January 7, 2015 by Ryan

Noonday Feast’s Irish Inspired Album – Waves and Tides

Hello all 8-string lovers:

2014 was a sparse year for blog posts, but for good reason. We’ve been busy. Our band Noonday Feast has been working weekends on its first album, while also playing gigs to fund the studio! As of Winter Solstice 2014, it is complete and available. We call it Waves and Tides. Here are a few clips from the album. See the video below.

Although, we are working on new material and will probably go back into the studio soon, to begin work on Noonday Feast II, I intend on posting more of my favorite mandolin tab Irish Tunes, I’ve been working on. Keep your eyes open.

Enjoy the album. You can buy it through this link.

Buy “Waves and Tides” by Noonday Feast

All of the tunes are original except for two. We are far from traditionalists, but see tradition as a foundation for exploration. You will easily be able to hear my love of Irish Music in these works, but you will also get a taste of folk, and at least one electric guitar solo.

This album is mandolin, octave mandolin, fiddle and bouzouki heavy.

November 23, 2013 by Ryan

A Jig and A Reel on Youtube

More than two months later, I still haven’t posted those recordings I thought I’d get around too. Work has been particularly busy. However, I needed a break and I needed to play some more mandolin. I got the idea to record some tunes from the Asheville Celtic Mandolin Collection song book.

Here you will find, The Maple Leaf and Banish Misfortune.

I realize I’ve recorded Banish Misfortune before on this YouTube channel, but it was worth redoing.

As always, both of these tunes were recorded with a metronome.

August 9, 2013 by Ryan

Jaquelyn’s First, Roscommon Reel & Dunford’s Fancy

Haven’t yet had a chance to post the previous sets mentioned. Yet, yesterday morning a particular mood came over me and I made a recording of Jacquelyn’s First, a single reel, and Roscommon Reel. I also found the time to tab out Dunford’s Fancy, a tune by the Waterboys.

Here is the mandolin (tab) tablature and sheet music for the above mentioned tunes.

Dunford’s Fancy Mandolin Tab

Jacquelyn’s First Mandolin Tab

Roscommon Reel

Here is the recording of Jacquelyn’s First and the Roscommon Reel.

PS- You’ll notice on the tab for Jacquelyn’s First, it says “capo 1st fret”. I started playing it a half a step higher at first on the octave mandolin.

O’Keefe’s Strawberry Slide Irish Fiddle Tune

This weekend, I was left alone. With nothing to do and no one around, I decided to spend the weekend with my octave mandolin. Originally I set out to make a little recording of O’Keefe’s Slide with some non-standard back up chords. However, the recording just kept going…and going…and going.

Here’s something I call O’Keefe’s Strawberry Slide.

Enjoy!

Next up:

I found some old recordings of a practice D. Murray and W. Byers and myself preparing for the AB-Tech Benefit Gig the first year we were asked to play.

I’ll be posting two sets. Out of the Ocean/Morrison’s/Mug of Brown Ale and Garret Barry’s/Hag at the Churn/Rose in the Heather.

July 4, 2013 by Ryan

New Fellenbaum Octave Mandolin #22

I’m happy to say, that I’ve recently acquired a Fellenbaum octave mandolin made by Tom Fellenbaum, owner of Acoustic Corner in Black Mountain, NC.

Fellenbaum Octave Mandolin #22. Spruce and Cherry. 21 3/4 scale length.

Four years ago I contacted Tom about building an octave mandolin. We talked about it briefly, but then I didn’t have the funds at the time to pull the trigger. Turns out, that at the same time I was talking to him, another fellow was too. He even wanted the same scale length and wood choices. So Tom went ahead and cut out the top, neck, back and sides for two octave mandolins. He build the mandolin for the other guy, and had the pieces of the second mandolin hanging around his shop.

Fast forward to two months ago. I contacted Tom again. My work is going well, and I had some extra funds. He said, all I have to do is put it (the pieces) together!

I picked it up yesterday and couldn’t be happier. It’s got a rich tone and good volume. The scale length 21 3/4 is perfect for me. It allows me to play chords when I don’t know the tune, and play the melody easy enough when I do. Here is a quick sound clip, playing the Far Away Waltz and the Ten Penny Bit.

Tom is a fantastic, professional and timely builder/artist. The instrument was done a few days before the estimated completion, and the fit and finish are gorgeous.

Glad I got her before his wait list exploded!

March 28, 2012 by Ryan

Old Bush/Wise Maid Celtic Irish Reels on Mandolin

Last night, the wife decided to go to the gym. I was home alone, and I had no more work to do, so thought I’d finally learn these tunes completely. I found the best way to do it, is to make a recording, with melody, chords and a metronome.

Here’s the sheet music or tablature.

(Ye) Old Bush

The Wise Maid

Here’s the recording.

February 4, 2012 by Ryan

Battle of Evermore, Performed at Firestorm Cafe, Asheville NC for 2012 Imbolc

The Battle of Evermore, was originally composed by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin. Sandy Denny was the only performer to ever perform on a Led Zeppelin Album. She sang in this duet.

The arrangement in this video, is not the same as Led Zeppelin’s. For one, we only have one singer, Linda Go. Second the original was recorded a step lower. The main chord pattern I use is Am to G, then Am to D. The chorus is still D. The third part, is C to G, and then G7 to C. The original version is a bit different. You can find the mandolin tab for the original on the tab section of this blog. And right here…

The Battle of Evermore

January 31, 2012 by Ryan

Jack of The Wood Asheville NC Sunday Session

A videographer showed up on Sunday and decided he wanted to record some tunes. He happened to get a recording of Dinny O’brien’s and Islay Ranter’s Reel from the earlier session, and a song from the later session.

Notice the lighting. We did happen to have a number of mandolin family instruments at the first session. Most of which were playing during those tunes.