ARCHIVE - Please note some the content here is quite old, but you're welcome to read on.  

 

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Welcome to my musical therapy, amateur hour is alive and well!!

In 2008 whilst kicking back counting my blessings, I was given the amazing present of a 16 Track recorder (thank you AD). I started to make some cover versions of some songs I liked. After a few short weeks I started to write my own and what was a hobby became a compulsion. Once I'd started I found it hard to stop, so much so I wrote about 4 albums worth of material in as many weeks. Armed with my trusty 16 track but having no clue or skill at production technique I fostered "A Crack In The Cosmic Egg" on the world. 

I modestly think it contains some good songs, but recorded badly. A "Directors Cut" WILL follow at some stage. To anyone who bought that record I apologize and if I have your email details you'll be first to get the music the way it should have been! Having said that some of the tunes do stand up and have become firm favourites with the populace whom have listened - "Tractor Boy", and "Sarah (Don't Be Sad)" in particular. That first album was closely followed by "Ghosts", then "Blue Eyed Boy". I did a covers album called "A View Askewed" (that I only handed out as a freebie to a select few!). My latest offering is called "Life And Everything Inbetween". You'll find more notes and info about that in this web portal somewhere! 

 There’s a whole bunch of people to whom I’m grateful for their time and support over many years, their good humour, advice, and empathy etc particularly during the making of this. It’s all been greatly appreciated; to my #1 AmandaD (no, you..!) with all my love, this wouldn’t have happened without ya, alternately, you’re to blame!; 

In no specific order, Jim O'C, PatC, RobbieB, AidanMc, LizR, LiamOF, ColinB, MichelleN, AdeC, PeteFitz, Tony H, Pat Mc!, the PLS guys back in the day, and of course the titular, SarahB from the song. I also met a wonderful bunch of folks in Perugia Italy under the auspices of the great Chris Difford from Squeeze. Caledonians Graeme Murray, Tom Houston and Englishman Andrew Mills becoming co-writers. The lovely Kate Harwood supplied some lovely piano to the 2010 version of "Sarah" found on this site somewhere (if u look!)  

There’s many more folks out there but I’m just too old to remember everyone, duh! You know who ya are. 

 Would I ever have wanted to learn how to play a guitar without hearing Stevie Ray Vaughan, probably not. Would I ever have wanted to write a song without listening to Bruce Springsteen, probably not. Would I ever have started wearing make up and dresses if not for my first musical love, David Bowie..actually scrap that last one. It’s not happened..yet...but DB, I won’t forget those teenage years!! We miss you forever. Macca? Here's two thumbs up in your direction sir.

BruceS, Bowie, John Hiatt, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney (GOAT), Paddy McAloon, Lucinda Williams, Elvis Costello, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Prince (you mad eejit, with love), Glen Tilbrook/Chris Difford, The Ramones, Talking Heads, John Fogerty, Jackson Browne, Lou Reed, SRV, The Beatles, XTC, Kate Bush, Marc Bolan, Tenacious D, Ian Hunter, Dusty Springfield, Sam Cooke, Elton John, Wilson Pickett, Carly Simon, Paul Simon, John Prine, Warren Zevon, Jimmy Reed, Paul Simon, Nils Lofgren, Queen, Roy Orbison, Evan Dando, Chuck Berry, Stevie Wonder, Buddy Holly, Kevin Smith sir!, Jason Mewes - you crack me up; Woody Allen, Francis Coppolla, John Irving, David Lynch, Terry Pratchett, my beloved Everton FC, Al Pacino, Uncut, Q and Empire Magazines....and many, many others, may your God bless you...  

You all kept me sane (ish)... 

To Ben, Amy, Katie and Alex.. my greatest ever contribution to a major achievement, with love....

Kids, I hope that however insignificant it may be, that what I have been able to do will inspire you in some way, no matter how small, to have no fear and to follow the dream...if I can do this, then you are all 100 times more able to achieve great things...and you will...

Mum and Dad, Angie, Joanne and Families – what a weird strange trip this has been..so far.. ...I’ll shut up now...... 

  

Chris Carry - Kells, Co Meath, Ireland

 

Updated March 2014 - From home/KlangKling on 15th March 10am

Hello there

some of you may have read the first output of mine way below when I set up the website a couple of years ago. Given that the content below is a bit out of date I wanted to give it a polish and some 2014 relevance. 

I listed the folks who helped me get through some very dark days and now it's a great opportunity to take it all back and deny their existence. Just kidding :).

In retrospect there are a couple of good characters who shoulda/coulda have been on that list or would be additional to it now;

Stu Eccles a man of outstanding generosity in all things musical (Derek RIP - your son is a testament to your legacy sir);

(edit - sadly we lost Stu in 2016. I've still kept his birthday reminder in my calendar and miss his funny emails and asides). 

Tony (ok Angela O :)..) ANTHONY Owens, one of lifes great gentlemen - one day I'll write the "Shipping Department Blues'; my newly found friend, and father of future superstars, Sean Watkins; Justin Evans - dude? WTF? Like stardust we appear at the opening of every envelope, people are gonna talk - see ya at the next show my friend!; AnnR - you're all good things kiddo, never forget; 

Good things musical since?

