next »

I have my first paid gig coming up as a drummer next month. I will be performing with a group from Ireland called "The Lonely Schizophrenic" on March 4th at Chicago Street Pub in Joliet, IL then again at the Manhatten Irish Fest in Manhatten, IL on the 5th and 6th. Must be 21+ for all events.

Stagetimes are:
Thursday March 4th at 9:00pm - Midnight
Friday the 5th at 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Saturday the 6th at 4:15pm - 5:45pm

We will be performing a mix of Traditional Irish Folkmusic along with some of LS' original music best catagorised as Comedy/Novelty Rock. You can find their Myspace page to hear some demos of their original stuff.

I'll be using a traditional drumming instrument called a Bodhran with them. Its a single drum played on your knee one-handed with a unique characteristic of being able to change its pitch and tone while playing, so its more of a rhythm instrument then just percussion. I've been playing the Bodhran for about 5 years at local Irish Sessions around Chicago and a couple times with a band out of Wisconsin called "Whiskey of the Damned" but this is my first time I'll be actually with a band and being paid for it.

I'll post a pic or two after the event so y'all can see what I look like drunk and out of my fursuit.

Oh, the band has two original tunes "Panda Porn" and "Crab People" that are furry themed, and the band (while in Ireland) have even dressed in a psuedo-Fursuits when they made a video for their panda song. I doubt they are bringing those costumes for this event.

Hope to see one or two or 400 of you there.

Well I'm no where near there but I wanted to say congrats and break a leg (do they say that in the music world?)

break a leg (do they say that in the music world?)

They do indeed. But in the case of some Irish music groups; like The Pogues or Drop Kick Murphy, if you say that, it might actually happen.  

And, thank you.

I'll be using a traditional drumming instrument called a Bodhran with them.

!!!

I'm actually trying to learn to play the bodhran.  Is there any chance i could PM you at some point for tips/advice?

Oh hey, this is pretty exciting! Now, when you say they have furry-themed songs, you're not suggesting they're actually furry, are you? Because that would make me really happy.

I'm about 1000 miles away, but good luck nonetheless! And let us know if you have any videos!

I have never met them in person yet, so I am unsure if they are true Furries or not. However, they have a music video that you can find in Youtube where they are in a partial Panda fursuit performing their original song called Panda Porn. So, I'd call then furry-lite until i actually meet them next month.

They are coming to Chicagoland to perform in this year's Irish Fest season. However, their normal Drummer, for one reason or another cannot make it (passport problems?) so they asked their promoter here, Danny Doyle to look for local talent that can play the Bodhran in multiple genres and styles. He found me (I've performed with another band he promoted previously) and we closed the deal just last week. So, I've never met my 'band' before, they never met me, but we meet a couple hours before the gig on March 4th, do a quick dry-run rehersal then go live that evening. It will be a fun experience. I may even make my own panda parital if i have the time just because.

A note about my experience: I've been played the Bodhran for about 5 years as i stated earlier. i that time I've 'sat-in' with a number of small independent groups. When you sit-in, you're a guest and don't get paid. Its sorta like asking a friend fromthe audience to get up to the stage a sing a duet or something. I'm getting known in the music instrustry for my relaxed style of mutli-note playing with the drum. I can hit a riff where the pitch and tone changes to about 8 different notes and I can maintain a tempo of 250 beats per minute for about 10 minutes before my arm falls off. My biggest problem are triplets. I can hit them, but I really have to concentrate generally cannot change the pitch/tones while hitting it.

I've got our set list for this event. Some of these are original tunes by the band, most are traditional Irish Folk Songs, a couple are not truely Irish but great songs to perform and there are about 3 that I do not recognize at all. Fortunealy we are having a meet up and practice a couple hours before our first gig on Thursday. It will be interesting meeting them, having them get over their Jet Lag from Ireland and learning how eachother plays just 2 hours before our first show, but thats showbiz baby.

The Set list:

Miss Me Da’
Panda Porn  (Original Furry Song)
Aggravated Affection
Rest in Pieces
Itchay
Crab People   (Original Furry Song)
Maid of Cabra West
Business Time
The Sick Note
Skibereen
City of Chicago
The Auld Man
Dirty Aul Town
Down by the Glenside
Whiskey in the Jar
Spancil Hill
Back Home in Derry
Raglan Road
Rocky Road to Dublin
Or de Bhaile
Grace
Last of the Irish Rovers
Willie McBride
Folsom Prison Blues
Ride On

Congrats,and good luck with the gig!

Tonight's the big night. Hope to see any of you out there. The address is 75 N. Chicago Street Joliet, IL 60431
My very first gig poster with my name actually on it. Usually they kinda ignore us drummers:

Once again,GOOD LUCK!!! Try to get a friend to video it or something.