| Interview
by Alfredo De Pietra The Celtic Cafe
is grateful to Keltika Magazine of Italy for sharing some of the work of
Alfredo De Pietra, its Music Column Editor, translated into English.
Click here for Alfredo's bio
page at the Celtic Cafe, with links to his other features available here at CelticCafe.com. •
• • The U.S. premiere of the critically-acclaimed
show "Ronnie, I Hardly
Knew Ya" takes place at the Irish
Arts Center in New York City and runs from March 9 to 21, 2004. This is
a not-to-be-missed chance to hear the wonderful stories and songs of the one-and-only
Ronnie Drew (formerly of The Dubliners), accompanied on guitar by
ex-Stockton’s Wing frontman, Mike
Hanrahan. Originally written and performed by Ronnie and Mike in 1997,
the show has traveled to various venues around the world. The new show still features
the writings and songs of Patrick Kavannagh, Sean O' Casey and Brendan Behan,
but they've also added the works of Shane
Mc Gowan, Christy Moore, and Irish
poets Paul Durkin and Brendan Keneally. It is a true mix of Irish writing, "with
the past very comfortable in the company of the present." Mike's
website at MikeHanrahan.com is
a great place to keep up with news about Ronnie Drew and Stockton's Wing Reunions
as well as tourdates, and there is much information there about Mike's impressive
background (click here for
the full bio) as one of Ireland's finest musical talents. In addition
to his collaboration with Ronnie Drew, he continues to tour as a solo artist,
and samples of his terrific music can be heard at the official site. Click
here for that particular page, which also includes a full MP3 download
of "Firefighter" from the CD "What You Know." Musicians
will likely also appreciate Mike for his work as Chairman of IMRO
- the Irish Music Rights Organisation, a national not-for-profit organization
that administers the performing right in copyright music in Ireland on behalf
of its members - songwriters, composers and music publishers - and on behalf of
the members of the international overseas societies that are affiliated to it.
IMRO, according to its site at IMRO.ie,
is also prominently involved in the sponsorship and promotion of music in Ireland.
Every year it sponsors a large number of song contests, music festivals, seminars,
workshops, research projects and showcase performances. Indeed, IMRO is now synonymous
with helping to showcase emerging talent in Ireland.
Click
here for info and tickets for Ronnie,
I Hardly Knew Ya at IrishArtsCenter.org
and here for more on Mike and
Ronnie at MikeHanrahan.com.
• • • The following
is Alfredo De Pietra's interview with Mike Hanrahan: Mike, your
music today is very different from when you played with Stockton's Wing. My
music has moved on to a different level since leaving Stockton's Wing. Gone are
the restraints of writing for a group and as a writer I have total freedom to
allow the songs to take me wherever they decide to go. This is a great way to
write and throws up different influences and there is no doubt that it causes
difficulty regarding Record Company interest and radio FM support. I have always
rejected the idea of my music being boxed off into a category. I feel this somehow
means that my life and experiences are also somehow boxed off. No one should have
that pressure unless you invite it and I accept that many people do and I have
no difficulty with that either but its definitely not for me. Please
tell us something about your last album, "What You Know." On
this CD I have a number of co-writes with some very talented writer friends and
I find this style of writing quite a different challenge. You could argue that
there is some restraint but co writing is a team game and the end result is a
result of a combined creative force. Going back to the years
with Stockton's Wing... Before I joined Stockton's Wing I was a
free spirit. With the full support of the band I introduced the notion of original
material into a trad Scene that had not experienced much of that type of expression
and that caused some people to react with dismay but generally it brought new
people to the music and we developed as a band with the other lads beginning to
write strong tunes and we brought our unique sound to a wider audience and in
most cases a much younger audience. We were never afraid to stretch the boundaries
and at times we relished in the challenge and the effect it would have on so called
purists from within the music scene and without. The purists were not only in
Ireland. Mainland Europe had, in some quarters, boxed off the Irish music scene
and refused to accept a developing culture reflected in the new music emerging
and as a result Stockton's Wing played less and less in Europe and devoted more
energy in America where we found a young audience tired of the Leprechaun image
and the old sod mentality and they were willing to give us a chance. The powers
that ran the folk scene in Europe were less enthusiastic to take on this "new
Music." We played some festivals and had reasonable success but nothing compared
to the success in USA and Australia. When Stockton's Wing were given the opportunity
to connect to an audience we enjoyed the challenge and the audience had a great
time. I have great memories to prove it. What is happening musically
in Ireland these days... and what are your plans? Today in Ireland
we have great music and it's not a cultural crime to reach to new boundaries.
I think there is less elitism amongst today's younger generation of musicians
and there is a far greater understanding of a mature and ever developing Irish
society. I find the current Ireland creatively liberating. There are many aspects
of our society which are not good and our recent past has exposed many dark hidden
corners but we are more aware now and we are developing the freedom of real cultural
and philosophical expression without religious chains and government restraint.
As a writer I am fascinated by the human response to situations. I love listening
to the new Irish songwriters, Mundy, Nina Hynes, The Frames and so many more.
I like the notion of artists taking back control from the record companies and
dictating their own terms. I am building a little home studio and I will record
my next project over an extended period of time, at my leisure and possibly record
the entire project as a solo performer. I look forward to experimenting with sound
and texture and developing my recording skills. Please tell
us about your work with Ronnie Drew. Working with Ronnie Drew is
a quite different experience and equally rewarding. Ronnie represents all that
is good in Irish culture, a wonderful performer, educated in our culture, great
story teller with a wonderful ability to find a good song and give it a decent
home and most of all one of my dearest friends in every sense of the word. My
role with Ronnie is that of guitarist. Ronnie has allowed me to develop as a guitarist
and believe me, I never thought I could achieve this level of satisfaction as
a musician. I was surrounded by great musicians in Stockton's Wing, Truly gifted
players. I sometimes think I would love to replay the years and bring my current
style to the band. I was never in a position to develop as a musician in Stockton's
Wing. My role was songwriter/singer and front man. My guitar was part of the rhythm
section and although reasonably competent it was not a priority to develop that
side of my music. I always felt inadequate as a musician but I know now that my
contribution in other areas was vast and well appreciated. When I left the Wing
I would never have labelled myself as a guitarist. My first solo gig was a nightmare
but after lots of hard work and hundreds of gigs I have developed a better understanding
of the guitar and I enjoy the challenges of a solo gig or a gig with Ronnie. What
do you think about guitar in Irish music? In the late eighties the
guitar was fast becoming the focus in Irish music, and at times, the main focus
-- which I still believe to be a nuisance. It was always meant to accompany unless
you played a tenor guitar or picked the tunes like the great Arty McGlynn or Steve
Cooney. The guitarist was fast becoming the star. Some players were flash, it
sounded good but it wreaked havoc on the main performing instruments. A million
Jazz chords to the bar clutters the beauty and essence of a good tune. As a guitarist
it was a good time for me to get out of Irish trad Music. I do not miss it even
though I recently acquired a beautiful Gibson Tenor guitar. I try to find a tune
now and again. I still listen to Irish music. I still love to hear Steve and Arty
play and of the current bands I simply delight in the music of Lunasa. They have
such a beautiful blend of instruments, swing sweetly and stretch the barriers.
They also have a great guitarist who plays with a great respect and sympathy for
the tune and lads in the band. Dervish also do it for me. In
conclusion... In conclusion, all I want to do is write and perform
and hopefully reach an audience at some level. My musical journey has been very
rewarding and I hope it continues that way.
• •
•
Interview: Alfredo
De Pietra
Feature: Bernadette
Price
Original Web Design: Alexander
Servas
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