Smart Like Tractor

An Nuacht: August 2012 (Part 2)

Last Call!

The time has come. The album's just about ready, and so I'm setting a deadline for the end of my MickStarter campaign. This will be your very last chance to get listed as a Executive Producer in the CD or order the special Sponsor's Edition (more about this below).

I promised that this would be done this summer, so we're going to wrap it all up on September 2, which here in the U.S. is Labor Day and the unoffical end of summer. I think that should leave enough time to get physical CDs into everyone's hands before the official end of summer on September 21.

While I still encourage you to take a look at all the cool options toward the bottom of the list (house concerts, handwritten lyric books, etc.), most of my supporters so far have opted for just one of four support levels.

So I thought I'd bottom-line it for you, into one-click shopping. Once again, please note that you do not need a PayPal account to pay with a credit card. Just look for the words "Don't Have a PayPal Account?"

Step right up!

For $100, be an Executive Producer. Your name will appear as an Executive Producer in every edition of the CD (unless you prefer to be anonymous), and you'll get one of the ultra-rare Sponsor's Editions.	Executive Producer:
For $50, be a Sponsor. You'll get one of the ultra-rare Sponsor's Editions, which will be numbered and signed, with a bonus track. How rare is "ultra-rare"? We will only manufacture one for you if you ask by September 2, 2012! Yours could be one of 1,000 in the world, or one of 10; I don't know yet. No more will be made; there will be no extras "just in case." Twenty years from now, your signed and numbered copy will still be one of 1,000, or one of 10.	Sponsor:
For $25, preorder a copy of the Collector's Edition. There will be only 100 of these made; each will be numbered and signed.	Collector's Edition:
For $15, preorder a copy of the Standard Edition.	Standard Edition:

Questions? Problems? Reply to this email or visit ChanceOfAStart.com, where you'll find free sample tracks and a video that explains everything.

Remember: On September 2, we hitch up the donkey and cart and skedaddle off to the CD manufacturing plant. Don't put it off!

*

Thanks as always for being on my mailing list; I know how much email we all get, so I'm grateful for the opportunity to stay in touch like this.

Till September, slán agat.

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CDs and Downloads

All of my stuff, new and old, solo and collaborations, is available for purchase at all performances or online. Remember: Members of my mailing list get a 20% discount on everything I have for sale online at Bandcamp. Join the mailing list to find out how.

	CHANCE OF A START: Coming Soon!
	AMERICAN WAKE: http://www.AmericanWake.com
	NEAT LITTLE STILL (Bootlegs; an album-in-progress)*: http://www.NeatLittleStill.com
	SÉ GO DÓ (fundraiser for HMA)*: http://patrickclifford.bandcamp.com/album/s-go-d
	LO, ABOVE THE EARTH (Christmas Songs; an album-in-progress)*: http://patrickclifford.bandcamp.com/album/lo-above-the-earth
	TO THE FRAY (by Hobnail): http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/hobnail
	ANOTHER SON (by Four to the Bar): http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/4tothebar
	CRAIC ON THE ROAD* (by Four to the Bar): http://4tothebar.bandcamp.com/album/craic-on-the-road

* Digital only

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Image source(s): ChanceOfAStart.com, and as noted in metadata.
Except where noted, all images are licensed via Creative Commons (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).

An Nuacht: August 2012 (Part 1)

Wherever I Rome...

First off, a massive go raith maith agaibh (thank you) to everyone who's preordered Chance of a Start, or otherwise supported my MickStarter campaign.

Now, I'll admit that the ancient Romans had their flaws, but they were great craic altogether if you got them on a good day-- after the hay was all in and the rain had passed, like. Anyway, Cicero and the lads used to say bis das, si cito das, or "You give twice, if you give quickly."

I thought of them as I pondered my MickStarter campaign, and I'm wondering whether I was clear enough on one important point:

If you're planning to buy the album when it comes out anyway, you'll be doing me a huge favor by buying it early.

Advance sales give me a better sense of how many CDs to manufacture, and will give me a budget to work with, to make the music even better. Click on this image to help, or to learn more. [Newsletter continues below.]

The Morning Sun

Speaking of the new album, here's the third and final free pre-release track, entitled "The Morning Sun." This one's an original, and features a band big enough to make Lynyrd Skynyrd envious. Looking forward to hearing what you think.
Click here to listen and download for free.

Chance of a Review?

