rock & roll

The Bell – Kiera Dignam

IMGP7475-7

04/12/2013 – This night found me heading into the city center to a pub I’d never been to before, called Arthur’s Pub on Thomas Street, but I wasn’t able to stay. Why? I had an appointment back in Blanchardstown – where I found myself at the local Blanchardstown watering hole – The Bell Pub.

IMGP7495-17

The Bell is local here in Blanchardstown, and is a good sized pub with a front pub area, a back pub area (nicknamed the old man’s pub) and a side room for events and hosting carvery on the weekends. It’s comfortable, and on the weekends fairly hopping with the local clientele who come here before heading out elsewhere.

IMGP7477-9

Tonight’s entertainment was a young lady named Kiera Dignam. Kiera is a petite lady, standing maybe to my shoulder, but has a big voice that she uses to get the pub rocking to retro tunes with her partner singing backup. She has a pretty good range – covering everything from Stevie Wonder all the way to modern R&B hits. Most of the evening, she manages to get the pub singing along with her, and having a great time.

For Kiera Dignam’s facebook page, please click here.

IMGP7482-12

IMGP7473-5

For more photos, please see my flickr site here.

IMGP7498-19

Share

Arthur’s Pub – T’anks General

IMGP7396-15

04/12/2013 – This night found me heading into the city center to a pub I’d never been to before, called Arthur’s Pub on Thomas Street. The Pub is two floors, with the bottom floor having large windows, a fireplace and bar flanking the inside wall. The people inside looked happy with the food they were eating, and seemed to be having some nice chats. What I was interested in, however, was up the staircase – an upper bar area with a stage at one end.

IMGP7392-13

While I didn’t stay the entire night, as the gigs started way too early (7pm) and I had an appointment somewhere else, I did get to see two bands. The first band was, naturally, T’anks General. I have known these guys for a while now and they’re my colleagues at work. Despite the lowest crowd numbers (really – who starts a gig at 7pm on a Friday!!) – it was only myself and 2 bar tenders – the guys put their hearts into playing, even though they were a band member short (he was still at work). Luckily this talented crew can play their music as a 4 piece or a 3 piece!

IMGP7406-1

For more information on where they’re playing next, check out their facebook page here.

IMGP7421-4

For more pictures from the evening, checkout my flickr site here.

IMGP7409-27

Share

Tom Petty in Dublin

Untitled

Tom Petty is one of my favorite musical artists. The only way to express how much his music has meant to me is to look back on my life and realize that somehow, it’s almost like my life is set to his musical soundtrack.

Untitled

From the iconic “American Girl”, written and sung just a year after I was born, to “Southern Accents” which describes where I grew up, to “Free Fallin” which was the soundtrack to one of my first loves, to “Learning to Fly” (nicknamed Learning to Drive) and then “Time to Move On” which was released the year I graduated (and moved to Russia for a year) somehow, his music seems to just “fit” consistently into my life like a comfortable old shoe, and one I don’t want to change.

Just as I was worried about whether my work permit was going to be renewed here in Ireland, I found out that for the first time in 20 years, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were coming to Dublin. And better yet, he was playing the day AFTER my previous work permit was supposed to expire. With hope and anticipation, I promised myself that I would buy tickets – and be here in Ireland for the concert – legally – with work permit in Hand. Luckily, it all worked out. (Insert “Good Enough” song here.)

Untitled

On June 7, 2012, I had my tickets – upper balcony seats – to Tom Petty with Helene. The show was amazing and I came away wondering why I hadn’t gone to see him in concert before, when I was living in the USA. After all, I had so many albums (once I dug them all out) and knew almost every song that he played at the O2, much to Helene’s amusement (Apparently I was dancing in my seat like a Fraggle!).

There were a couple highlights to the concert for me, here in Ireland. One was of course, when everything got calmed down and quiet – being able to yell (my momma gave me a set of lungs for a reason!) over the entire crowd – WE LOVE YOU, TOM! and getting many cheers much to the amusement of those nearby. Second was the moment that came up just before he sang “free fallin”. Tom Petty was talking about how he’d met a bunch of good people in Dublin, and how he’d bumped into some Spanish folks who wanted a special request. Somewhere directly below us – in the crowd, the Spanish guys started chanting Ole! Ole! Ole! In Typical Dubliner fashion, everyone responded to the Spaniards with Ole! Ole! Ole! right back. The Magic was when the band, confused on stage, turned around and looked at each other… (It’s a football chant here in Europe – and the European Championships are being held the week after!) They had to be told that it was a good thing. Suddenly, Tom Petty held up his hand and said well, do you want to hear the song? Which brought down the house in cheers.

Let’s just say I hope it’s not 20 more years until he plays Dublin again – becuase it certainly won’t be 20 years before I see Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers in concert – at least I hope not!

For the full blog about the night in Dublin, see the official Tom Petty post at:
http://www.tompetty.com/tour/date/id/123

It’s complete with pictures of the Spaniards who made the night even better!

Share