One Take Sessions

Well the 13th One Take Sessions had a bit of a superstitious nature to it, falling on a weekend where today is Friday the 13th, it being the 13th night of the Sessions, something was bound to happen!

We had lost Waiting To Explode and Bright Light Fiasco earlier in the week, Jack O’Leary getting bumped up from a later session this year to perform last night. Jimi Cullen arrived in at 8pm with guitar in hand and uttered the words “were you talking to Darren”. Another strike. A text message from Darren and further conversation with Jimi revealed Darren (who runs the Wexford Song Club) was down with a dose of the flu and wouldn’t be able to make it for the night. All of a sudden we’re down to just one of the original acts out of four. Jack was on the way, no problems there, so yours truly drove home to pack a bag, grab a guitar and hit the stage for the ‘Sessions.

We started things off 9:50pm or so allowing people time to take their seats, myself (Ken) taking to the stage first with some Happy Medium material. Leaving the trad stuff for Wednesdays thanks! (Catch the Cracked Bucket Band every Wednesday in Kilkenny). Not the most organised of setlists given I gave myself about 20 minutes notice of playing a gig and trying to warm up for it but it was enjoyable all the same.

Next up on the bill was Gowran man Jack O’Leary who hitched his way into town for the ‘Sessions. With songs including “Meet Me At The Jazz Club” and “Blessed Ignorance Of Man”, Jack’s musical presence on stage is equalled by his comic timing. If you’ve never seen a man who can entertain a crowd by simply drinking a glass of water on the stage then you’re missing out. But such is the joy of coming to the One Take Sessions and experiencing these things for yourself. Plus the 40-50 strong crowd certainly lapped things up.

It was 11:20 by the time Jimi Cullen took to the stage, allowing a quick 3 minute break between Jack’s set and his own. Normally we’re getting ready to pack up and go home at that stage but with the music in full swing and people firmly planted in their seats the night kept going and Jimi entertained the masses with some excellent story telling and pieces from his current album “When The Last Leaf Falls” including “The Poverty Song”, “Hangover Blues” and the anti-war song that is “G&T On The Rocks”, the Gorey singer-songwriter certainly made his mark on the ‘Sessions.

We might have fallen foul to losing the original acts but in the end it didn’t matter. Another fantastic night at the One Take Sessions, our second in the new home of Cleere’s (a transformation which has done wonders to the sound and overall atmosphere of the performances) and there’ll be many more to come as well.

So from myself, Ross (with photos appearing this weekend on the KilkennyMusic.com gallery), Mickey (on sound for last night) and Daw (who was away performing in Clonmel at the Junction Festival), thanks very much for continuing to make the One Take Sessions what it is. We’ll be back on August 2nd in Cleere’s when we’re being invaded by a load of Strawberries. As someone who shall remain nameless said last night in the bar post-gig, “they might not be any good at Hurling, sure the might as well be good at music”. Or something to that effect, maybe not so politely!

Hopefully there’ll be the video footage from both last night and the remaining footage from June 21st uploaded over the weekend.