Still speaking of the new album, I'm starting to receive requests from DJs and reviewers for copies of Chance of a Start, as soon as it's ready. If you're either, or if you know anyone who is either, please let me know right away and we'll get you on the first-shipping list.

Finally...

• Don't forget that I'm hosting Celtic Sunday Brunch this Sunday, August 5. Be sure to tune in, on the air or on the web.
• Thanks to everyone who came out to Hunterdon Central High School for the relocated Music Under the Stars concert-- and to the hardest working act in showbiz (sorry, E Street Band, you've been kind of phoning it in lately): Jim Clare, Wolf Hul, Ed Hummel, Judy Minot, and Linda Zdepski. It was a great night, and you'll be hearing more about it soon.

Keep reading for:

• New Video
• New Music
• New Writing
• New Radio Shows
• Events
• House Concerts

New Video

Chance of a Start: The MickStarter Campaign I'm asking for your help in funding the completion of my new album, Chance of a Start, to be released in Summer 2012. This video presents the project and the various rewards available in exchange for your support.

More at my YouTube channel: youtube.PatrickClifford.com

New Music

	The Morning Sun: All you know is that you don’t want to know....
	The Galtee Mountain Boy: I joined the flying column in 1916....
	The Ferryman: The River Liffey made a man of me....

More at my Bandcamp page: bandcamp.PatrickClifford.com

New Writing

	The Morning Sun: I was convinced that I had placed my fragile artwork in the hands of a madman or vandal.... Read more
	The Galtee Mountain Boy: The best history includes more than just the winners' side of the story.... Read more
	The Ferryman: When life sets us back on our heels, there's no better cure than to remind ourselves where the right foot and the left foot go.... Read more

More at my blog, Smart Like Tractor: blog.PatrickClifford.com

New Radio Shows

	Celtic Sunday Brunch, July 29, 2012: Set 1: Dylan Foley, Washington Square Harp and Shamrock Orchestra, Brian Conway, John Whalen, Jameson's Revenge... Read more
	Celtic Sunday Brunch, July 29, 2012: Set 2: Four to the Bar, Comas, Altan, Patrick Clifford and Friends, Lunasa... Read more
	Celtic Sunday Brunch, July 29, 2012: Set 3: Dolores Keane, Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem... Read more
	Celtic Sunday Brunch, July 29, 2012: Set 4: Old Blind Dogs, Solas, Kips Bay Ceili Band... Read more

More at my blog, Smart Like Tractor: blog.patrickclifford.com/radio-shows/

Events

Current info on all scheduled events is always available, as a list: events.PatrickClifford.com (Facebook users only, it seems) and as a calendar: calendar.PatrickClifford.com

Celtic Sunday Brunch is a two-hour radio program that broadcasts every Sunday from 11am to 1pm ET (GMT -5), on the air at 89.7 FM and streaming live at wdvrfm.org. I host the first show of every month (and the fifth, when the calendar falls that way). I keep Facebook and Twitter open during the show; feel free to send thoughts and requests! Next shows: Sunday, August 5, 11am: Full info... Sunday, September 2, 11am: Full info...

Fundraiser: Irish Music Seisiun at the Red Mill in Clinton NJ: Free entrance to Museum members, musicians and their families, regular museum admission for all other visitors: adults $8, seniors $6, children $5, under 12 free. Sunday, August 19 · 1:00pm: Full info...

Seisiuns

I do my best to attend these, but you'll have a great time regardless.

Frenchtown NJ: Second and Fourth Sundays at the River Blue Cafe, 1pm to 4pm.

Lambertville NJ: First and Third Wednesdays at Mitchell's Cafe, 8:30pm to 11pm+

Remember: Cancellations happen—please check in before heading out!

House (or Yard, or Deck, etc.) Concerts

Summer's a-wasting! The Chance of a Start sponsorship options include three types of house concert:

• Big and loud,
• Small and unplugged, or
• Online

Read more at the Chance of a Start sponsorship page.

*

Thanks as always for being on my mailing list; I know how much email we all get, so I'm grateful for the opportunity to stay in touch like this.

Till mid-August, slán agat.

---

CDs and Downloads

All of my stuff, new and old, solo and collaborations, is available for purchase at all performances or online. Remember: Members of my mailing list get a 20% discount on everything I have for sale online at Bandcamp. Join the mailing list to find out how.

