02 March 2009

Here we are, half way through our first American Lisa Hannigan headline tour, and sure gegorrah and begosh isn't it only great craic altogether! We've been busy little bees between gigs and radio slots and promo shows and the like, and there's been a great reaction to everything we've been getting up to so far. Thanks to everyone for that and long may it continue... Tomo has been great with his photo diary, giving a nice taster on the story so far and some of the great people we've met, but in Phoenix I was asked to get blogging again so here we go. This one's for you Amy! Oh, ahem, and of course everyone else on the internet...

Okaaaaaay.... For my blog, where to start eh? I suppose in true Irish fashion, always a good topic to start waffling is the weather. We left a very snowy and slushy Ireland this day three weeks ago, glad to leave that weather behind us. It was great to be wandering around San Diego the next day in shorts and a t-shirt, and for some reason I thought that would be the story for the whole tour. Silly billy bunagh (as Tomo's eldest would say)... I lived in a massive heatwave in Chicago for a few months in my student days many many moons ago, so to drive along Lakeshore Drive for the first time since then and see Lake Michigan frozen solid as far as maybe a half mile out at parts was pretty insane to say the least. Over the last three weeks we've sweated, frozen, been saturated to the bones, sunburnt and again frozen solid. Its like a more severe Irish summer! Madness.

Anyway, weather schmeather, lets talk gigs. Every one we've played has been really different, but we've been very lucky with the audiences who've been coming along to see Lisa do her thang, that much is consistant. People have been really cool everywhere we've gone. Tomo mentioned The Rhythm Room in Phoenix, one of the highlights for sure - there really was a great energy between band and audience, the kind you can't plan but only hope for, and it kept all in the room as one driving force feeding from each other from beginning to end. Ya gotta love any gig that works out like that and we've certainly had a couple...

From The Troubador show in LA being like a regular house party with people boogying on down to Lisa's (increasingly perfectly coordinated) uncoordinated dancing, to a very appreciative bunch of smiley heads who came bearing gifts in the form of a packet of Tayto Cheese'n'Onion crisps [any Paddy away from home gets the significance of that!] and an advent calendar counting down down days to the gig for young Hannigan last night, in Toronto's The Mod Club, each one has been pretty special in its own way to say the least. That's the great thing about playing so many different types of rooms, they can all lend themselves to a very different type of show. That's one way to keep things interesting for sure so bring it on!

Playing The Tonight Show was an incredible experience. Jay (yeah we're on first name terms now, no big deal..) came to our dressing room and introduced himself beforehand which was really cool. Very nice chap. Thanks to everyone in NBC for making it so relaxed and welcoming out there, as I for one would have had stomach churning nerves otherwise! In the true style of the plinky plonk folk rockers we are, we've been very good at looking after ourselves in terms of eating/sleeping well and not partying on this tour, but there were a few sore heads the next day after Leno for sure. Thankfully we had a day off, but Ooooouuch all the same..

Gav opened for us for the first set of shows, and as always with Gav he got the crowds warmed up very nicely with his sweet tunes and of course his patented bit of Gavlike charming banter. A handsome Irish lad with the gift of the gab is our Gavin for sure, check in with his myspace to hear more, those who've seen him will vouch that he indeed knows his craft well. For the last couple of gigs and for the remainder of the tour we're lucky enough to have The Low Anthem opening. My advice - if you're coming to see us over the rest of the tour, get in to the show in time to hear them. Beautiful use of both instruments and voices all around. Again, a good looking bunch of talented heads who know their craft they certainly are (the feckers..).

Other than that I don't have a huge amount to report. It's been great over here for our second time out, and thanks to anyone and everyone from promoters to audience members for making it so. Keep an ear to the ground for radio slots as we go, they've all been really cool to do. The KCRW "Morning Becomes Eclectic" webcast show even had a few people from home watching us playing live online, which is a really bizarre concept in a lot of ways - but definitely an enjoyable experience to be getting texts from friends and family afterwards, when we had no idea were watching us!! By the way, that's just one of some really cool radio shows we've been lucky enough to perform on so far. In particular, big up yourselves all in Studio 3 at KCBO in Boulder, and the Daytrotter lads in Rock Island as well. More great heads with a fantastic set up that welcome exactly what we do. Love it.

Can't finish this blog without one very important acknowledgement. A MASSIVE thanks to Úna, best tour manager around, who has been working around the clock and has had no small part in how great everything here has been for us and how smoothly its running. Legendary stuff outta her.

Right so I'm off to get some dinner somewhere in a very snowy and cold Boston. We're making our way around this ridiculously vast bit of land, so those of you we haven't yet reached, be patient - we're looking forward to seeing you soon. Those who've made it to see us thus far, an earnest thanks from all at camp Hannigan for such a special experience.

Be good folks,
Donagh x