Sunday Tribune May 28th - Geoff Wallis who has written the 2006 The Rough
Guide to Ireland has written his 50 Irish delights about the country, alongside,
the smell of a turf fire, sausages and champ and Flann O'Brien, he sites
Pierce as: Pierce Turner -
Christy Moore had it exactly right "I love the way Pierce Turner sings." Why
this Wexford- born, seemingly undiscovered genius of a songwriter receives
less press attention in Ireland than a dog show at the RDS is utterly beyond me.
Geoff Walllis The Rough Guide to Ireland 2006
TURNER, THE "BOY" GENIUS
By Pius Meagher
I wonder have any of you out there ever felt really sorry for a multitude of people all at
once? Well I felt like Gandhi last Friday night in Cleeres when I witnessed one of the
best shows I've ever seen; so sorry did I feel for the umpteen thousand blind apostles in
Croke park listening to little motormouth Bon Bon preach his tiny mind out, backed by
the Blunt, Barry and Drum Drum. The real gig was in Kilkenny this night (Friday last),
and we had a real genius: Pierce Turner. He doesn't patronize his fans with misguided
information, nor does he leave politics ruin his wonderful music; and, you suspect, that if
he had millions of bucks, in the bank he'd put his money where his mouth is and not be a
cod messiah.
Beginning on his own with his trusty keyboard, he sang the title track to his
new album, and what a euphoric beginning: "This is my song for the year, and I am the
boy to be with." The song is about how certain birds try to win their mates by singing
the sweetest song, he says "the better the song, the better the quality of bird" before he
gave us an example of how it sometimes applies to humans in his hilarious Tommy
Cooper-ish amazement: "I mean look at Julia Roberts and your man, Lyle
Lovett- Jaysus!" Anyway, the songs did the most important talking of the night, he
played more of the new stuff while still playing material from 3 Minute World (I think he
feels he's not totally finished touring it yet).
The songs are masterpieces; rich, layered tapestries that are so sweet and tragic that your heart literally moves from it's place. After
The Bright and The Early he picks up the guitar and is joined by the lovely Katie
O'Connor on violin: The Sky and The Ground, Zero Here, and the DIY classic, Mayhem
which thumped like an industrial festival. He is a musical GENIUS (I use that word very
sparingly as its often misguided and overused). He is our BRIAN WILSON (I use that
name hardly ever, but he's in the same league). After his brilliant new single, Jazz came
Mannana In Manhattan and an hour-and-a-half was gone in what seemed like mere
seconds - yes, time does fly when you're having fun. But we wouldn't let him get away
that quick and he returned with the Ballad of Rory Gallagher and arguably the most hair-
raising song ever, Wicklow Hills with its yearning call for isolation, begging to hide one's
face away when something big falls apart: " Tell everybody I'm gone away for ten
years" he sings, and you hope he never takes his own classic literally. This was the gig
of the year. We hope he won't take so long to return to Kilkenny next time. We are blessed to have this national treasure.
Joe's Pub
A breathtaking and wonderful performance, featuring Pierce in great voice, a three-piece electric backing band, and the surprise appearance of Fred Parcells.
Joe's Pub has a terrific sound system, and it really shined during the full band songs, particularly in Snakes & Ladders and Wicklow Hills where a lesser system might have distorted.
Highlights for me included a solo-at-piano Thunderstorm, and Mr. Smith in its original rock-band arrangement.
The place was packed, the positive energy was so thick you could cut it with a knife, and Pierce gave a show for the ages. What a night!
- Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2004 Post subject: Pierce at Joe's Pub (Public Theatre) NYC, 2004-10-30
"I was so busy complaining that you don't play in New York enough I think I
forgot to mention how great the Joe's Pub gig was. The new songs were beautiful
and the new arrangement on Animal made it even more hee-larious. So when did
you say the next is show gonna be?"
-Jaimee Nov 01, 2004
The Dublin Gig
Pierce returned to his, by now, spiritual home in Dublin, Whelans, and proceeded to tear the roof off the place. The "best fucking audience in the
world" he said last night and nobody could argue with that. Despite a quite
substantial volume in the venue it was becoming difficult to hear him over
the massed chorus. Was there anybody there last night that did not know
*all* the words to the songs?
I have always wondered what makes a Pierce show so unique and it was
evidenced last night when you looked at all the faces (which could be seen
clearly in the way the venue was lit), everybody had a huge grin on their
face. Certainly a lot to enjoy with a few classic Pierceisms - especially
the one about it being raining in the "Sunny South-East" for the past 3
months and that people who had put out their washing to dry were unable to
get back out to take it in - so long it had been that one person recently
found a birds nest in their underwear. Also lots of dancing - which led to
more than a few clicks in the PA because of his radio mike "gadget" getting a
bit of a hammering.
On at 9.30 or thereabouts and gave a superb set. Snazzy new jacket which had
been designed for him (and the designer was in the audience, too). I
wouldn't quite say he is a poser but he certainly enjoyed modelling the
jacket for us - more than once, too. A few changes in the quartet since I
saw them in Wexford at Christmas but a fine performance from everyone -
especially Emer on Cello who, we were told, had her car stolen earlier in the
evening.
The setlist ran something like the following. I am not certain of the order
of the encores but this is close. Only significant omission was that we did
not get Musha and that meant that Pierce finally left the stage to rousing
chants of "Animal." Looked to me like the venue wanted to close him down
Pre-arrival introduction was Divinity
1. You can never know/Faith - great strong opening and an almighty chorus for
Faith"
2. Oh Ireland
3. More
4. Busy Man
5. Manana in Manhatten
6. Sunday
7. Thunderstorm
8. All Messed Up
- great attention from the noisy crowd for this one.
9. Say You Don't Mind
10. 3 Minute World
11. Snakes and Ladders
12. Don't want her to feel that way
13. A life in the day
(great, great, great version with all the usual
theatrics and the "sleep" at the end)
14. Moonbeam Josephine
15. Dirty Old Town
(a nice surprise - close to the MIM version)
16. Wicklow Hills
Encores:
17. Orange Coloured Sun
(superb solo acoustic version - even more restrained
than usual)
18. Lithium
(my ears are still ringing from the massed chorus)
19. One Minute More
20. Big, Big Bruise
(solo and appeared to be played due to popular demand)
21. Band of Gold
(come on Pierce, when are we going to get a live recorded
version of this complete with the "rap"? A new "Saturday Night Yap") There
were numerous requests for this one too.
In attendance and namechecked by Pierce was Brian Kerr, Ireland's new soccer
manager. He was interviewed recently in an Irish newspaper and, when asked
his favourite musician, he replied that it was the "madman from Wexford."
I went along with two music fans who I introduced to Pierce's music last
year. Their first time seeing him live and were they impressed or what?
Citing S?an ? Riada on the way home, they said he was one very identifiable
influence.
I only wish that I could make it back down home to the Peoples Republic of
Cork for next Thursday's gig. First appearance in the Peoples Republic since
October '01 (?) in the Lobby with Vicky Clancy - and that was one of the most
enjoyable ever. Some of the citizens can't wait, I hear.
A very satisfying night for artist and crowd, it seemed. Hope we get to see
him again before he heads back home soon.
A review of Pierce's Whelans - Dublin gig on Sat. 22nd Feb. from a Corkman in exile lving in Blackrock, Co. Dublin.
Denis Healy.
