An Afternoon with Switchback

By E. Wanda Quay

One of the things that make it possible to work through life’s trials and tribulations is to have a backlog of really uplifting experiences - the kind that fill your heart and soul and mind so that your cup runneth over. Luckily I had one of those here at Kendal on Friday afternoon, March 8th, when we had the good fortune to hear a program of music presented by the “musical partnership of Brian FitzGerald and Martin McCormack known as Switchback.” Each of them was an established musician in his own right when they came together 27 years ago.

Both of these personable performers sing and play guitar, with Brian switching to mandolin part of the time. They lived up to their billing as presenters of “An Amazing Mix of American Roots and Celtic Music,” clearly evidencing an extensive repertoire. As the program unfolded we were treated to a wide spectrum of music ranging from the toe tapping, foot stomping, hand clapping sort to the calm, tranquil, quietly meditative, easy listening kind. One could say the selections went from the sublime to the absurd.

The program began with a delightful instrumental opening number called “The Boys of Bluehill,” a traditional Irish jig.  One piece that particularly touched my heartstrings was their tender rendition of “I Will Take You Home Again, Kathleen.” My mother often sang Irish songs in her beautiful soprano voice and this one was one of her favorites. It was from her that I learned it was written by a German for his Irish bride. Thus when Martin said he was going to sing an Irish song actually written by a German, I knew immediately which song he meant. Another of my favorites was “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” from the romantic pop-art opera which illustrated yet another facet of their talent.

We were also favored with numbers such as “The Wabash Cannonball,” “Who Threw the Overalls in Mrs. Murphy’s Chowder?,” “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,” and “Moonshiner,” an Irish drinking song about poteen, Irish moonshine. These along with other similar pieces provided opportunities for foot stomping, hand clapping, and singing along. In addition they mixed in Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" and an interlude of solo mandolin, quiet hymn-like music by Brian for good measure.

The extent of their ability was demonstrated when they presented an original composition called “Right Then,” which they were inspired to compose in the style of the songs popular in the big band era after visiting the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. It took me back to the days when I was dating.  The program ended with their unique version of “Ghost Riders in the Sky.”

For me it ended too soon because it cut short my walk down memory lane, for that is what I was experiencing as they played and sang. Each number evoked a special memory since music has been at the center of my life. Music has become the fabric that binds my heart, soul, mind, and body together. Without music life would be unbearably empty. Thus I feel it a privilege to find myself in the presence of musicians with what I perceive to be kindred spirits like those of Brian and Martin. And so it was these two Irish men charmed me with their music and helped to make me whole. And it wasn’t only me. From the reaction of the audience I would say most of them were charmed as well.

To STeam or not to STeam

Well, that is the question.  Are you a STeamer?  You might be asking what exactly that means.  If you are ready to do that little (or big) extra to insure the success of Switchback then you are ready to STeam.  Perhaps you can hang posters and hand out flyers about upcoming concerts and events.  Start a phone tree in your area to spread the word about a concert.  Contact your local PBS station about airing the Celtic or Americana Sessions.  Let your local radio station know you would like to hear Switchback. Help out at concerts.  That merchandise doesn't sell itself, and Marty and Brian have enough to do without having to sell shirts and CDs!

Many of you are already STeaming and some of you have yet to join the team officially, but this is census time.  We need an accurate count of who you are, where you are, and how to reach you. I encourage all of you to get on Facebook.  Once there, please like both the Switchback page and the Switchback STeam page.  Post a comment or a message on the Switchback STeam page and I will send you a message.  Or post a message on the page with your info and I will retrieve and contact you.  Facebook is really the best way to keep up with all that is happening with Switchback.

If you just don’t want to deal with Facebook please send an email to me at switchbacksteam@gmail.com  and I will contact you.  Please reach out even if you have been a Steamer forever because we need to know who is still active and that the information we have for you is correct.  I hope to be getting lots of posts, likes, and emails!

Michele Shubitowski, STeam president

Hogwarts on the Mississippi

By Martin McCormack

Magic: The power of apparently influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces

Last fall, at the gentle urging of my wife, we headed to the theater to catch the last Harry Potter movie.  Having never read the books, I nonetheless was entertained by the whole fixation with magic during the movie:  people pointing wands at others and making huge fireballs of blue light and of course the juxtaposition of good versus evil.  Good wins out in the end and we muggles are none the wiser for it.
  
