| Islands of Song |
| A bittersweet night - I knew this was the last one here in Cork, the last one spent with friends, the last one to hear this wonderful music fusion of Newfoundland and Irish songwriters, the last night to buy CDs. I had most of the Newfoundlanders CDs and needed to get the others. The house was full as Ken Cotter began his set. His voice is incredibly clear and he has a great range. No problem understanding what he was singing at all. I believe the first selection was called Still Canal. Rory accompanied him on the guitar. It was a good song to begin with; everyone was paying attention. The next one I liked a lot. It was called Red Bottle, and had a phrase "shattered life and shattered glass, a flash of bright light and a deafening past" - that really got to me. These Irish songwriters are deep! Non-violence was a theme that ran through the week. |
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| Ken's "And Again" was relevant to me as it came from a religious bend. "I live in a life of whispered Hail Marys, a world without end." You began to wonder whether the whispered prayers were a comfort or not. Made me think about the relevance of prayer in my life. Prayer is definitely a big part of my life but not in a prescribed prayer way. Mom taught me that I should speak to God as if he were standing right there with me. Say what's on your mind, what you need help with, forgiveness for and thank Him in advance. I must say, though, I've done some whispered Our Fathers in my time. Pamela Morgan came out to join Ken for the next song and I was a happy camper. I had only gotten to speak to Pamela, not hear her sing. Her night was the one we were in transit. She was on her way to London and Denmark and had agreed to do this gig on the way. She has the loveliest of female voices - ethereal. The song was called "The Gig's Never Over" and I wondered who was feeling that way tonight. |
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| Ken's last song was "River Valley Road". Ken thanked Jim and Lillian, the artists, engineers and Moray Bresnihan. |
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| Mark Greville was next to perform. He was billed as "Underground Irish Hero" his music described as "Acoustic Alternative Pop Rock - A cross between Radioheads 'The Bends', James Browns 'Sex Machine' with a hint of 60s pop thrown in." Mark's publicity photo was scary but he's not intimidating in person. Intensity is present in his voice as well as his guitar. He has a great tenor voice, too. His first song was called "Select a High". Some impressive guitar work here! |
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| More Mark and Jim, too! |
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