John Spillane returns to Kilworth
Cork’s own ‘Wandering Minstrel’, John Spillane, made a welcome return to Kilworth last Saturday night. Heretofore, the stop-off point would have been The Village Arts Centre, however, it didn’t inconvenience anyone that John relocated to Kilworth Community Centre for another well received concert.
“I always associate my visits to Kilworth with darkness, not in a melancholy way, but because of the time of year, I’ve always enjoyed performing here,” he told patrons.
WIDELY TRAVELLED HOME BIRD
For a self confessed parochial performer, John Spillane has racked up countless miles on the road and in the sky. Listening to him last weekend, I’d almost forgotten about his ‘Spillane An Fanai’ (Spillane The Rambler) TG4 series - an interesting concept that sees John turn up in pubs around Ireland for impromptu performances - in so far as ‘impromptu performances’ can be arranged for recorded television programmes.
At any rate, the series was a perfect fit for John, whose musical modus operandi has been to write songs about locations he visits.
“I must have written hundreds at this stage, it appeals to me,” he says. Kilworth, Bartlemy, Galty Mor, Aherlow and Mulberry (Michelstown) were all name checked on Saturday night - as was the name and address of the ‘Mindful Farmer’ - Patrick Mulcahy, Ballinwillin House, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork, who also has a John Spillane song in his honour.
NO NONSENSE PERFORMER
While any number of performers (artists) have very specific requirements associated with live performances, Spillane is very much in the ‘no frills’ department. Audience interaction is informal and folksy.
“The advice I was given starting out, was ‘write about what you know John and you’ll be ok’ and that’s what I did, another song or two now and I’ll be out the door like a shot,” gives a flavour of his style.
What’s also interesting is that at one stage, John believed his true calling was heavy metal music, which, at face value, is difficult to believe.
CONTROVERSY
Not someone who has ever courted controvery, it was going to be difficult to avoid when he penned, ‘Johnny Don’t Go To Ballincollig’. Once described by Christy Moore as ‘a classic’, this has always struck me as a bizarre composition as Carrigaline is also mentioned as another ‘no go area’. In fairness, John does preface this song by saying ‘he has nothing personal against either Cork suburb’.
HE’LL BE BACK
With ‘Lá Le Bride’ and ‘Lá Le Padraig’ on their way and that all important ‘stretch in the evening’ already evident, this, according to John Spillane’s scheduling, means Kilworth won’t be seeing him for a while - not until days shorten, evenings close in and the darkness descends.