When I was about 14 I trekked up to Newcastle Uni with a bunch of mates to see Thin Lizzy. Got my Dad to drive us up. The band, being a hardened, boozy, tough-guy rock ‘n roll outfit, didn’t come on stage until midnight. By which time we needed to head back home (….@*!?@?…)
All this came bubbling up because I’ve been in Dublin for a week, and Phil Lynott, bless his bass playing soul, is all over the place. Statues, photos, memorabilia. Actually the whole city seems dedicated to its rock stars – U2, Van M, Shane MacGowan etc. They’re everywhere. It’s a music city!
So it was great to see some trad Irish music at the Temple Bar Inn, and sink a few pints of the black stuff. Tourist bar it may be, but hey, once work was done, I was in tourist mood.
The music was provided by The Crooked Jacks, and very good they were too. And I loved the Temple Bar (500 whiskies to try out… and that’s on top of the Guinness).
Thin Lizzy may have to remain a distant dream for me, but I got my fill of Irish music (and Guinness), managed to see the whole set and get back to my hotel room for a good night’s kip. Beats trekking up to Newcastle!