There was a time
The Jigsaw Jam
Angela Macari O’Looney
Dublin Folk/Trad/Country band The Jigsaw Jam have recently finished this enjoyable EP.
It’s a soothing combination of styles, with well blended vocals throughout each track.
Band members are Shane Davis – Vocals/Guitar, Grainne Noone – Fiddle/ Ukelele, Caroline O’Sullivan – Piano, Brenda Weir – Vocals/ Low Whistle and Aidan Smyth-Bass/Mandolin.
With a gently trickling acoustic guitar intro, Rosalee is performed by both Brenda and Shane, with sweet harmony lending volume. It begins slow but speeds up, with piano and fiddle gradually joining to build up to a pleasant crescendo of sound!
Catchy riffs and hooks are excellent on both keys and strings in this upbeat number which is truly captivating.
Rosebush is another wonderfully fast moving song. In the chorus, Brenda’s backing harmony echoes each line Shane sings. They blend their vocals for a catchy refrain.
Caroline’s piano features with big chords and wonderful riffs throughout the entire song, as do Grainne’s on fiddle. There’s a hustle and bustle feel to this number and the happy reel that brings it together is so cheerful, reflecting the lyrics; I own a Rose, I own an apple tree, I own a Rose, neat trimmed when it needs to be. It addresses how when the pressure is on, there are always things you can make happen, by just doing small tasks; Don’t you hate when people criticise, when your just livin’ from one day to the next? Aidan’s bass line frames this and each track beautifully. He also features on this number playing mandolin.
Those days is a softly sung number, with superb instrumental input. Bass lends depth to the scene, and memorable riffs and hooks on fiddle and acoustic guitar add to the mood.
Bedroom Light is a fun song and is done in duet style, reminding me a little of the type of songs The Beautiful South often produced. Light female vocals are offset perfectly by the deeper male tones and with the catchy melody line, you have a delicious combination!
It’s a love song, but with a humorous twist. There’s a fab choppy beat to it. Caroline’s Piano solo is very appealing and guitars and Ukulele also give it the perfect backdrop!
My favourite number on this EP has to be Winter Bones. It’s a three four country waltz, with a delightfully soothing melody line and mood. Brenda Weir features on this track both singing harmony and also on Low Whistle.
Fiddle is magical, as are the trickling piano riffs. Harmony is close for the chorus, as Shane’s delivery is emotional and the romantic lyrics gently unfurl.
I picture a cottage, candle light throwing flickering shapes on the window pane and when you look in, a couple are dancing. Dance with me tonight/ Flicker on, flicker on like a train at night.
The Jigsaw Jam got together in 2011, with their number gradually increasing until they found the sound they wanted.
The result is refreshing and exciting. They have had great success to date with promoting their EP, having had airplay on the Ian Dempsey Breakfast show, RTE’s 2XM in colour show, and recently the band were interviewed on Radio na Life and Shannonside FM.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Pink Balloons
Pink Balloons
By Angela Macari O’Looney
There is nothing as encouraging to make me get out and walk five kilometres on an autumn morning, as a cheerful group of People, the majority being women, gathered together for a common cause.
I arrived at the Pheonix Park having been driven there by my husband, and after ten to fifteen minutes walking along an enormous avenue, realised I must be going the wrong way.
A car stopped and a woman opened the window to ask did I know where the Marie Keating foundation Walk 4 Life event was taking place. I explained I was going there too, but was told it was only fifteen minutes from the Park Gates.
She asked would I like a lift, so I jumped into the already crowded Micra and we headed on.
Not much further, we discovered where all the action was. I was in plenty of time to register for my t-shirt. Joining a queue, I noticed everyone holding pink balloons and asked what they were for. A gentleman handing them out told me you took a balloon, wrote a name or names of loved ones who had died or were affected by Cancer, to be later released into the air in a gesture to honour their memory.
I put my t-shirt over the top I was wearing and wrote my sisters name ‘Rose’on the pink balloon. She is only one of many people I knew who lost the fight, however, I felt it to be a lovely idea that when the walk was declared officially open by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, we each had to do a count down and then let the balloons go.
My favourite radio station Q102 was there to mark the event and play lots of upbeat music. Also, The Lucan Gospel Choir performed some amazing songs from their repertoire to get the Walk 4 Life into full swing.
