The Waterboys - Any fans/haters here? They don't get mentiooned on BCB that often

[...]

Saw them in pretty intimate hotel ballroom in Carrick on Shannon last night. With a capacity of 800 pax and the only other show they are doing in Ireland this year at the 16,000-capacity 3Arena in Dublin, the decision to go was something of a no-brainer. Happily, Belle and I got right down to the front and saw a terrific show - balls to the wall rock for over an hour and a half - my ears are still ringing.

Their new album - a double - Out of All This Blue,is out on Sept 8 (that's my birthday present sorted then). From the two or three tracks they previewed last night, it sounds great.

Any other fans or detractors here?

[The Modernist]

I do think Mike Scott is a genuine talent (as both a songwriter and singer) and great live act. What he does though will always be a bit divisive, his brand of epic wide-eyed mysticism is somewhat of an acquired taste. I listened to him/them a lot in the late 80s, but only intermittently since then. I do enjoy hearing the odd song though.

[Dr Markus]

They're shite, their two songs got over played and even if they still only gets played 4 times a year each on Irish radio, it's still too much.

[harvey k-tel]

I'm a fan. I lost interest when 'Room To Roam' came out - it had a couple decent tracks, but couldn't sustain my interest - but I think the run from 'A Pagan Place' to 'Fisherman's Blues' is fantastic. I'm not so fond of the fiddle-dee-dee trad-type stuff, but the rockers are great.

[Tactful Cactus]

I see him quite a bit, he lives in my neighbourhood, so happy to pass on all your good wishes

[...]

I see him quite a bit, he lives in my neighbourhood, so happy to pass on all your good wishes

Pls do. Wonderful show in Carrick on Shannon last night.

Are you going up to any gigs in Dublin in the near future, TC? will be up next week for Brian Wilson and again in Sept for Ryan Adams, Oct for Steely Dan, Nov for Alice Cooper and next Feb for Paul Weller. We should do drinks or something

[toomanyhatz]

I'm a fan. I lost interest when 'Room To Roam' came out - it had a couple decent tracks, but couldn't sustain my interest - but I think the run from 'A Pagan Place' to 'Fisherman's Blues' is fantastic. I'm not so fond of the fiddle-dee-dee trad-type stuff, but the rockers are great.

Exact opposite for me, thanks. Room to Roam is the one I go back to the most. I like most of Fisherman's Blues but when he gets into overreferencing his heroes without providing any kind of fresh insight whatsoever - "Sweet Thing" with "Blackbird" embedded in it is pretty much the nadir of that sort of thing for me - he loses me. RtR is filled with spirit and I think his willingness to be a bit hyperpersonal and "in the moment" is what makes the difference. Plus nobody plays with more of an audible smile than Sharon Shannnon.

Bits an pieces here and there, but at least when it doesn't try to do too much, the "fiddle-dee-dee" stuff is exactly what I like. Of course I'm tilted in that direction a bit anyway...

[Moleskin]

I've dipped in to post-Room To Roam albums but, his first solo record apart, they don't seem very good.

[Samoan]

I like them well enough, A Pagan Place is my favoured album.

[Fonz]

First 3 are great. As soon as the fiddles started in earnest I lost interest.

'Pagan Place', the song, is epic.
'Gala' is wonderful.
The first track from 'This is the Sea' is awesome.

[toomanyhatz]

I've dipped in to post-Room To Roam albums but, his first solo record apart, they don't seem very good.

Did you hear the Yeats one? Pretty good. I interviewed him about it (via e-mail) and really liked what he had to say about it. He really brought his own personal take to the proceedings in a way he generally doesn't with the rock stars he likes. Odd to be less precious about Yeats than you are about Hendrix, but there you have it...

[Hugh]

They did one of the best gigs I've ever seen in, I think, 1986. It was between the releases of This Is The Sea and Fisherman's Blues. I don't listen to the band a lot these days but I'd still consider myself a fan. I really liked the Yeates one.

[...]

The Yeats one (An Appointment with Mr Yeats) is terrific. Would have loved to see them do it live during their residency at the Abbey Theatre which WBY himself helped to found. Together with Fisherman's Blues (both the song and the album), think MS's eager embracing of the country's literature and folk tradition (the later of which arguably inspired some of Yeats' finest work) is what makes them more [i]Irish in spirit than most Irish born and bred bands (are you listening there, Mr Hewson?)

[Moleskin]

I've dipped in to post-Room To Roam albums but, his first solo record apart, they don't seem very good.