  • Well, for a start Bruce played FIVE shows on our island (and no, you don't need to ask, I was) and DB DID release new music!
  • Paddy McAloon returned to the limelight (been too long Paddy!!).
  • And, of course I made the cinema poster for the "Springsteen & I' movie, which was a thrill for a fan like myself. Now, try and find me on it.
  • Roger Waters "The Wall - Live" @ the Aviva Stadium was an absolute musical highlight - o-m-g;
  • Arcade Fire at the o2 - wow;
  • John Prine @ Vicar St (with Al), Aimee Mann, Tori Amos (yes AD, I was very pleasantly surprised) @BG T, Ray Davies (BG Theatre and the o2, with Al and Amy), Lucinda Williams @Vicar St (with Amy);
  • Elvis Costello - @Sligo Tech Sports Hall, front row; @Vicar Street, front row (Fitzpatrick? You're BARRED son! The look on Costello's face when you asked him if he remembered you from the show in the Olympia in 1987!!!! still LoL-ing at that one!!!); @o2, Spinning Song Book, GREAT shows all;
  • Blondie with Amy and Katie @ the Olympia - best fun ever;
  • Neil Yang - NY & Crazy Horse live with Al, 'nuff said (But see Neil Ying below);
  • Paul McCartney @ the o2 (with Amy) and the RDS (with AD) - took a while but I finally got there for my fave Beatle, two thumbs up Macca ;) ;
  • Squeeze played, and went down a storm, in Navan!! and only about 50 yards away from where I bought my first Squeeze album in 1978. Then being able to meet Chris Difford again aprés show and share that info??? If the 15 year old me could have ever have seen that happening he'd have been committed. The world turns and turns..; (with Amy and Al)
  • John Hiatt @ the Academy, some people just don't get the recognition they deserve - this man is a rare gift to the world;
  • Jason Mewes @ Vicar St with Kev Smith - a man missing all mental filters but still as loveable and funny as ever in spite of it, even if you have to watch from behind your fingers;
  • Paul Simon @ VICAR STREET?? I'm like, whaaat, you're like whaaaatt? (in joke for AD) but yes, the legend was in VICAR STREET (1000 ish capacity); Paul Simon at o2 with my great and immensely talented (nay, strike that, and make it gifted) bud, the lovely MichelleN for 'Graceland' live.
  • The revival of vinyl is a great thing for someone like myself who already had a pretty good head start on new collectors. A record just feels so right, doesn't it?
  • 2014 tickets already purchased for Arcade Fire and The Pixies, Kevin Smith, Status Quo (hell yes!), Elvis Costello and Jeff Beck.
  • But THE musical highlight of the past couple of years has to be the The Sequel gigs in Kells. To see your progeny up on stage demonstrating mastery of the guitar with a bunch of kids upfront going nuts to the music will never be surpassed. Alex has huge potential to be able to live the dream. And a big call out to Robert/Eoin/KevinW/KevinK (another amazing guitarist in development), you guys rocked it and can all go the distance if you so choose. Meabh McKenna a voice of purity and presence, you will be seen one day soon.
  • I felt the exact same way re Alex when Amy was a Pink Lady in 'Grease - The Musical' (she sings! she acts!) and Katie did 'One Night Only' to a packed house at the Solstice in Navan. Bar the day the college degree's were/are handed out, I'll never be more proud.

 

Bad things musical;

  • we lost Lou Reed to the world- check my blog for my feedback. He was all kinds of fecker at times :) (never when I met him though) but he WAS Lou Reed :) and I will miss him more than he will ever know;
  • finding it impossible to get a copy of XTC's 'Skylarking' on vinyl!! grrr;
  • Eric Clapton at the o2 - no more. EC is a legend but I'd like to know in advance if he will be dialling in another performance again before I get a ticket; I look at EC and I look at Bruce. ONE of these guys actually loves performing. The other couldn't be arsed...clue? not Bruce.
  • Neil Ying at the RDS - stubbornness and a need to bite ones nose to spite ones face is not unusual for NY. He's one of the greatest artists of all time, but is it a good thing or bad thing that he's not that interested in setting his legacy in stone? Normally I'd say "good thing", we need the attitude in a world of XFactorisms, BUT, when it looks like a wilful goading of a faithful audience, then bad thing.
    • I got it, and to see an artist of that stature go toe-to-toe with the audience is engaging/refreshing, but about 20,000 people there that day didn't get it. All they wanted was a good day out away from everyday life and they went home deflated - music and artistry shouldn't "deflate", it should invigorate and lift the spirit, that's WHY we love people like Neil Young;
  • Evan Dando at the Academy? WTF? Based on that show I dread hearing what may be inevitable bad news in the coming years, for someone who has it all can someone rescue this man; 

OK retrospective walk down memory lane over. Last word goes out to Amanda who has been my best friend and chief supporter for many years now. It wouldn't have been possible without ya hon, lots of love xxx

see y'all in another couple of years maybe for an update

best wishes, live well, live long, stay safe

Chris

And the song remains the same;

"To Ben, Amy, Katie and Alex.. my greatest ever contribution to a major achievement, with love..."

Bud - RIP 18-02-14