Irish song setlist?

October 6, 2007 10:02 PM

Set list for performing in an Irish bar.

So I've decided to take up the tenor banjo and try my hand at playing music at the Irish bars in town. Recommendations for set lists. I would particularly like to focus on Irish American music from the early to mid 20th century, but obviously should have a larger repertory as well. What songs would you want to hear from a lone, gravelly voiced singer at an Irish American bar in the midwest.

posted by Astro Zombie to media & arts (35 comments total)

"Whiskey in the Jar"
posted by kirkaracha at 10:11 PM on October 6, 2007

A Pogues song. I suggest "Dirty Old Town," but a Poguesologist might have a better idea.
posted by box at 10:18 PM on October 6, 2007

Not strictly Irish but no set in a Dublin or Galway bar is complete without at least one Waterboys tune... I think the one I've heard the most is the title track from Fishermans Blues.
posted by merocet at 10:20 PM on October 6, 2007

Being an Irish-Australian.. and would love to hear a rendition of 'and the band played Waltzing Matilda' by the Pogues.
posted by TheOtherGuy at 10:21 PM on October 6, 2007

Oh and if the Irish are involved you can't leave out The Wild Rover.
posted by merocet at 10:23 PM on October 6, 2007

Whiskey in the Jar.

And all of the above, and various tunes done by the Pogue.
posted by zaphod at 10:27 PM on October 6, 2007

With or without you.
posted by tmcw at 10:37 PM on October 6, 2007

Just please don't play the goddamn unicorn song.
posted by desuetude at 10:45 PM on October 6, 2007

Traditional: (work best with an accent)
Old Maid in the Garret
Take Her Up to Monto
Whiskey In The Jar
Wild Rover
Bog Down In the Valley-O
Big Strong Man
Finnegan's Wake
Christmas in Killarney
Galway Bay

Pogues:
Fairytale of New York (if you can find an angelic female vocal accompanist).
If I Should Fall From Grace With God
Sunny Side of the Street
Thousands Are Sailing
Lorelei (maybe that lass could help out with this one too)

Also, I think it would be funny to throw some They Might Be Giants in there just to see if people are paying attention. I suggest "James K. Polk".
posted by kookoobirdz at 10:49 PM on October 6, 2007

check this old tune, for the oldboys

just so you know,
it sounds similar to this american one.
posted by degoao at 11:57 PM on October 6, 2007

wow, my noob ass just found out that g.l. is Canadian...
please excuse...
posted by degoao at 12:14 AM on October 7, 2007

Step It Out Mary
Marie's Wedding
When Will We Be Married?
The Wild Rover
The Irish Rover

Possibly a good idea to avoid The Boys of the Old Brigade or The Foggy Dew.

The pedant in me points out that '...and the band played Waltzing Matilda' is an Eric Bogle song, and Ewan McColl wrote 'Dirty Old Town', but the Pogues-lover in me agrees with the choices.
posted by Infinite Jest at 12:23 AM on October 7, 2007

Juice of the Barley
Black Velvet Band (The Australian version)

John McCormack was an Irish singer who moved to the States in the early twentieth century. He was an opera singer but also did a lot of Irish standards like Marie's Wedding etc. His discography might give you some leads on what was hot at the time.
posted by BAKERSFIELD! at 2:18 AM on October 7, 2007

My Lovely Horse or more seriously The Fields of Athenry.
posted by oh pollo! at 2:57 AM on October 7, 2007

If you're not already there, you'll want to start visiting banjohangout.org.

Break up the songs with an instrumental or two by Turlough Carolan, like Planxty Irwin.
posted by Martin E. at 4:03 AM on October 7, 2007

Anything by Christy Moore.
posted by maurice at 4:33 AM on October 7, 2007 [1 favorite]

With or without you.
Depending on how seriously Irish the Irish pub is, I would seriously suggest avoiding any U2.
Seriously.
There are quite a few "lads o the auld sod" who take great exception to Bono...mostly for his attention to troubles around the world except Ireland.
Fistfights ensue.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:00 AM on October 7, 2007

The Pogues version of the old trad song I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day is a very repetitive bar pattern that would be super easy to learn, I should imagine.