Did you hear the Yeats one? Pretty good. I interviewed him about it (via e-mail) and really liked what he had to say about it. He really brought his own personal take to the proceedings in a way he generally doesn't with the rock stars he likes. Odd to be less precious about Yeats than you are about Hendrix, but there you have it...

I'll look it up.

[Fonz]

The Yeats one (An Appointment with Mr Yeats) is terrific. Would have loved to see them do it live during their residency at the Abbey Theatre which WBY himself helped to found. Together with Fisherman's Blues (both the song and the album), think MS's eager embracing of the country's literature and folk tradition (the later of which arguably inspired some of Yeats' finest work) is what makes them more [i]Irish in spirit than most Irish born and bred bands (are you listening there, Mr Hewson?)

Do think Bono is trying to pass U2 off as any kind of authentic 'Irish experience''?

[Neige]

Plus nobody plays with more of an audible smile than Sharon Shannnon.

Quote of the week for me, hatz!

I overdosed a bit on the Fisherman's Box, but I'm a big fan of his folky side (and truth be told, I'm more likely to play a Sharon Shannon album nowadays).

[...]

The Yeats one (An Appointment with Mr Yeats) is terrific. Would have loved to see them do it live during their residency at the Abbey Theatre which WBY himself helped to found. Together with Fisherman's Blues (both the song and the album), think MS's eager embracing of the country's literature and folk tradition (the later of which arguably inspired some of Yeats' finest work) is what makes them more [i]Irish in spirit than most Irish born and bred bands (are you listening there, Mr Hewson?)

Do think Bono is trying to pass U2 off as any kind of authentic 'Irish experience''?

No, not at all. Their music is much more American in terms of its themes and aspirations.

Off the top of my head (and I'm nowhere near being any kind of U2 expert), aside from possibly Sunday Bloody Sunday which is a protest song, I can't really think of one recording where their Irishness is really apparent.

Be interesting if they tried to do something similar to Van Morrison when he re-visited and was reinvigorated when rediscovering his spiritual and musical roots on Veedon Fleece. There are some pretty good unrealesed cuts (Drumshambo Hustle on Philosopher's Stone Vol I (sadly, still no Vol 2) and its various bootleg half-brothers) from around the same period.

[Tactful Cactus]

Are you going up to any gigs in Dublin in the near future, TC? will be up next week for Brian Wilson and again in Sept for Ryan Adams, Oct for Steely Dan, Nov for Alice Cooper and next Feb for Paul Weller. We should do drinks or something

I've none on the horizon, but just been to two great ones - Kamasi Washington at NCH and Badbadnotgood in Sugar Club. Both amazing, so I'd love to suss out a few more. Tend to avoid the big shows these days. Yea lets definitely do drinks, maybe we're overdue a Dublin jolly up? Im back in Dub permanently now so I'd be happy to co-organise something

[Jimbly]

The Yeats one (An Appointment with Mr Yeats) is terrific. Would have loved to see them do it live during their residency at the Abbey Theatre which WBY himself helped to found. Together with Fisherman's Blues (both the song and the album), think MS's eager embracing of the country's literature and folk tradition (the later of which arguably inspired some of Yeats' finest work) is what makes them more [i]Irish in spirit than most Irish born and bred bands (are you listening there, Mr Hewson?)

Do think Bono is trying to pass U2 off as any kind of authentic 'Irish experience''?

No, not at all. Their music is much more American in terms of its themes and aspirations.

Off the top of my head (and I'm nowhere near being any kind of U2 expert), aside from possibly Sunday Bloody Sunday which is a protest song, I can't really think of one recording where their Irishness is really apparent.

Be interesting if they tried to do something similar to Van Morrison when he re-visited and was reinvigorated when rediscovering his spiritual and musical roots on Veedon Fleece. There are some pretty good unrealesed cuts (Drumshambo Hustle on Philosopher's Stone Vol I (sadly, still no Vol 2) and its various bootleg half-brothers) from around the same period.

Tomorrow from October features uilleann pipes and bodhran. The song is about Bono losing his Mum at an early age. There are odd bits, chord changes here and there. The video for A Celebration was filmed in Killmainham Gaol.

There was a book out years ago. Race of Angels, which was about the band and their connection to Ireland. Years since I read it, so can't remember much about it.

[The Modernist]

.

Off the top of my head (and I'm nowhere near being any kind of U2 expert), aside from possibly Sunday Bloody Sunday which is a protest song, I can't really think of one recording where their Irishness is really apparent.
.

I'm surprised you say that. Just for starters:

"Top o' the Morning to ya" from Achtung Baby
"Bejesus, mine's a Guinness" from October
"Emerald Suede Shoes" from Rattle and Hum