https://soundcloud.com/michael-zaneski/finnegans-jig

Hi all..I recorded my friend John Swift in the early eighties--he was an amazing folk guitarist who loved traditional Irish music and British Isles music in general.

I came across this tune that he played guitar on, on an old beat up cassette tape, and thought it too nice to just toss out. So I tried cleaning up the audio, then wrote some music around his guitar work to fill out the sound, since the "highs" were just shot on the cassette. One day I will need to have all my 8 track reels transferred to DVD..

My friend didn't live to see his thirtieth birthday, sad to say, but I think of him often and hope to at least share some of his music with my friends..

This was some traditional Irish piece he played me--I think it's a jig, but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong..

Hi Mike,

Sorry to hear your friend left so early in life.
Nice tribute to him and good work.
I kina thought the harmonies sounded a bit like Beach Boys.


Calvin


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart

It's a toe-tapper, to be sure, Mike. I like the slow build with the gradual addition of instruments, especially the violin in the middle. Then the slow down after that adds nice contrast before it builds again. I think your friend would be pleased.

When was the last time you checked your PMs?

Ricki

Unusual sound...which is good...but makes it more difficult to offer critique than typical melodies. Very nice tribute to your deceased friend. Thanks for letting us here it.

Martin

I am amazed you were able to make such a great production out of an old cassette tape of some old Irish folk guitar. Really nice production work and performance on the added instruments. I am sure your friend would have loved it.

Dave

Much too nice to deserve being "tossed out", Michael. Thanks for the "resurrection" the nice additions... and for sharing it with us. I'm old but not old enough to tell you if it is a "Jig" or a "Reel"... but it's nice to hear... and so nice of you to save. Especially when considering your friend died so young. Thanks for providing a peek into the past. ----Dave

Michael--

You are the MASTER--I love this one!

Mackie

Love the music here... it's begging for a lyric Michael...a quick write using Google research

Just tried and it actually fits. One round for the intro... you should land on the beginning of the second chorus spot on the musical break...


Galway's Sons
© 2016 John Voorpostel

Walking Latin Quarter lanes to Eyre Square
I'm off to hoist a dram or two with Finnegan there
We'll drink a toast to Galvia who blessed the River Corrib
And then we'll walk the Harbour by the North Atlantic shore


Singing all for one we are Galway's sons
And to hell with everybody else who cannot be in the band
Singing all for one we are Galway's sons
And to hell with everybody else who cannot be in the band


The buskers out on Shop Street are tapping toes in time
They're showing everybody The City of the Tribes
The cannons captured from the Russians they don't work no more
But they show the world the boys from Galway fight a damn fine war


Singing all for one we are Galway's sons
And to hell with everybody else who cannot be in the band
Singing all for one we are Galway's sons
And to hell with everybody else who cannot be in the band


Singing all for one we are Galway's sons
And to hell with everybody else who cannot be in the band
Singing all for one we are Galway's sons
And to hell with everybody else who cannot be in the band

Nice piece ... very cool!

Thanks friends..bad storm here in Point Loma, San Diego, and last time the power was out 36 hours..but I remembered that I forgot to thank you all..so I'll be quick..

Calvin, Ricki, Martin, Gocart Dave, Dave Rice, Mackie, John, and Jimmy..thanks all for listening and the kind words.

John, I want to sing that, but I can't get to it for a few weeks at least, and I'm hearing a real Pogues-ish hell-raising vocal, then I'll need to add proper drums, etc..but it should all be hella fun, so thanks for that..if it works, I'll post it here..if not, I'll share my failure with you!

Thank again, everyone. I'm sure John would appreciate that his playing is remembered..

Mike

Good stuff mike, love the sound!

That is really cool, Michael. Your friend John would be pleased, I think.

I love John's lyric. I hope you get around to giving it a go. Yes, the Pogues.

Scott

Hi Nic,

It was fun, after thirty years, to actually get around to doing something with this.

Thanks!

Mike

Hi Scott,

Pogues in their heyday. Shane McGowan was the most fiery singer, back in the day, but in later projects he's so off key it's pathetic..but yeah..that early fiery sound will be fun to shoot for.

