Traditional Irish Music
A Field Guide to North American Irish Session Stereotypes (page 3)
Features and Behavior: Upturned nose, 'Holier than thou' condescending attitude; Large cinder-block sized chip on shoulder; Takes his music very seriously; Despises other species like Peter Pagan and Sean Southie and takes perverse pleasure in demoralizing newbies; Hates all backers and bodhran players; Regularly blogs on internet Irish music forums to complain how others are 'ruining' Irish Traditional Music; Hates the term ITM; Has been known to storm out of a session when someone plays a tune he thinks is inferior; Believes he is a true 'caretaker' of the tradition. Primary Habitat: High level sessions in large cities, anger management therapy
Ace McCool
Beenthere Donethaticus
Primary Instruments: varies
Features and Behavior: No unusual markings, really – except perhaps a slightly disinterested, wry smile and a very dry wit. Can play every tune and multiple instruments remarkably well, doesn’t engage in petty session politics. Has toured and played sessions around the globe, but doesn’t talk about it. Makes everyone around him sound and play better. Primary Habitat: Anyplace people play Irish music
Willie Wannabe
Insecurous Overcompensatious
Primary Instruments: Bodhran, Banjo, Fiddle, Whistle
Features and Behavior: Scottish Football Jersey, fake Brogue, desperate need to be seen as an authority on all things Irish; usually doesn’t have an Irish sir-name; Uses Irish slang words like eejit , brilliant, bullocks, and feck all in daily conversation; Noodles obnoxiously on nearly every tune. Primary Habitat: Every pub, session, festival, feis and fleadh in North America
Jimmy Jokester
Craic Humeroustae
Primary Instruments: Fiddle, Banjo, whistle
Features and Behavior: Hawaiian print shirt; can play random tunes like My Sharona, La Bamba, and dozens of riffs from Led Zeppelin in between jig sets; Knows thousands of Irish, Scottish, English, and even a few Welsh jokes; Loves to provoke other species like Paul Puredrop and Sean Southie; Can 'burp-sing' the song Wild Rover. Intentionally mispronounces the names of tunes with something vulgar or suggestive.
Primary Habitat: Near the bar, flirting with the waitress, or outside for a smoke.
For anyone who has ever spent more than five minutes observing an Irish session, these stereotypes will seem quite familiar. However, it should be noted that the vast majority of people who attend sessions are actually quite pleasant and remarkably normal. Furthermore, if anyone has ever spent more than five minutes reading Irish music blogs, it must also be noted that people are not nearly as snide, spiteful or downright nasty as their postings might lead you to believe. In most cases, a healthy Irish session community is filled with all sorts of personalities who come together for the sheer pleasure of playing this music and having a laugh with people who share that common affliction.
For all the hyperbole and supposed rules regarding Proper Session Etiquette, most of it can be summed up in two simple phrases; don’t be an ass and only play on the tunes you know. All the stuff your mother taught you about nice manners, the things your spouse advised regarding what NOT to say and do at a dinner party; it’s all the same thing here in the pub. Just common sense interaction with other human beings or 'session species.'
Enjoy your journey. -W
Gaviidae, Gavia immer