Tom's Blog: 5/12/13

Friday, May 17, 2013

Song of the Day: Sara Lou - Zombie (Cranberries cover)

One of the songs Sara played (at my request) during her show last Saturday was Zombie, by the Cranberries.

Sara Lou - Zombie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DN8Nz63F6P4

And the original:
The Cranberries - Zombie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIRK0nMD1Lw

The song was particularly interesting to me because earlier in the day a co-worker and I had toured Kilmainham Gaol, an old jail where political prisoners had been imprisoned and executed in the past. So I finally know what the Cranberries mean by "it's the same old theme since 1916." Sure puts a new emphasis, a new level of emotion, on the song, for me at least.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Rising

Thursday, May 16, 2013

One Night in Dublin, with Sara Lou - Part Two!

You, my seven readers (estimated), may recall a previous post with a similar name, posted back in January but describing a night in July 2012:
One Night in Dublin, with Sara Lou

I have also posted about seeing Sara Lou busking on Grafton Street in Dublin:
Song of the Day: Sara Lou - Strangeness

Well, history does sometimes get a chance to repeat itself. Got a chance to see her in a pub in Dublin again this past Saturday.

So this time I saw her play at Malloy's, on Talbot Street in Dublin. She played from about 9:50p until almost midnight. Went with a co-worker, Mike, who I talked into going. In the beginning there was a sports team in the bar (along with a lot of other people). Later they left, and a group of French tourists filed in.

Song list is below. Lots of repeats from her previous show, but some songs I hadn't heard her play, too.

Hey Soul Sister - Train
Jackson - June Carter & Johnny Cash
A Team - Ed Sheeran
I previously posted the original of this song here:
Song of the Day: Ed Sheeran - The A Team
And I got a recording of Sara singing it this time:
Sara Lou - A Team
All I Want Is You - U2
Amazingly well done, wish I had recorded this.
Yellow - Cold Play
I got this recording:
Sara Lou - Yellow
Son of a Preacher Man - Aretha Franklin
Rolling in the Deep - Adele
You're So Vain - Carly Simon
Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash
Valerie - Amy Winehouse
Lyrics: "why don't you come on over"
Seems like she segued right into this from Folsom Prison Blues, so I'm not sure this is the song she played.
Diamonds in the Sky - Rihanna
Run - Leona Lewis
She did a GREAT version of this song. Here's the original:
Leona Lewis - Run
Drive By - Train
Stand By Me - Ben E. King
Use Somebody - Kings of Leon
I love this song. See my old blog post:
Songs of the Day: Laura Jansen - Use Somebody; Bat For Lashes - Use Somebody
Yesterday - Beetles
Caledonia - Dougie MacLean
I think I'll post more on this song later. :)
It Ain't Me Babe - Bob Dylan
Stay - Rihanna
Another great version of a Rihanna song!
Zombie - Cranberies
Again, another song that I think deserves its own blog post.
Believer - Monkees
Billy Jean - Michael Jackson
Here's Sara:
Sara Lou - Billy Jean

Just like last time, a fabulous night.

And, just like last time, let me close with a picture. Different co-worker taking the picture (thanks, Mike!) this time, but a similar vibe.

After I got back from Dublin, I saw that Sara had posted this on Twitter:

When someone from America makes it especially to one of your gigs you know you can't be doing that bad! Thanks for coming @tomblooming
— Sara Lou (@saraloumusic) May 13, 2013

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Ireland, May 2013

Took another work trip to Ireland recently. Got up to Derry (Londonderry?) in the north in addition to Dublin. I'll post a couple pictures in this post, then follow up with some other posts about the show I saw Saturday night, May 11, 2013.

Dinner Tuesday night, May 7, 2013, at Firebox Grill, Fahan, Co. Donegal, Ireland.
http://www.fireboxgrill.com/home.htm