St. Pat’s party
NOW PLAYING | Tom Irwin
Of all the designated drinking events on the American calendar, none contains the unabashed sanction of society more than the Irish celebration known as St. Patrick’s Day. Thanksgiving Eve may now be the official number one night to party and New Year’s Eve long ago turned into amateur night, but only one holiday is a “day,” not an “eve.” It was likely some wet-whistled wag during StPD happenings long ago who coined the drinker’s excuse of, “you can’t say you drank all day unless you start in the morning.”
And yes, that will happen on Saturday, March 14 (and in some places again on the “real” day, March 17), as Irish wannabes all over the U.S. declare a one-day allegiance to the Emerald Isle and the mythical drinking habits of its inhabitants. Local participants should consider visiting with my pal Kyle from “Alice in the Morning” at Floyd’s Thirst Parlor on the Fifth Street strip as a first stop. The irrepressible and undeniable DJ kicks off the sixth annual Kegs ‘N’ Eggs event at 7:30 a.m., with music from 8 to 10 a.m. by Skibbereen (the Skibs also play the night before at Robbie’s, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.), food available from Cooper’s StrEATside Bistro and giveaways galore from the Jameson’s Irish Whiskey people.
From there you can stumble across the street to Marly’s Pub, with your thirst sated and belly full, to catch The Emerald Underground from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Be careful, though – there might be a parade in your way. From humble beginnings as Stone Ring Circle playing their first gig at Marly’s in 2002, TEU is considered the progenitor of all our Celtic-rock groups. They also play at Lime Street Cafe on Friday, Saturday and Tuesday nights.
After TEU closes out their set, hang around Marly’s for Mulligan Munro, fronted by Mark Butler with Dan Grover, guitarist and bassist for Black Magic Johnson. Mark, who hails from the United Kingdom and thereby ranks us all with genuine ties to Ireland, plays a wonderful cross section of Irish and American folk-based songs. Down the block at Bar None from 1-4pm, the Whiskey Picts, headed by Dave Littrell and featuring a star-studded lineup of area musicians, roll through some rocking songs from The Pogues and other staples of the Irish-punk-folk genre with an authentic sound using banjos, fiddles, whistles and sometimes Tommy Ogilvy, the storied piper of the St. Andrew’s Society.
I’ll be Celti-sizing at George Ranks from 2 to 5 p.m. with the oh-so-Irish Theresa O’Hare on vocals, whistle and piccolo, along with the mighty voice of Rick Dunham, known around the world as Elvis Himselvis. Contrary to popular myth, Rick will not be wearing a shamrock-colored, emeraldencrusted Elvis jumpsuit for the occasion, but he will be singing a version of “Danny Boy” that will bring tears to your smiling Irish eyes. The Craft Beer Bar features the stellar Irish song selection and presentation of expatriate Patrick Hagerman from 4 to 7 p.m. No one sings an Irish ballad like Patrick, because like any good Irishman, he learned the songs from his dear mother and forever sings them back to her. I’ll join Pat toward the end of his set, if the saints be willin’ and the liquor don’t rise.
With all this happening, including the St.
Andrew’s Society bagpipers everywhere, the parade itself, along with full-fledged concerts on Friday from Dervish at the Sangamon Auditorium and Lee Murdock at the Paris- Belle house concert series in Williamsville, you must go green and get your Irish on for the 2015 St. Pat’s Party.
Sláinte! “To Your Health!” in Gaelic, is a fine toast to say on this day.
Contact Tom Irwin at [email protected].
