Pub Session • Casey Driessen, Blackie O'Connell & Cyril O'Donoghue • [Otherlands: Ireland]

This recording is the seventh in a new multi-episode project by Casey Driessen titled - OTHERLANDS: A Global Music Exploration.
LOCATION: Doolin, Ireland
DATE: November 19, 2019
CREDITS
Song: Musical Priest / Toss the Feathers / Lucy Campbell's (All traditional)
Music Arranged by: Casey Driessen, Blackie O'Connell & Cyril O'Donoghue
Uilleann Pipes: Blackie O'Connell
Bouzouki: Cyril O'Donoghue
Fiddle & Audio/Video: Casey Driessen
Production Assistant: Molly Nagel
Additional Musical Excerpts: The Frieze Britches / The Miller's Maggot (Intro, traditional); Red Haired Boy (Outro, traditional)
EQUIPMENT
The following Shure microphone was used in the making of this collaboration. If you’re interested in learning more and/or purchasing one, please use the link below. This helps to support the music I make. Thank you.
Shure MV88+ [stereo video mic] (amzn.to/3bftnZ5)
ABOUT THIS COLLABORATION
To hear more of Blackie O’Connell and Cyril O’Donoghue, check out their group, Dubhlinn: (www.dubhlinnband.com/).
Six years ago, I was traveling down the western coast of Ireland with my mother, and we stopped for a night in Doolin. I inquired about local places to hear music, and we landed at McGann's Pub for the evening. Playing that night were Blackie O'Connell on uilleann pipes and Cyril O'Donoghue on bouzouki. I brought my fiddle with me and they took this stranger in for a few tunes. It was a special night on that trip that I've always remembered.
Fast forward to present day. I'm staying outside of Galway, and every local I'm talking to asks if I'm going to the Ennis Trad Fest. Looking at the festival program when I arrive, the name of a session catches my eye and I make a point to check it out first: "Piper Heaven / Piper Hell." There are eight uilleann pipes and one bouzouki playing tunes for 3 hours. On one of the breaks in the music, milling outside the pub, Blackie, Cyril, and I recognize each other from our long ago night in Doolin. I mention we're headed back to Doolin, and it turns out that they will have a gig back at the very same pub, on one of the two nights that we'll be there! So, we hatch a plan to relive our first meeting.
In a way, this is not unlike many of my session nights in Ireland - dimly lit, a few tunes I know and countless others I don't, a buzz of energy…and delicious pints. But as sessions get bigger in numbers of people, the intimacy can diminish. With just the three of us, there was constant connection, at all times.
The tunes I'm sharing here are our final set of the night, instigated by suggestions of tunes I actually knew: “Musical Priest” and “Lucy Campbell's” - but Blackie threw one in between and surprised me. When the night is through, we high five, hug, and promise ourselves that it won't take another 6 years before we play again. This trio is just too fun.
If you’d like to read more about our collaboration, please visit:
www.caseydriessen.com/blog/pub...
To follow along the OTHERLANDS project, please visit:
OTHERLANDS Webpage (www.CaseyDriessen.com/Otherlands)
Instagram ( / caseydriessen ,
Facebook ( / caseydriessen ,
or this KZbin channel.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
OTHERLANDS: A Global Music Exploration follows GRAMMY-nominated 5-string American fiddler Casey Driessen as he travels with his family to various countries across the globe to meet with local acoustic-based musicians with roots in their own traditions. Musical exchanges and travels are documented via audio, video and photography elements with collected materials released over the course of the project via his website and social media outlets and official musical releases likely to come at the end of travels.
OTHERLANDS is an independently designed and produced project that is self-contained with a small collection of audio and video equipment. All engineering and recording, including any post-production, can be set up, operated, and completed by Casey wherever on the globe he happens to be.
For more information and to follow the project, please visit - www.CaseyDriessen.com/Otherlands

[@thilohummel9833]

In dem Pub war ich schon. Wie schön ist das denn.

[@epplz44]

Went to Doolin with my mom last year, had the chance to listen to the blackie Cyril, plus many youg folks in the pubs, it was one of the best experience for her and I, keep it strong you irish, with love from France.Will be back in 2021, I traveled quite a lot, and you guys are the best.

[@liamkelly4338]

Young folks ?

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

Thanks. Glad to bring back some memories for you. Cheers!

[@jimbobmcgrath]

This is one of my favourite videos of all time , absolutely epic stuff , listen to it near daily . Thanks for the upload

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

James! That's so fantastic to hear. It was a night to remember for sure. I miss those two!

[@timothybaker9828]

Mine too. I come back to this video at least once a month. This little jam means a lot to me.

[@Melvorgazh]

Blackie has a flashy dancy sound. Sounds like great craic

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

So fun. Foot stomping fun, to be exact.

[@nmaddog4689]

Before the world turned to shit... That said, just beautiful, I’ve got tears in my eyes from the memory of such times. Please God they return.

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

I miss those times too...and keeping strong hope that they return. Thanks for listening!

[@silverfoxsurvivalgear7612]

@@CaseyDriessenMusic I'm personally responsible for 4,000 of your views. You are uniquely talented, and it's more than playing the notes. You give the notes an unmistakable voice that my Irish ears can hear from a county away. Even if I don't know the song, I sure know when it's you playing it. The energy of this session is truly remarkable, and inspirational. You are all heroes of Irish folklore, in my book. You are the ones who keep the culture truly alive. Slainte boys, 🍻

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

@@silverfoxsurvivalgear7612 I'm honored! Thank you so much. I have a trip back in Sep. '23 and I can't wait!

