The majority of my work as a solo performer includes Irish tunes & songs, American folk songs, drinking songs, and sea chanteys. This repertoire includes a wealth of songs and ballads about immigration, living life, having fun, and dying (but not always in that order).
Irish Music
I play traditional Irish tunes on mandolin and tenor banjo, including jigs, reels, hornpipes, and other forms. I have picked up all music I play in the traditional way...wherever I can. As far as tunes, large amount of my repertoire comes from fife and drum music which crosses over with Irish music extensively. As for songs; they've been collected late at night, early in the morning, and some I even learned from books.
Drinking Songs
I sing songs that range from relatively tame to bawdy. I've been collecting drinking songs for decades now. Some are Irish-Anglo in origin and some American. Most of my drinking songs have been researched and collected in the field...so to speak.
Sea Chanteys
Sea chanteys are the work songs used by sailors in the Golden Age of Sail to provide a rhythmic cadence for their various tasks and duties. They also helped break up the monotony and provide entertainment. Chanteys vary in structure to correspond with the various types of work performed on a ship.
I spent five years on the staff at Mystic Seaport as a seaport chanteyman. I've been singing chanteys for as long as I've been singing drinking songs, and I've collected most of my chantey's the same way I got my drinking songs...in the field. Read my bio to find out more about my experiences as a seaman and as a musician.
Irish Music
I play traditional Irish tunes on mandolin and tenor banjo, including jigs, reels, hornpipes, and other forms. I have picked up all music I play in the traditional way...wherever I can. As far as tunes, large amount of my repertoire comes from fife and drum music which crosses over with Irish music extensively. As for songs; they've been collected late at night, early in the morning, and some I even learned from books.
Drinking Songs
I sing songs that range from relatively tame to bawdy. I've been collecting drinking songs for decades now. Some are Irish-Anglo in origin and some American. Most of my drinking songs have been researched and collected in the field...so to speak.
Sea Chanteys
Sea chanteys are the work songs used by sailors in the Golden Age of Sail to provide a rhythmic cadence for their various tasks and duties. They also helped break up the monotony and provide entertainment. Chanteys vary in structure to correspond with the various types of work performed on a ship.
I spent five years on the staff at Mystic Seaport as a seaport chanteyman. I've been singing chanteys for as long as I've been singing drinking songs, and I've collected most of my chantey's the same way I got my drinking songs...in the field. Read my bio to find out more about my experiences as a seaman and as a musician.