A great number of people were turned away from Pierce Turner’s performance with his string quartet at Puck Fair on March 25th the final night before the bar closed because of an expired lease. Turner ran through almost all of his best known songs, and the everyone sang their hearts out as he strolled across the counter knocking over glasses of beer as he
I am back in NYC getting ready for the Frank McCourt 20th Anniversary show this Sunday at the Sheen Centre in Manhattan (sold out) it’s a new Theatre on Bleeker Street.
Having just spent a lot of time waiting in airports, I found myself noticing the effect of it and wondering if there is a song there? It’s a kind of neutral ground, a place where all of our normal responsibilities go by the wayside; the bills piled upon each other in the hallway, the cost of an Airport sandwich, our guard towards strangers; it feels like everyone there is the same club! And tears come easily, for no particular reason. There is a sense of freedom; everything is put off until tomorrow, and no one can reasonably expect you to do a task regardless of the urgency. It’s like you are in outer space and can’t be reached until you land, you don’t have to watch what you eat or drink, and it doesn’t matter if it’s morning or night. Travelling can be hard, taking off the belt and the shoes, the in and out of the computer, explaining all the bloody wires that I have to carry with me, shoving it all down the line while holding on to my trousers, counting the gates for miles and miles, only to find an elevator that takes me to the next set of gates. But once you get there and put down the bags, there is a great moment of respite to relish as you people watch with a very expensive pint and sandwich in hand, knowing that you are such a cad at that moment, that you are not phased by doling out a small fortune.
Thanks everyone who came to the Irish gigs, they were really thrilling for me, singing in those acoustics with that organ coming from behind the audience while we came from the front, created something truly unique, so special that I am adamant about doing a bunch more the next time, and it seemed to bring people out of the woodworks, some old and some new. A gentleman called Donal from Waterford has found a beautiful Church there that we are working on, if you know of a good Church with a working Organ and the right vibe (not stiff or depressing) please get in touch, it doesn’t matter where, let’s look at it first before we decide. And I mean In the US or UK also.
But what about Manhattan? I am asked, that other show is sold out! No need to fret, we have a good one coming up at the glorious Joe’s Pub. We will have the full ensemble from the last NY Church gig; Andriette Redman on Bass and vocals plus Kath Green on vocals and percussion, John Rokosny guitar, Fred Parcells on the Bone and vocals, and Mark Brotter on Drums and percussion, me on the Grand Piano and guitar, we will do the new album and the old ones, tickets are on sale starting now. I hope to see all the familiar faces and those new ones that have been popping up with the gleeful surprise of virginity.
One gets the feeling that these are golden days judging by the reaction in Ireland in New York, please come and celebrate with a nice cool cocktail, bring your vibe and I’ll bring mine. BTW, I made it a Thursday to suit your summer weekends. Px
PIERCE TURNER ENSEMBLE
JOE’S PUB (PUBLIC THEATRE) THURSDAY JULY 21ST AT 7PM
http://www.publictheater.org/Tickets/Calendar/PlayDetailsCollection/Joes-Pub/2016/P/Pierce-Turner-Ensemble/
Irish Press for Love Can’t Always Be Articulate
The Irish Mail on Sunday June 12-2016
This album’s songs quiver in the natural acoustic’s of the Manhattan Lutheran Church where he recorded it… Tantum Ergo and Billy Sunday have a Churchy resonance. Not so, the rousing Sorrow is a solid feeling or the acoustic cover of T Rex’s Life’s a Gas. His devoted fans will be delighted. * * *
The Irish Times interview May 30 – 2016
“There is very little melody in the current pop idiom” The same cannot be said of the uncompromising Music of Wexford’s Pierce Turner, who wears his ecclesiastical influences proudly.
The Sunday Business Post Magazine June 12-2016
Turner’s vocals are laden with sentiment, with a fragility that is emotionally affecting, most powerfully on I Think It’s going to rain today, Adios Romeo, and warm swaying closer, the Paul Simon like Human Prayer. There’s even an enchanting version of Marc Bolan’s Life’s a Gas. LOVELY.