There are a few good sites for pub songs online, by the way.
posted by miss lynnster at 5:54 AM on October 7, 2007

2nding don't do U2.
posted by miss lynnster at 5:55 AM on October 7, 2007

By the way... on the Pogues song? I tend to prefer the old traditional lyrics where Jock Stewart goes out shooting WITH his dog all down by the River Kildare. As opposed to the Pogues version where the guy actually up and shoots his dog.

'Cuz, Jaysus! Jock's so pissed he up and kills his own dog? That's just bolloxed up.
posted by miss lynnster at 6:14 AM on October 7, 2007

Also the Pogues' Sally MacLennane, which I think is a lovely song.
Thirding (or so) Dirty Old Town. You'll have people singing along, I'm sure.
posted by jdl at 6:25 AM on October 7, 2007

The beautiful traditional air "She moves through the Fair" and to be perfectly frank as an Irish person who sometimes visits Irish bars abroad, if I hear one more rendition of Whisky in the Jar, I might be tempted to apply for a UK passport. Yep, it's that bad!
posted by Wilder at 6:35 AM on October 7, 2007

Also I think the BBC or maybe RTE did a series a few years ago about how Irish traditional music had influenced American music. I'll try to google.
posted by Wilder at 6:36 AM on October 7, 2007

Yep, it was the Beeb, it's called "Bringing it all back home" buy this compilation, it is awesome.
posted by Wilder at 6:40 AM on October 7, 2007

I used to have this Best Of Irish Pub Songs album. The track listing:

1. Wiskey In the Jar
2. The Wild Rover
3. Rocky Road To Dublin
4. Bold O'Donaghue
5. Finnegan's Wake
6. Molly Malone
7. Mountain Dew
8. Spanish Lady
9. Cod-Liver Oil/Coolies
10. Lannigan's Ball
11. Muirsheen Durkin
12. Gypsy Rover
13. Crooked Jack
14. I'll Tell My Ma
15. I'm Rover
16. Black Velvet Band
17. Poor Paddy Works On The Railways
18. Seven Drunken Nights
19. Sarce O'Tatties
20. Ramblin' Irishman
posted by inigo2 at 7:09 AM on October 7, 2007 [1 favorite]

Crazy World by Aslan
posted by ReiToei at 8:06 AM on October 7, 2007

Being an Irish-Australian.. and would love to hear a rendition of 'and the band played Waltzing Matilda' by the Pogues

But that might you roughed up by oversensitive neocons.
posted by Neiltupper at 8:12 AM on October 7, 2007

I can't believe no one has suggested "Bottle of Smoke", another Pogues song. It was always a favorite at the pub I used to frequent.

And the list that inigo2 posted is pretty great, especially numbers 1, 6, 11, and 14.

I also adore Star of the County Down.
posted by kimdog at 8:16 AM on October 7, 2007

"Arthur Macbride"
posted by FelliniBlank at 8:50 AM on October 7, 2007

Against Me - Pints of Guiness make you strong
posted by SageLeVoid at 10:07 AM on October 7, 2007 [1 favorite]

Yeah, if there will be real Irish people there Crazy World will definitely get their attention amidst all the stereotypical dreck.
posted by jamesonandwater at 10:26 AM on October 7, 2007

Beer, Beer, Beer!
posted by Attackpanda at 5:56 PM on October 7, 2007

OMG! YES! Aslan, crazy world PLEASE
posted by Wilder at 3:42 AM on October 8, 2007

Don't forget to close out the night with The Parting Glass.
posted by leapfrog at 9:27 AM on October 8, 2007

Home for a Rest by Spirit of the West.

It's not Irish, but Canadian. It gets a lot of airtime as a "drinking" song nonetheless, so people may enjoy regardless of its origin.

Here is the music video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPJD3qcIL7s

Coincidentally, here is a gentleman playing that very song on his banjo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av5aYVrgELI

If this won't fly for your gig, it may be fun to learn it with a larger band. :-)
posted by wesley at 2:56 PM on October 8, 2007