Just kicking down the cobblestones
Simon and Garfunkel

Simon and Garfunkel’s concert in Central Park is one of those that made history. Hundreds of thousands of people saw it. So it’s not a miracle that even I know someone who did.

One of my favourite songs from it is New York, Another one is Feelin’ Groovy.

Slow down, you move too fastYou got to make the morning lastJust kicking down the cobblestonesLooking for fun and feeling groovyBa da-da da-da da-da, feeling groovy
 
I got no deeds to do, no promises to keepI’m dappled and drowsy and ready to sleepLet the morningtime drop all its petals on meLife, I love you, all is groovy

It was a week of feelin’ groovy. When you could forget about all the bad stuff, all the bad people, all the madness.

Starting off with a small but brilliant concert by one of Pädraig’s friend, perhaps the only full-time artist amongst them. With a friend she has formed the group Big Cosmic Telephone. They played in a cool venue, Ardgillan Castle, just north of Dublin. It was an absolutely beautiful morning of music in a gorgeous venue. Not many music groups can say of themselves that they ever played in a real castle.

We got the morning last, just kicking down the cobblestones. Looking for fun and felt groovy.

A few days later, we went to the Barn of Music in Rathcoole, County Wicklow, a recording venue run by Kevin. Like Swiss clockwork, very solid, warm, and homely. Kevin turned out to be a Swiss native.

Pádraig went there to work on film music with some of his friends.

Epic. So relaxed. Inspiring. Interesting. Fun. Friendly.

We got no serious deeds to do, no promises to keep. We made another morning last beautifully.

Then on Friday morning, we heard people on RTÉ talking about the 50th anniversary celebrations of Hotpress Magazine that night in the 3Arena – which should have been renamed The Point for the night.

I still don’t know how we managed to get tickets that morning. But we did!

As Hotpress say:

While trends and fads come and go, the communal pull of great music and genuine creativity have always transcended genre and generation – something that Hot Press not only recognised early on, but has continued to champion for the guts of 50 remarkable years.

It was a lineup like no other. The video below just shows a few of the incredibly talented contributors to this historic night: CLANNAD, GAVIN JAMES, VAN MORRISON, CRANBERRIES & DERMOT, and the BOOMTOWN RATS.

Perhaps the most memorable contributors of the night were those who were not there in person but in spirit. Among them, of course: Phil Lynott, Rory Gallagher, Sinéad O’Connor, Shane MacGowan. But above all: Dolores O’Riordan. Especially when the Cranberries performed her songs.

Another head hangs lowlyChild is slowly takenAnd the violence caused such silenceWho are we mistaken?

If you look closely, you can see Adam Clayton of U2 on the bass guitar supporting Bob playing The boys are back in town.

What a night.

Not Pádraig’s first in the Point, but, with a 1 am closing, most certainly his latest.

What a groovy week. Hip. Far out. Mind-blowing. Outta sight. Right on.

Got no deeds to do, no promises to keepI’m dappled and drowsy and ready to sleepLet the morningtime drop all its petals on meLife, I love you, all is groovy

Ba da-da da-da da-da, feeling groovy.