Washington to Whidbey Island in the dumping down rain. Driven from Whidbey to Portland in road conditions best described as impossibly dangerous. Driven out from Portland metro to play at the Edgefield and a night later the Grand Lodge in horrible winds and rain. Driven back through southern Washington to Whidbey in periods of downpour and drizzle. Driven back to Portland through lashing circumstances. Then down to Yachats in a white out of rain and wind. Now back in PDX the rain continues and the house has settled in at an economical 58 degrees. There’s something about the thermostat on the wall that is beyond my abilities, and my new housemate isn’t home. Or perhaps it’s the Yachats effect. The post Yachats Celtic Music festival brain isn’t the normal brain that you use on a daily basis. This is a different brain, a stand in maybe, one that is feeling the full effects of days of reels and jigs, fiddles and guitars, military drums, and many, many bagpipes. I think that there were more pipes at this years festival than I have ever seen – no, make that heard! They rocked as well. I was really feeling the pipes vibe this year. The festival on the whole was grand and I loved being there. But I’m ahead of myself. I can’t forget about the Clash.

Once again the Portland musical community surpassed it’s self with a ten-band line up each group playing three Clash songs a peace. It was at the Doug Fir Lounge, sponsored by PBR, and to top it off, the show was free.


Casey, Adam, Lewi,and Ezra rocked "Know Your Rights"," White Man In Hammersmith Palais", and "Rudi Can't Fail".


The Dickel Brothers played on the floor as the bands changed. They did a version of "Pressure Drop" with guitar, tuba, and one of those odd mouth piano things that was absolutely genius!


Next morning it was away through the rain and wind in the valley, the dumping rain in the coast range, and the impossible rain and wind out on the coast. The “Welcome to Yachats” sign was a relief to see and the town was on for the sixth annual Yachats Celtic Music festival.

The main stage evening on Friday started out with Aine Meenaghan who sings unaccompanied old school Sean Nos in Irish and whose voice filled the room with the most amazing sounds of language, ornament and song. Shay and Michael Black were next, followed by Nancy Conescu and Chulrua to close out. I caught the beginning of Chulrua but at that point the road was upon me and I drifted back to my room and listened to the ocean crash as I faded away.



First order of business next morning was the traditional plate of eggs and ham at the Blue Whale in Yachats. This is the sort of greasy spoon meal that can really carry you through the better part of your day. So, fueled up and ready to rock I caught Casey’s workshop on traditional songs in songwriting which was cool, then over to the Commons to see Rebecca Lomnicky. Rebecca is an amazing fiddle player indeed. I closed my eyes as she played an air and every note, ornament, and just the entire vibe that filled the Commons was that of grace, control, and beauty, the sort you get from some players who have been playing all of their lives. Then you open your eyes again and there on stage is Rebecca Lomnicky a fourteen year old 8th grader from Corvallis. She’s been playing since five years old but still…that really blew my mind. After a walk around at the seaside I caught some of Laura Cortese’s set in the Commons, then a little Kitchen Ceilidh on the second stage in the Presbyterian Church. Then Casey and Hanz were up on the big stage with Jessie Emerson playing bass and Joe Trump on some very nice percussion. They tore it up completely! Way to go fellas. Hanz singing “A Rainy Night in Soho” was particularly over the top. Then it was time for a little lunch and over to play my set on stage 2 in the church.



On the main stage the evening show was Aine Meenaghan opening again, Randall Bays and Daithe Sproule, Molly’s Revenge and closing up shop was Sean Tyrrell. After, Vash and Matthew from Circled by Hounds and myself walked along to the Landmark for a pint and to see the transvestite loggers and (seemingly) unavoidable, loud, sunglass-wearing blues band who were booked. Then Vash and Matthew went to find the Woodland crew who were put up in a house at number 69 Gender Drive and have a tune with them while I walked back to my room and continued listening to the ocean crashing endlessly from the night before.

Circled by Hounds had a morning gig in the local coffee shop at ten and I was just on my way there when I ran into Sean Tyrrell on the street and we talked as we made our way. Sean is interesting. It's hard to put a finger on just what it is....During our walk he said twice that he was desperate for a coffee - "Feck Tim, I'm desperate, desperate for a coffee" then when we get there he ordered a decaf. That's about as best I can sum it up. The shop was packed for the band and it looked as though Vash and Matthew had gotten at least a little sleep in. Circled by Hounds were great and the early morning risers (10AM) loved them. We all had a brekkie after their show and spent the better part of an hour busting each other up around the table. We came up with a movie staring only Colm Meaney and combining The Secret of Roan Inish, Waking Ned Devine, The Commitments, and The Snapper all rolled into one. The entirety of this film is Colm Meaney seen from behind as he rides naked on a motorcycle, a seal under one arm and a lottery ticket in the other hand. As he stands up on the bike and shouts “It’s Ride Sally Ride, Not Riot Sally Riot!” the bike crashes, the seal goes flopping away making that barking seal sound and the credits roll. I know it. Your right. Genius. The Circled by Hounds crew are moving to Portland in December and I’m looking forward to hanging with them more.

Driving back to the city yesterday, it’s rained all day here today. I’m back to Whidbey tomorrow and a gig there on Friday. Zoom Zoom.