[@silverfoxsurvivalgear7612]

@CaseyDriessenMusic Thats great to hear! I will be anxiously waiting to experience your triumphant return 👏🇮🇪🎶

[@silverfoxsurvivalgear7612]

This trio is a tour du force of Irish inspirational trad. This gets my Irish up like nothing else. Fair play, they are legends, man. Legends.

[@helenmirelen4362]

Wow - so good! So good, in fact, that I return to this each year in dreary January, when I'm racing to get my accounts done by the tax deadline. I've discovered that Irish music is the best for keeping the brain cells going & avoiding the dreaded boredom. Thank you all!!

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

Irish music and tax time? I'll give it a try!!!

[@margaretnesbeth593]

Makes me proud to be Irish.

[@StevenVanceEntertainment]

Saw Blackie, Cyrus and fiddler Owen Neff in a pub in Ennis last month and they the roof off. Well done Casey. Hope we cross paths.

[@kevinforde2555]

Still watching it. All 3 really enjoying it.

[@kevinforde2555]

Alway come again back to see this cheers , you ain’t half bad boi

[@S24W2]

Brilliant stuff 👏

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

Thanks. Miss me some Irish sessions about now!

[@kevinforde2555]

Love ya Casey

[@eriklindell7903]

Fabulous. Astoundingly good. Doolin and its pubs is a wonderful place.

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

Yes! Shhh, don't tell anyone, but tell everyone!

[@allandavies1642]

God,why on earth was I not there that night ?!!!!!!!!

[@kevinforde2555]

Something else , brilliant

[@kevinforde2555]

Best ever Lucy ever

[@jptey289]

Magnifique, merci 🇮🇪🇲🇫

[@kevinforde2555]

Love watching it over n over

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

Glad you're enjoying and thanks for listening!

[@chauncymcgillicuddy1079]

absolute magic begins at 6:17

[@kevinforde2555]

The best off the cuff session, love your improvisation brilliant

[@joncox1263]

That was banging.

[@lacydesmond]

Awesome stuff

[@Lissadell1916]

Hey Casey, this is just wonderful, thanks for posting. To be there at McGann’s or McDermott’s when the lads are “on fire” (as you boys clearly were this night) is a just magical experience...and The Musical Priest from the ABA set (one of my favourites). Seems Blackie’s had his hair cut as well...”Clare's the home of the music lads” so until Doolin next year, keep safe and a Merry Christmas to you all.

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

Yes, I'm 2 for 2 of awesome nights at McGann's with Blackie and Cyril. I'll gladly take my chances with a 3rd!

[@MsJessie62]

Lovely!👍☘️✨

[@DebrisHauler]

I loved it! Looked like you pushed them to another plane of existence.

[@kevinforde2555]

Lucy does it , brilliant

[@AlexanderTate.]

I’m way late to this, but Wow! This in incredible. I get and understand music deeply and this was something special. God bless you all! Thank you for this. Kiss yourself for me

[@EricOwensFlute]

Great stuff!

[@sky37blue]

This is absolutely phenomenal the way you all integrate and yet push and feed each other. Excellent Casey the way you brought something different too and it worked. One day I will travel from Scotland and watch Blackie live. Its not even that far away!

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

We had a 1 night reunion not to long ago...mighty times were had!

[@sky37blue]

@@CaseyDriessenMusic Thanks for the reply Casey. That sounds phenomenal, will you be publishing a video like this or album? On another note, I've seen Cyril play with Brìghde Chaimbeul from Scotland but not Blackie. Perhaps all of you could get together some time. Anyway, have a great Christmas and Hogmanay.

[@kevinforde2555]

Brilliant stuff

[@MGMc]

Deadly!

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

Thanks! Three hours of that just about killed me ;-)

[@fredericksemple6366]

MIGHTY!!

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

Thank you!

[@fredericksemple6366]

@@CaseyDriessenMusic it's a pleasure!

[@alexnavar]

Fantastic!

[@tommymaher6929]

This is amazing! Thanks for sharing

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

You're welcome. Thanks for following along!

[@FernanMas]

Hit from the top. Astonising

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

Thanks for listening. Love these tunes

[@seamusbreen-shey]

Mighty session! What great talent!

[@louoc22]

Love it :)

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

Thanks for checking out the tunes!

[@user-wy8um5ns8b]

stunning, lads. channeling God himeslf. just beautiful

[@greensqueezebox]

Absolutely savage. ;-)

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

Thanks Chris, it was a savage evening for sure!

[@alexmonaghan9073]

I see they slowed down for you, Casey! They must have liked you :)

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

I'm thankful they did! Great times with them :-)

[@cowgirlitronboland9631]

Hup!

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

Hup is right! I even tried to hup a few times in sessions...not as easy as it sounds!

[@aanmtb7294]

There's a cd of this session, anyone knows where to can get one of them?????

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

Close! There's a record with this track on it, along with musicians from five other countries. It's called Otherlands:ONE and is available for streaming at all the usual suspects. Thanks for listening!

[@timothybaker8442]

something happens around 6mins in that makes you believe in God again. watch this the whole way through!

[@martini3524]

Not good for a bad heart. You'd have to hop to that despite the doctor.

[@iqtv9489]

The Devil went down to Doolin 🔥