It’s been a while since the last post, because I’ve been so busy with
the other bands that I have neglected Another Pint for too long.
I’ve been performing in Irish Pubs for so long that I had forgotten the
difference in American Irish Pubs and traditional American bars.
This winter, we have really scaled back the American Irish Pubs that we
perform at and have concentrated on the other bands a little more.
Because of that, I’ve really come to notice that American Irish Pubs are
really the last place in America that you can be an anti-Irish bigot and
be paid for it, applauded and told to keep up the good work.
Before you give a knee-jerk reaction, consider the evidence. I took off
a weekend and decided to check out some local American Irish Pubs to get
ideas for new songs, arrangements, etc. What I found were a long list of
Irish American performers that put on a fake brogue, say ‘Top of the
mornin’ to ya’, ‘Oh Mary, Motherah of Jeesass’ and sing such drivel as
‘When Irish Eyes are Smiling’, ‘Toor a Loor a Loorah’ and ‘Danny Boy’.
Why is ‘Danny Boy’ listed with the other two? Because ‘Danny Boy’ has
become the equivalent of saying ‘there’s a stupid bog-trotting Mick.’ It
has become the anthem of those that make money off of making fun of the
Irish and those of Irish decent.
There is a particular place that we’ve performed at on a number of
occasions that we will never go back to. It is actually owned by
Irish-Americans. They were born, raised and emigrated from Ireland and
built a beautiful place. The problem is that they want everyone to say
‘Top of the mornin’ to ya’, ‘Oh Mary, Motherah of Jeesass’ and other
racist stereotypical things that should make everyone uncomfortable. The
last night we performed there I told them that I couldn’t in good
conscience come back. When I explained the reason why the Irish owner
actually said to me: ‘This is what the customers expect.’ If we all took
that attitude we would still see people performing in black-face.
To make a point he introduced me to a woman who frequents the
establishment on a regular basis. She actually said, ‘My husband and I
love the Irish, they are such simple people with quaint traditions and
the dancers are so colorful.’ The sad part was that her husband smiled
and his name was very, very, very Irish- almost comically so.
What I can’t believe is the number of bands that actually perform that
way for the place and carry the shtick with them to other places. Some
of them I actually call friends and perform all over the place. I don’t
understand because I have too much pride in my heritage to prostitute
myself for a buck.
On a final note, it did end in a way Hollywood movies love to do. As I
was packing up, I was called over to a table of 30 people who stayed for
the whole performance. They invited the band over and said that it was
so refreshing to come into that place and not have to wince every time
the singer started talking in a fake accent. The leader of the little
group called one of the owners over and said ‘Why don’t you have these
guys more often. They don’t insult us with all that Fake Irish
bullshit?’
The owner looked at me and I said to the leader, ‘But that’s what the
customers expect.’
I am sure we have all had those experiences, but just remember that you
are not alone!
Till then, make em entertain you.
Kelly
