Today’s Radio Free Eireann show, in memory of Rocky Sullivan’s, and featuring performances by Mike Skliar and me, is already up on WBAI’s web site. You can download the MP3 or listen to it online.
Mike’s “Ballad of Rocky Sullivan’s” starts at about the 38-minute mark, and my “The Whiskey Or the Wisdom” (the title song from my CD) starts about 1:26. But the whole show is worth listening to, with stories and memories about a truly special bar.
I’ll be on the radio this afternoon doing a few songs on Radio Free Eireann, and later in the day playing as part of a wake for the closing of yet another New York City music venue, along with Mike Skliar. Rocky Sullivan’s, the political Irish bar (or is it an Irish political bar?) run by Chris Byrne, formerly of Black 47, is closing this week. (At least, closing its original Lexington Avenue location; it’s apparently reopening in besieged Red Hook.)
Radio Free Eireann is on WBAI, 99.5 FM, from 1.30 to 3, and streams live at stream.wbai.org. The wake at Rocky’s starts at 4pm, and Rocky’s is on Lexington Avenue between 28th and 29th.
It’s been a while since I’ve posted photos here; my flickr photostream is probably a better way to keep up with them. But here’s a selection from the last few weeks.
Yes, his voice is cracked and aged, and he can’t hit the high notes like he once did. But how many of us could stand alone on a stage and sing “O Death” a capella and hold thousands of people spellbound? Frankly that song probably has more effect sung the way he sings it now than the way he could have years ago, and what he’s lost in his vocal abilities he’s gained in experience and power.
And yeah, he only brought the banjo out for two songs, and for the first twenty minutes of the show, simply played emcee, introducing each number and just standing there as the band played. But what a band! Some of them have played with Stanley for decades, he’s got two generations of his own family playing with him, and all of them were brilliant players who knew when to take charge and when to step back and let the song go.
And they all stepped back (literally) after every song to leave him alone at the mic; it was clear who was in charge. His grandson then introduced “the star of the show,” listing a few of his grandfather’s many honors until the patriarch made a move-it-along motion, and concluding “…and the thing I love most about him is his love for Jesus Christ, here’s my grandpappy Ralph Stanley.” And there was no further doubt about why we were there.
More photos