There was a fantastic buzz in the air and it was fun observing the vast variety of people, who were there to walk the 5k. This included families, groups of women, girls on their own like me and even the odd person walking their mutt, who was also dressed in his/her Walk for Life outfit! Balloons hung from buggies with babies in them and I just loved being there and being a part of it all!
A little after 10.30a.m., the Lord Mayor blew on a hunt style horn and there was a countdown of five, four, three, two one. We all let go our balloons and just like in the 99 Red Balloon song, hundreds of Pink balloons rose up into the Grey blue Dublin sky, like a mass of pink angels, disappearing over the tops of the trees. We set off from the start point and I felt a tiny pull on my heart strings as I watched my balloon fade with the others. Although I had come to the event alone, I found myself chatting with other people throughout the morning.
The beautiful scenery took my breath away and I felt alive. It got a little difficult after the second kilometre. However, water was available at stations along the route and it wasn’t long before the finish came into sight and with it, the sound of Q102 playing suitable music for a celebration.
I asked a girl from the radio station if I could get Rose’s favourite song played later that day. Usually they don’t take requests from their on-location kiosks. However, she asked me to write the details and she’d see what she could do.
I asked for my late sister’s favourite song which is Anne Murray’s ‘You needed me’. She promised it would be played after 1p.m. that afternoon.
It was a nice finale to a brilliant morning, and I got a goody bag full of Go Ahead biscuits and other treats from the sponsors of the Walk 4 Life.
It was my first time taking part, but definitely won’t be my last!
By Angela Macari O’Looney
There is nothing as encouraging to make me get out and walk five kilometres on an autumn morning, as a cheerful group of People, the majority being women, gathered together for a common cause.
I arrived at the Pheonix Park having been driven there by my husband, and after ten to fifteen minutes walking along an enormous avenue, realised I must be going the wrong way.
A car stopped and a woman opened the window to ask did I know where the Marie Keating foundation Walk 4 Life event was taking place. I explained I was going there too, but was told it was only fifteen minutes from the Park Gates.
She asked would I like a lift, so I jumped into the already crowded Micra and we headed on.
Not much further, we discovered where all the action was. I was in plenty of time to register for my t-shirt. Joining a queue, I noticed everyone holding pink balloons and asked what they were for. A gentleman handing them out told me you took a balloon, wrote a name or names of loved ones who had died or were affected by Cancer, to be later released into the air in a gesture to honour their memory.
I put my t-shirt over the top I was wearing and wrote my sisters name ‘Rose’on the pink balloon. She is only one of many people I knew who lost the fight, however, I felt it to be a lovely idea that when the walk was declared officially open by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, we each had to do a count down and then let the balloons go.
My favourite radio station Q102 was there to mark the event and play lots of upbeat music. Also, The Lucan Gospel Choir performed some amazing songs from their repertoire to get the Walk 4 Life into full swing.
There was a fantastic buzz in the air and it was fun observing the vast variety of people, who were there to walk the 5k. This included families, groups of women, girls on their own like me and even the odd person walking their mutt, who was also dressed in his/her Walk for Life outfit! Balloons hung from buggies with babies in them and I just loved being there and being a part of it all!
A little after 10.30a.m., the Lord Mayor blew on a hunt style horn and there was a countdown of five, four, three, two one. We all let go our balloons and just like in the 99 Red Balloon song, hundreds of Pink balloons rose up into the Grey blue Dublin sky, like a mass of pink angels, disappearing over the tops of the trees. We set off from the start point and I felt a tiny pull on my heart strings as I watched my balloon fade with the others. Although I had come to the event alone, I found myself chatting with other people throughout the morning.
The beautiful scenery took my breath away and I felt alive. It got a little difficult after the second kilometre. However, water was available at stations along the route and it wasn’t long before the finish came into sight and with it, the sound of Q102 playing suitable music for a celebration.
I asked a girl from the radio station if I could get Rose’s favourite song played later that day. Usually they don’t take requests from their on-location kiosks. However, she asked me to write the details and she’d see what she could do.
I asked for my late sister’s favourite song which is Anne Murray’s ‘You needed me’. She promised it would be played after 1p.m. that afternoon.
It was a nice finale to a brilliant morning, and I got a goody bag full of Go Ahead biscuits and other treats from the sponsors of the Walk 4 Life.
It was my first time taking part, but definitely won’t be my last!
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