	CHANCE OF A START: Coming Soon!
	AMERICAN WAKE: http://www.AmericanWake.com
	NEAT LITTLE STILL (Bootlegs; an album-in-progress)*: http://www.NeatLittleStill.com
	SÉ GO DÓ (fundraiser for HMA)*: http://patrickclifford.bandcamp.com/album/s-go-d
	LO, ABOVE THE EARTH (Christmas Songs; an album-in-progress)*: http://patrickclifford.bandcamp.com/album/lo-above-the-earth
	TO THE FRAY (by Hobnail): http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/hobnail
	ANOTHER SON (by Four to the Bar): http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/4tothebar
	CRAIC ON THE ROAD* (by Four to the Bar): http://4tothebar.bandcamp.com/album/craic-on-the-road

* Digital only

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Image source(s): ChanceOfAStart.com, and as noted in metadata.
Except where noted, all images are licensed via Creative Commons (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).

The Morning Sun

I wrote "The Morning Sun" almost 20 years ago, to be part of an album that would eventually become Four to the Bar's Another Son. I suppose we'll tell that long tortured story at some point, but for the moment suffice to say that the project changed direction and "The Morning Sun" didn't fit into the shape that Another Son finally took.

If memory serves, my original demo was kind of bluesy and despondent (as are the lyrics, if you read them in isolation). When I played it for Martin Kelleher, Four to the Bar's guitarist, he said he liked it, and suggested that we do another demo.

Now, at the time, Martin was intensely studying the five-string banjo, working on his picking and rolling during all available lunch hours and coffee breaks, and (as I remember it) availing of every rest between every set at every gig to perfect tunes like "The Orange Blossom Special" and "Foggy Mountain Breakdown."

You know how they say that to a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail? There must be a similar rule of thumb for banjo players-- because when I pressed the record button, I heard Martin play "The Morning Sun" as a bluegrass raveup, on his banjo. I must have backed slowly towards the door, convinced that I had placed my fragile artwork in the hands of a madman or vandal.

But I held my breath and we finished the rest of the demo, and that evening we brought the cassette up to Peggy Gordon's in Woodside (in Queens NY), and played it for the after-work regulars, on a boombox behind the bar. They went nuts for it, and I knew right then that we'd found the right setting for the song. (It's also worth mentioning that Martin later suggested that great melody that I continue to use for the instrumental breaks.)

Over the years, I've found that one of the things that I like most about "The Morning Sun" is the disparity between the upbeat delivery and the dour lyrics. It gives the song as a whole a different "meaning" than the words alone, and maybe even puts it in a class with "With or Without You," "Born in the U.S.A.," and "Every Breath You Take," which all have arrangements and deliveries that belie their dark subject matter.

The lyrics:

Rent’s late again, skies are all gray
You wish you could be 100 miles away
If you only had the money you would go
She’s complaining again, about this, that, and drinking
“Don’t you know, can’t you see, how low you’ve been sinking?”
All you know is that you don’t want to know
All the dreams you had last night are all gone
Scattered like moonlight with the morning sun

You hear the wind whisper as it blows where it will
And the rain tapping on the bar windowsill
You sit there waiting for some kind of sign
Close your eyes, remember old times and old places
All names forgotten, but you still see the faces
Till you’re brought back to New York by the passing subway line
All the dreams you had last night are all gone
Scattered like moonlight with the morning sun

You're starting to feel the sharp pinch of hope
But the end of your money and the end of your rope
Are all that’s ever left to you at the end of the day
Pick up the receiver, listen to the tone
Try to remember her number and how to dial a phone
Try to remember what you meant to say
All the dreams you had last night are all gone
Shattered like moonlight with the morning sun
And all the things she said still cut to the bone
But fade into the distance, like the last train going home

((c) 1994, 2012 Patrick Clifford (ASCAP)/The Irish Side LLC (ASCAP))

Assisting me on this recording, the third release from Chance of a Start, an album that I'm currently wrapping up:

• Randy Decker: percussion and vocals
• Marty Guilfoyle: accordion
• Wolf Hul: fiddle
• Ed Hummel: fiddle
• Martin Kelleher: vocals
• Dan O'Dea: mandolin
• David Yeates: vocals

"The Morning Sun" is available for a limited time, as a free download.

While the suggested price is $0, financial support is always welcome.

And, if you'd like to be a real hero, please visit ChanceOfAStart.com and help fund the completion of the album.