Welcome To The Official Brazen Heads Blog
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Kent & Jenny Slideshows
Back home again with reliable internet so will be posting the more extensive slideshows today. With that, we start with Kent & Jenny's
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Group Vlog - Farewell to Ireland
All of us were partying at Louis' house on this last night of our trip and we did this little video log as a last hurrah. enjoy.
Our Last Night - Middleshop in Leixlip
A band from Phoenix playing Irish songs in Ireland...it really should not have gone down like this if you think about it.
But they embraced us, they drank with us and they sang with us. By the last gig in Leixlip we had a huge following of people who had seen us at other venues throughout the Dublin area. People were calling their friends on cell phones encouraging them to come see us - pointing the phone towards the stage so they could hear. By the end of the night energy in the room was almost overwhelming with people lined up all around cheering us on. Thanks to those who bought our CD's and T-Shirts. The funds will help us offset the expenses of the trip and it is greatly appreciated.
Thanks to the venues who hosted us and again thanks to all of Liam's band mates who hosted us so graciously.
Steve
But they embraced us, they drank with us and they sang with us. By the last gig in Leixlip we had a huge following of people who had seen us at other venues throughout the Dublin area. People were calling their friends on cell phones encouraging them to come see us - pointing the phone towards the stage so they could hear. By the end of the night energy in the room was almost overwhelming with people lined up all around cheering us on. Thanks to those who bought our CD's and T-Shirts. The funds will help us offset the expenses of the trip and it is greatly appreciated.
Thanks to the venues who hosted us and again thanks to all of Liam's band mates who hosted us so graciously.
Steve
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Nearing the End of Trip Blues
It's Saturday at 3:30pm and 6 of us are lounging around in Bernard & Jennies house both because we love them AND they have internet access. I'm currently on one computer at the kitchen table, Roy is plugged in using his laptop on, of all places, his lap. Steve is in a comfy chair by the fireplace taking turns between typing and glancing at the rugby match Liam & Mark are watching on the telly. Bernard & Jennie left 2 hours ago to "run to the shop" saying they'd be back in 20 minutes...we're considering sending out a search party soon but with so many of us laying about...it's no surprise they're taking their sweet time away.
We also heard from Kent, our Jenny and Tim earlier today--they wanted to take one last big day in Dublin City Centre so we won't likely see them again until tonights gig. Tonight we are playing our last gig in the country at the Middle Shop in Leixlip. As the others have said, the locals have taken quite a liking to us so we're expecting quite a crowd for our last gig. That's a good thing too because we've been told the Middle Shop has been suffering so we'd likely be playing to the curtains.
We have TONS of pictures that haven't been posted up here on the blog yet. This is in part because Steve has been the only band member with semi reliable internet access. I tell you this because some of what we have to show will be posted a couple days after getting home.
Speaking of home, this is the saddest part of coming over here...especially for Liam because once again he has to bid farewell to all his family & friends. But as with all good things they do end so day after tomorrow we'll all be dragging our no so sober, bone dogged tired asses onto the plane. Hopefully we'll see you all at Fibbers next weekend!!!
Bye for now.
LeeAnn
We also heard from Kent, our Jenny and Tim earlier today--they wanted to take one last big day in Dublin City Centre so we won't likely see them again until tonights gig. Tonight we are playing our last gig in the country at the Middle Shop in Leixlip. As the others have said, the locals have taken quite a liking to us so we're expecting quite a crowd for our last gig. That's a good thing too because we've been told the Middle Shop has been suffering so we'd likely be playing to the curtains.
We have TONS of pictures that haven't been posted up here on the blog yet. This is in part because Steve has been the only band member with semi reliable internet access. I tell you this because some of what we have to show will be posted a couple days after getting home.
Speaking of home, this is the saddest part of coming over here...especially for Liam because once again he has to bid farewell to all his family & friends. But as with all good things they do end so day after tomorrow we'll all be dragging our no so sober, bone dogged tired asses onto the plane. Hopefully we'll see you all at Fibbers next weekend!!!
Bye for now.
LeeAnn
Headed into the Last Weekend
A big hello from Ireland!
All I can say about this trip is WOW!
It has totally exceeded my expectations.
As we head into our last couple days I thought I might post some personal thoughts about our experience here.
1. The people
Everyone here has been great. If you are lost (which has happened to me a LOT!) people gladly give directions.
Liam's band mates are just simply the nicest people you will meet on this earth. Their assistance with PA, back line gear, instruments and logistics has been greatly appreciated.
Our hosts, Bernard and Jenny have been a Godsend. Mark, Mary, Patricia and myself can not thank them enough. It has been so great to share stories with them over tea late into the night.
To all the great people we have met in the pubs - thank you for your kind words about the band. It has been an honor to perform for you.
2. The Country
So rich in history and scenery. When we were at the Trinity College Book of Kells display I saw a chronological listing of major events that have taken place in Ireland. It kind of makes you think from a different perspective when you compare Ireland to America's brief 200 year history:
c.3000BC Megalithic tombs first constructed.
c.700BC Celts arrive from parts of Gaul and Britain. Ireland divided
into provinces.
c.AD350 Christianity reaches Ireland.
