Occan

Last night, I dropped by Geraghty's on the recommendation of Anke and Tuen, a Dutch couple we've befriended. They thought I would like Occan, the flute player performing there that evening. Geraghty's turned out to be a cozy two-room establishment with a back-room table for the musicians. Occan played flute and whistle -- both with consummate skill -- accompanied by a pair of guitarists and a bodhran. (A bodhran is a handheld Irish drum played with the fingertips, palm, and/or a small two-headed stick called a "tipper.")

Occan led the session through a set of jigs, reels, and an occasional lament. At times, one of the guitarists broke into song. Another time, they sat out to provide room for an intricate duet between a whistle and a conga. Unlike many sessions, which can serve as a soundtrack to events happening elsewhere in the pub, the appreciative gathering hung on every note. The intimate atmosphere gave the impression that it was all happening in someone's living room (albeit a living room with a well-stocked bar...

We also saw another side of Irish music, a pair of nine-year old cousins busking as The Bullets. Here, they're performing a driving rendition of "Whiskey In The Jar" ("we really like Thin Lizzy"):