Fionn O Lochlainn

CD release party at Joe’s Pub, NYC. Out on the sidewalk in front of Joe’s Pub (425 Lafayette St, NYC) I watched Harvey Keitel pose for pictures with some pretty young ladies.


CD release party at Joe’s Pub, NYC

Out on the sidewalk in front of Joe’s Pub (425 Lafayette St, NYC) I watched Harvey Keitel pose for pictures with some pretty young ladies. I had gotten there a little early and was waiting to get in to see Fionn O Lochlainn who was celebrating the release of his debut solo CD ‘Spawn of the Beast’. Once inside, I spotted Richard Kind who, among other things, played Paul Lassiter on Spin City and was the voice of Van in ‘Cars’.

Joe’s Pub is a fantastic place to see a show and not just for the potential for random celebrity spottings. The sound here is always impeccable and the unique layout of the room offers a great vantage point to just about everyone. Unless you’re stuck with your back turned around or behind one of the massive pillars. Tasteful lighting effects transition nicely with the music on stage. Drinks are a bit pricey and I can’t vouch for the food since I didn’t eat anything tonight.

Getting to the bathrooms can be a chore since you have to walk thru the thin, cramped serving corridor placing you smack in the middle of the backstage area. Not really giving the acts any privacy. The women’s room is a not so well marked open door just past the servers. I’ve nearly walked in there a couple of times before. The men’s room is atypically placed up a flight of stairs.

Thanks to my friends Margo and Paul from Organic Entertainment, I was able to get into Fionn’s dressing room to drop off my coat. It was very warm in the club and I really didn’t feel like carrying it around. While there ran into drummer Cindy Blackman. Well, that is to say the door ran into me as she walked in. It was a tiny room. I also had the pleasure of hearing a string quartet warming up. Right away I knew that this would be an interesting night of music.

The performance was a mix of Irish tradition, American folk imagery and ethereal sonic voyages. Fionn’s songs are beautifully written, his vocal range is haunting and the string and guitar arrangements are both delicate and intricate. At one point I fully expected the band to kick into some serious rock when Cindy took her place behind the drums. I confessed that sentiment to Fionn after the show saying how I embarrassingly didn’t know much about Cindy’s playing other than the stuff she’s done with Lenny Kravitz.

Fionn described her as an extremely intuitive, all-around percussionist. I made sure to tell him that I was in no way disappointed when the rock did not kick in. The subtle anchor from the drums and bass melded with the tapestry of voice and music leaving no one wanting for anything except perhaps for a longer set. Then again, isn’t it the point of all performances to leave the audience wanting more? Besides, Fionn reassured me that he and Cindy will be putting together a rockin’ project sometime in 2007.

Of all the moments that one could pick as stand-out, none did so more for me than Fionn’s chilling a cappella rendition of ‘War Pigs’. I told him how moved I was. He said his inspiration for the stark performance was the fact that so much music these days tends to be loud without actually saying anything.

The overall decision for tonight’s distinctive band lineup came from his desire to create something special for the release of his CD. And it was quite special, both visually and aurally. The talent of the players was undeniable and this was evident in their seemingly effortless camaraderie. This was an altogether enjoyable night.

With an extensive and successful career as a session player and producer under his belt, Fionn’s future solo endeavors look bright indeed. I am very glad I got the chance to meet him and those in this extraordinary band. Along with Fionn on Guitar, Mandola, Piano and Voice we were treated to:

Cindy Blackman – Drums
Orlando Le Flemming – Upright Bass
Natalie Haas – Cello
Brittany Haas – Fiddle
Caitlin Warbelow – Violin
Jacob Lawson – Violin
Darren Maloney – Banjo, Guitar

See Also:
Photo Gallery
Fionn O Lochlainn
Joe’s Pub
Organic Entertainment
Rockwood Music Hall


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