By Shellie Sands
On Thursday, 1 July, I visited my friend Sternchen's place, The Old Barn in Metropolis Unknown, to check out a performer I had not yet heard. The first attraction was Deadeye "DE" Foggarty, a surprising, versatile talent, who loves a good story song and is equally at home with tales from either the darker side of life or the lighter side of things. Deadeye Foggarty is a songwriter who brings an eclectic blend of acoustic music to the stage. His performances feature offerings from traditional folk and roots music to the work of contemporary singer/songwriters in addition to his own original compositions. Currently living in Minneapolis, DeadEye first started playing guitar and keyboards in high school, and did gigs in assorted R&B bands, as well as the Wisconsin-based music duo "Woodenships." I was impressed with his pleasing, soft voice as he sang through gentle ballads with his acoustic guitar beautifully pouring out sound in accompaniment. DE's repertoire typically includes the work of such diverse performers as the Carter Family, Townes Van Zandt, and Tom Waits. His all-acoustic set showcased his warm, soft and sweet voice like a gentle lullaby. On this particular day, his performance included one of his original tunes, "Waitin' Around for Better Days," a song about hope and keeping the faith; Emerson, Lake & Palmer's "Lucky Man" and the classic "Over the Rainbow" (beautifully done). He closed with Jackson Browne's well known "Rock Me on the Water." I look forward to attending another one his performers again soon.
Following Deadeye was Mash Rhode, an Irish blues singer who hails from Dublin. He has earned the monicker "The Badboy of Ballads," and, according to his profile, he is a "Drinker with a guitar playing problem." Mash plays an accoutic set and he did a
Fabulous rendition of Gordon Lightfoot's "The Edmund Fitzgerald," a song I have loved for millenia. He sings passionately and has the most charming accent. Multi-talented, Mash is also a watercolor artist in real life and his paintings can be seen at the Limerick Art Museum in County Limerick, Ireland. A review I read of the musuem had the following quote, "This art museum has many paintings one on top of another all in one room by Ireland's leading nineteenth and twentieth century painters..."--sounds quaint. If you find yourself in Limerick ever, check out the museum. In addition to The Old Bar, you can fine Mash performing at Mash's Rhodehouse, Buddys Bar, Guthries, Blue Moon, and every Saturday morning at Cuddlers Cove. To join his group, you can send him an IM and become one of Mash's Rhodies.
Deadeye and Mash can be found at The Old Barn every Thursday.
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