Music , passion and Tattoos

Something that occurred to me recently while walking somewhere. I am hopelessly dependent on music. I've always liked and had music but at this stage I don't think I can live without it. This realisation came about during one particular line of a song.

"And he Tattoo'd the blues deep into your soul,
left you burning with a passion that never let you go"


Music has affected everything in my life. From the drinks I drink to the style of clothes I wear. But then again this is nothing new everybody tries to emulate there idols. In the general case it is applied to "celebritism" in general. That is where all the fads and brands come from. But with music especially it is more like buying into a lifestyle or image that has been turned into a brand. With my personal favourite type of music Rock music. Its buying into the image that you are answerable to nobody, free to do whatever you want. From the tour antics to the legendary recording sessions. Its a lifestyle, is it the excess or the money that draws people to it.

No, I don't think so. The best way to describe this is by reference to "Sailing to Byzantium" by W.B Yeats. The premise of the poem is that the only way to actually achieve immortality is by creating great works of art that live on past the ages. Whether consciously or not, a lot of rock bands have achieved this Rolling Stones, Beatles and Led Zeppelin to name a few. All though the bands previously mentioned have so far stood the test of time one does wonder whether they would have been as popular without the lifestyle that went along with it.

One example is when the Rolling Stones went to write and record "Exile on Main Street". They went to Keith Richards Chateau in France. Where they had an extended drug and alcohol induced blues jam which turned into one of my favourite albums. A French photographer was there and the pictures captured almost the essence of what went into making the album. There is one picture the shows Keith Richards asleep after an all night session on what would become "Tumbling Dice". It is reported that even after he was asleep his hands were still playing the chords. How different is that to how records are made today?

How cool does it sound to pack up and go to a Chateau in France for a few weeks to write, record and party. Thats the lifestyle that rock sells and represents that excess and luxury. Its breaking away from convention, not working at a desk or in an office from 9 to 5. Songs about being a rock star often sum this up pretty well, listen to "God Gave Rock and Roll to you" by Argent or "Rockstar" by Nickelback if you want examples.

That's what missing from music today the sense of spontaneity that there used to be, not knowing what was going to happen next or what these guys were going to do. But alas those days are gone...no more will there be stories of TV's being thrown out of hotel windows, or cars been driven into hotel pools. It seems that we are stuck with watered down music and personalities. This Cartoon sums up my point pretty well

Pat McManus at the Bowery Waterford 28 Sept 2007

To start for those of you who don't know who Pat McManus is, he was in a band called Mama's Boys in the 70's/80's. They toured with Thin Lizzy and The Scorpions, they had a big hit single with "Needle in the Grove". After Mama's Boys went there separate ways Pat played in a trad outfit known as Celtus. As well many others.

Anyway Pat and his current band Hi-Voltage were playing in the Bowery on the above date. He was releasing his new album called "In My Own Time". I'll start with the gig. Pat is I suppose what you would call "old school". While the sound from the microphones was a bit off. What comes through is his passion and love for music. Even on that small stage with between 100-200 people in attendance. He played like he was headlining Slane or some other massive rock festival in front of fifty thousand plus fans. It is easy to see why Pat is mentioned in the same breath as other more widely known great Irish guitarists. When he's on stage he just gets lost in what he's playing. What it comes across as is that there is him and his guitar, and he's making the guitar talk.

The band are great as well, but its hard to shine when such a huge shadow is cast. The drummer played a short solo at the end very reminiscent of the one in Sha-La-La on Thin Lizzy's "Live and Dangerous" album. It was played flawlessly with slight embellishments that showed he was comfortably able to play at that level. Preceding that that Pat played a medley of comprised of his older material and it was unreal. Hearing soaring lead guitar against a trad backing track is an experience not to be missed if you have the chance and interest.Now on to the album.

The album is great, maybe even brilliant. Listening to it reminded me of the first time I heard the blues powered rock of Led Zeppelin. From "Got that Right" to "Just for Shannon" the album is the blues. There are two tracks that deserve special mention. "Juggernaut" is a wall of sound that echo's live and still retains its power on the CD. Its great to hear the fiddle in the middle as well showcasing his past with when he played in Celtus. Secondly "Return of the G Man" a song written in tribute to Rory Gallagher is a slower, more melodious affair that shows Pat's talent for lyrics. One line sticks in my mind

"And He Tattooed the blues down in to your soul and left you burning with a passion that never let you go"

The song also contains one of the best acoustic solos that I've ever heard and really shows how great acoustic solos can be when done right. The album is blues rock no ifs or buts, it's the best album I've heard since I heard the Answer back in April/May.

Speaking of the Answer they also deserve a mention in the blues rock category. Their debut album "Rise" absolutely blew me away. It's amazing how four lads from Northern Ireland can sound so much like the juggernaut that was Led Zeppelin on their debut album. I would like to say they are going to reach the heights Led Zeppelin reached but given current trends in the music industry, its unlikely that any band will reach the super-superstar status that bands like Led Zeppelin, The Police and The Rolling Stones reached. Hopefully they will be successful though because if the first album is anything to go by they have the talent to have a long and distinguished career, whether in the mainstream or not.

In case anyone reads this

In case anybody actually reads this the reason there have been no posts recently is because despite popular belief I do actually do stuff in college. I do however have 3 posts that I hope to have up before next week. If anyone wants to know what they are going to be read on.

1. Pat McManus at the Bowery in Waterford-28 September 2007
2. Music , passion and Tattoos (Not what the title suggests)
3. Choices and Life (Something thats been on my mind lately)