Thanks for the listen; I'll give it my best shot..

Yeah, John was a good guy..we were closing managers at adjacent Tower stores (records and books) for years and had a weekly routine of an after work beer and he'd hip me to all the cool roots music that was pouting out of the British Isles in the 80's..

Mike

A good one folks a toe tapper love Irish/Celtic music best of luck with it
Travis

Sounds like a jig as a reel is in 2/4 or 4/4 time.
You took on quite a challenge here, Michael and it turned out a very interesting piece.
Fine man ye are.

Vic

You did a fine job rescuing this, Mike and the additional arrangement is sublime.

Stevie

Hi Travis, Vic, and Stevie,

Thanks for listening and it makes me happy knowing you were tapping your toes and enjoying this.

Stay tuned for the song with John V's lyric (2-3 weeks away..)..I'm teaching myself how to spit out words and sound like Shane MacGowan of the Pogues, which is so much fun. Filling up the spittoon as we speak.

Mike

Hi Mike,

You certainly honor your friend with this musical treat. There’s a lively happiness to the song. I like how it settles down about halfway thru and then slowly builds up again. The ending has a lot of "atmosphere" to it.

It’s awesome you were able to make an old cassette sound like this...I enjoyed it...very cool.

I listened again with John V’s lyric....seems like a great fit! I look forward to hearing it!

Kristi

Hey Mike,

A very artistic piece for sure, one that I know will grow on a listener just like some of the Beatles more abstract arrangements in their mid to late period. I like the bass timing which again seems a different time signature yet fits--cool!

steady-eddie.

Hey, love the fact you're going to work on putting this together Michael. Thanks for using what I wrote. Looking forward to how you hear it.


Canada has its own Celtic roots music scene. It's all based on our history and ties to Ireland and Scotland, especially in Atlantic Canada


Here's two good examples.

From our west coast--a Vancouver band
Spirit of The West
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crIk87-mPzY&list=PLS981uiBsFsUicew2_IoEUsU7LAODEwAv


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N37oQmdlrU&list=PLS981uiBsFsUicew2_IoEUsU7LAODEwAv&index=4



Great Big Sea--from our Atlantic coast--

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7Bsb-8pxG8



Spit on. I wish you all kinds of fun getting it done

Hi Kristi,

Oh..your kind words mean so much to me!

John's lyric sang in my head immediately and working out the singing is a challenge, as I am literally learning how to sing like I'm at at an Irish pub, with all the guys..a jerky rhythmic style like Shane McGowan's, and I am needing TWO pop screens, cuz spitting out the plosives is so important in this style!

Thanks again!

Mike

Hi Eddie,

Yes, it's a stride bass in an Irish song. ANd it's about to become more cross-pollinated, as I am adding a blues element for the full production with John's lyric.

Thanks!

Mike

Hi John,

I had meant to PM you, but this will do just as well..

First, thanks for such an inspiring lyric, which immediately sang in my head..

And yes, I am having fun learning how to sing it so it sounds and feels real..I consider myself a vocal impressionist more than a real singer..as in..when I try to sound like "myself" I get a little lost, so usually am trying to channel at least one singer, whilst I sing..

Shane McGowan is proving to be the most fun I've ever had, in learning to sing like him..It's the aural equivalent of Elaine Bennis (from Seinfeld) doing her jerky dance, and yes, two pop screens! It's almost like a punk version of Popeye!

Thanks for the musical links..this is some fine music..I need to spend more time listening to these examples..thanks again..

Mike

Beautiful, meandering guitar jig. And nice rescue job on the recording! What a nice tribute for a fallen friend.

Thanks Mark!

I hoard old recordings..all my old obscure vinyl has been transferred to digital, along with my old music, which, for the most part, is pretty awful..but it's my kind of awful, I guess! I'm always trying to find ways to incorporate old stuff..and nowadays, there's VSTs that can take audio and convert it into midi info, so I'm constantly reworking older material, adding to it with virtual instruments attached to the midi, etc..

Mike