432 Traditional date for the arrival of St. Patrick in Ireland.
700-800 Irish monasticism reaches its zenith.
795 Full-scale Viking invasion.
1172 Pope decrees that Hery II of England is feudal lord of Ireland.
1366 Statues of Kilkenny belatedly forbid intermarriage of English and
Irish. Gaelic culture unsuccessfully suppressed.
1534-40 Failed insurrection by Lord Offaly.
1541 Henry VIII proclaimed king (rather than feudal lord) of Ireland
1558-1603 Reign of Elizabeth I. Policy of Plantation begins. System of
counties adopted.
1595-1603 Failed uprising of Hugh O'Neil.
1641 Charles I's policies cause insurrection in Ulster and Civil War in
England.
1704 Penal Code enacted; Catholics barred from voting, education and the
military.
1782 Grattan's Parliament persuades British to declare Irish
independence, but in name only.
1798 Wolfe Tone's uprising crushed.
1801 Ireland becomes part of Britain under the Act of Union.
1845-48 The Great Famine.
1916 Easter Rising. After the leaders are executed public opinion backs
independence.
1920-21 War between Britain and Ireland; Irish Free State and Northern
Ireland created.
1922 Civil war breaks out.
1969 Rioting between Catholics and Protestants. British troops called in.
1971 Provisional IRA begins campaign to oust British troops from Ireland.
1972 UK and Republic of Ireland join European Community. 'Bloody Sunday'
in Derry.
1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement signed.
1994 Peace Declaration and IRA ceasefire.
3. The Pub culture. Again so different than America. More than just a place to drink, there is a true feeling of community in these places. Old and young, rich and poor all come together to reflect on the day and share their thoughts about everything from politics to sports.
We have one more gig tonight (Saturday), a day off tomorrow and then we head back to Phoenix on Monday.
I will try to post some more images before we leave.
Steve
All I can say about this trip is WOW!
It has totally exceeded my expectations.
As we head into our last couple days I thought I might post some personal thoughts about our experience here.
1. The people
Everyone here has been great. If you are lost (which has happened to me a LOT!) people gladly give directions.
Liam's band mates are just simply the nicest people you will meet on this earth. Their assistance with PA, back line gear, instruments and logistics has been greatly appreciated.
Our hosts, Bernard and Jenny have been a Godsend. Mark, Mary, Patricia and myself can not thank them enough. It has been so great to share stories with them over tea late into the night.
To all the great people we have met in the pubs - thank you for your kind words about the band. It has been an honor to perform for you.
2. The Country
So rich in history and scenery. When we were at the Trinity College Book of Kells display I saw a chronological listing of major events that have taken place in Ireland. It kind of makes you think from a different perspective when you compare Ireland to America's brief 200 year history:
c.3000BC Megalithic tombs first constructed.
c.700BC Celts arrive from parts of Gaul and Britain. Ireland divided
into provinces.
c.AD350 Christianity reaches Ireland.
432 Traditional date for the arrival of St. Patrick in Ireland.
700-800 Irish monasticism reaches its zenith.
795 Full-scale Viking invasion.
1172 Pope decrees that Hery II of England is feudal lord of Ireland.
1366 Statues of Kilkenny belatedly forbid intermarriage of English and
Irish. Gaelic culture unsuccessfully suppressed.
1534-40 Failed insurrection by Lord Offaly.
1541 Henry VIII proclaimed king (rather than feudal lord) of Ireland
1558-1603 Reign of Elizabeth I. Policy of Plantation begins. System of
counties adopted.
1595-1603 Failed uprising of Hugh O'Neil.
1641 Charles I's policies cause insurrection in Ulster and Civil War in
England.
1704 Penal Code enacted; Catholics barred from voting, education and the
military.
1782 Grattan's Parliament persuades British to declare Irish
independence, but in name only.
1798 Wolfe Tone's uprising crushed.
1801 Ireland becomes part of Britain under the Act of Union.
1845-48 The Great Famine.
1916 Easter Rising. After the leaders are executed public opinion backs
independence.
1920-21 War between Britain and Ireland; Irish Free State and Northern
Ireland created.
1922 Civil war breaks out.
1969 Rioting between Catholics and Protestants. British troops called in.
1971 Provisional IRA begins campaign to oust British troops from Ireland.
1972 UK and Republic of Ireland join European Community. 'Bloody Sunday'
in Derry.
1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement signed.
1994 Peace Declaration and IRA ceasefire.
3. The Pub culture. Again so different than America. More than just a place to drink, there is a true feeling of community in these places. Old and young, rich and poor all come together to reflect on the day and share their thoughts about everything from politics to sports.
We have one more gig tonight (Saturday), a day off tomorrow and then we head back to Phoenix on Monday.
I will try to post some more images before we leave.
Steve
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