The Tooles on St. Patrick's Day

I've been playing various types of folk music most of my adult life, but found the most steady work playing Irish pub music. "Pub" music is an act that requires mastery of a wide range of standards, played up tempo and often with maximum camp, but which also allowed for individual style and expression. We are a three-piece band that produces a lot of sounds, brings plenty of Appalachia (I'm from Nashville, my fiddler is from southern Ohio and went to school in rural Kentucky) and solid American rock (guitarist from near Milwaukee) into our mix.

I took a break to finish my PhD and have my first kid, but I've been playing with Kurt since 1997 or so. It's been a good couple of decades. Amy joined us about 5 years ago and is the perfect third.

It's going to be a good day. You can find us at:

• Hillgrove Tap in Western Springs, IL, from 4-7. 
• Mrs. Murphy's Irish Pub and Bistro on the northside of Chicago.

Be safe, have fun, and we'll all stagger home in the morning.

Music in Oak Park - Connolly's Irish Pub, 12/3, 8-11

Tomorrow I'll have a gorgeous guest post on medieval c-sections (or not!), the New York Times, peer review, and the production.

Today - commerce and art! I have a band. We play rowdy Irish music. It's not the most sublime form of musical art in the world, but it is the most fun ever (for me! But people in the crowd seem to be having fun too).

On Saturday, December 3, 8-11 pm, we are playing our first show at Connolly's Irish Pub in Oak Park IL. It's a great new pub, lots of you live in the area, so please come out. And if you don't live in the area, please find local art/music to support somehow.

You can RSVP to the gig on Facebook or share the link with friends.

Image Description: A picture of the band with smoke effects in the background,
and details of the gig, already posted above.