Our Side of the Mike - August 7, 2007
A new home for K&B?
We think we might have found the perfect home for Kane and Beatty. No it’s not the senior citizen center, it’s a little pub in Philly we played in a few weeks ago. Right now it’s called Finger’s piano bar, but they’re looking for a new name. More on that later.
Those of you who know us, or follow Terry’s newsletter, heard that we thought we had a good prospect after we played the Braveheart Highland Pub up in Hellertown, PA. We brought in a good crowd and the floor manager even said to us in his authentic Scottish burr, “That was great. Maybe we should make this a regular thing.”
Turns out they decided to go with various acoustic duos and solos that probably could no more play Celtic music than they could perform an opera. I imagine they’re fine and all, but this seems to be a trend with a lot of Irish (and these rare Scottish) pubs—they might try Celtic music once or twice, but then they relegate it to St. Patrick’s Day, if at all.
We weren’t expecting to play every week—maybe once a month to establish a night for those who wanted to hear some good songs and tunes. There are a few small Irish sessions around the Lehigh Valley but nothing on a regular basis with a sound system and a concert-style setting. Apparently it will stay that way.
After a very enjoyable night at “Fingers” near Flourtown we think it might be the spot. There’s Steve, an Irishman, running the music and Roberto, an Italian guy, in the kitchen, which makes for a great combination of food, drink and folks.
Terry got things off to a good start when she launched into some of her new Italian repertoire to the apparent delight of the dinner crowd in the audience (seen singing along in Italian). We did a lot of Irish songs and tunes as usual, but it’s the sort of place where the locals got up to join us in some Patsy Kline or Willie Nelson, and Terry’s friend Kathleen Warren came up to join her in some songs in Irish (Gaelic).
If the music and the musicians are good, it doesn’t really matter what gets played, in a sense. It does matter that there is a place that doesn’t treat Irish music like once-a-year Christmas music, but that also provides enough comfort and security to allow for some experimentation and a bit of a party atmosphere.
We think this might be the place. We’re traveling mostly in August, but are looking at September to get back in there. By then it might have a new name, so keep an eye out for that, and watch this site or look for Terry’s newsletter. And if you think this sounds like a good plan all around, don’t be afraid to give them a call and put in a vote for two homeless musicians.
Finger’s
700 Bethlehem Pike, Glenside, PA
Tel: (215) 233-9955
(And don't forget that we'll be at the Philadelphia Ceili Group Irish Music
Festival on Saturday, September 8)
We think we might have found the perfect home for Kane and Beatty. No it’s not the senior citizen center, it’s a little pub in Philly we played in a few weeks ago. Right now it’s called Finger’s piano bar, but they’re looking for a new name. More on that later.
Those of you who know us, or follow Terry’s newsletter, heard that we thought we had a good prospect after we played the Braveheart Highland Pub up in Hellertown, PA. We brought in a good crowd and the floor manager even said to us in his authentic Scottish burr, “That was great. Maybe we should make this a regular thing.”
Turns out they decided to go with various acoustic duos and solos that probably could no more play Celtic music than they could perform an opera. I imagine they’re fine and all, but this seems to be a trend with a lot of Irish (and these rare Scottish) pubs—they might try Celtic music once or twice, but then they relegate it to St. Patrick’s Day, if at all.
We weren’t expecting to play every week—maybe once a month to establish a night for those who wanted to hear some good songs and tunes. There are a few small Irish sessions around the Lehigh Valley but nothing on a regular basis with a sound system and a concert-style setting. Apparently it will stay that way.
After a very enjoyable night at “Fingers” near Flourtown we think it might be the spot. There’s Steve, an Irishman, running the music and Roberto, an Italian guy, in the kitchen, which makes for a great combination of food, drink and folks.
Terry got things off to a good start when she launched into some of her new Italian repertoire to the apparent delight of the dinner crowd in the audience (seen singing along in Italian). We did a lot of Irish songs and tunes as usual, but it’s the sort of place where the locals got up to join us in some Patsy Kline or Willie Nelson, and Terry’s friend Kathleen Warren came up to join her in some songs in Irish (Gaelic).
If the music and the musicians are good, it doesn’t really matter what gets played, in a sense. It does matter that there is a place that doesn’t treat Irish music like once-a-year Christmas music, but that also provides enough comfort and security to allow for some experimentation and a bit of a party atmosphere.
We think this might be the place. We’re traveling mostly in August, but are looking at September to get back in there. By then it might have a new name, so keep an eye out for that, and watch this site or look for Terry’s newsletter. And if you think this sounds like a good plan all around, don’t be afraid to give them a call and put in a vote for two homeless musicians.
Finger’s
700 Bethlehem Pike, Glenside, PA
Tel: (215) 233-9955
(And don't forget that we'll be at the Philadelphia Ceili Group Irish Music
Festival on Saturday, September 8)