As children’s entertainment the movie was great.  But I left the theater feeling frustrated that magic is presented as something that is almost unattainable, especially if you’re an ordinary mugwump of a muggle.  Also, I think most moviegoers would believe that magic is just a special effect or a simple trick. 

Magic is here. It is not in the hands of magicians but in the minds of musicians and specifically songwriters.  Recently I was told the story of Sixto Rodriguez, a musician who had a couple of albums out during the 60’s and was basically considered a has-been.  The records he penned though resonated with people and unbeknownst to him were picked up by the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa.  Several of his songs became anthems that literally united the movement that brought down the regime.  He didn’t even know that he had platinum records until his daughter came across a website set up by ardent South African fans to find out what had happened to him. Had he never known his belated fame, it would not have mattered, for the result was the same. Sixto, an ordinary muggle, created magic.
                         
Of course, this magic has happened before.  Julia Ward Howe is a name that most people have never heard, yet she created magic that changed the face of America.  During the Civil War, Howe heard a melody that was being sung by the Union Troops.  The melody was Canaan’s Happy Shore turned into a parody called John Brown’s Body.  Ward heard a division of soldiers singing the tune as they were tramping by her home in Kentucky.  She went to bed and during the early morning, she awakened and, according to her book Reminiscences, said that she started to write a song.  She realized that she had to get up and put it on paper “lest I fall asleep again and forget them.  I sprang out of bed and found in the dimness an old stump of a pen which I remembered to have used the day before.” She wrote down one of the most influential songs of that era and the Civil Rights era, The Battle Hymn of the Republic.

The power to change life as we know it exists in each of us.  If magic is using the means of channeling mysterious or supernatural forces to create change, then the songwriter is more of a magician than any Harry Potter.
  
And it doesn’t have to be an anthem to change the world either.  “Heartbreak Hotel” was written by Tommy Durden and Mae Boren Axten.  The lyrics were based on a true story of a young man who killed himself over a lost love.  It took one Elvis Presley to sing it, true, but it was the song itself that launched a whole new era of Rock n’ Roll.  A young man listening to that song on Radio Luxembourg was so transfixed that he started penning songs to influence other people.  His name was John Lennon.

Some magicians are lighthearted Merlins.  Their magic-making is just as important for bringing joy into the world.  When a hip hop musician who goes by the name Baauer released a song called Harlem Shake, it went viral on the internet.   As far as lyrics go? Well, growling lions and samplings of lyrics from other songs, which by themselves are as nonsensical as a Bob Dylan tune.  But it is now a meme on the internet, with people doing various renditions of the song and dancing to it.  A crew of Australian miners was actually fired for doing their version several hundred feet underground.  Baauer’s magic brought people around the world just that much closer.  He magically transformed everyday adults back into children.  Powerful stuff. 

Songwriting is magic.  It is an art in which one channels the power necessary to change life as we know it.  That magic resides in each of us.  And each of us needs to get that magic working.
  
That is why each April we have, for muggles everywhere, the Songwriters Weekend at our own Hogwarts on the Mississippi, the Four Mounds Estate.  We tap into the natural beauty of the river and the surrounding highlands.  We look to each other for support as we explore what words can mingle with what melody.  People of all ages who come from all walks of life suddenly are transformed into magicians with the ability to create one of the most powerful elements on earth, a song.  Our magic wands?  Guitars, computers, pens, paper, harmonicas, zithers, and our voices.

This year we have Kevin Gordon joining us as our head songwriter.   Kevin has written songs that have been covered by people such as the Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards.  To watch Kevin perform his music is magic in itself; to have the chance to talk to him about creating songs will be an even greater opportunity for us aspiring magicians. 
 
We also make it very clear that one can attend and just enjoy the making of this magic in and of itself.  For in order for magic to succeed there have to be people willing to accept this magic.  The world is as much in need of song lovers as it is of songwriters.  Being at this weekend allows us all to participate in the joy of making music.  And making magic that even Harry Potter would envy.

WayGoodMusic.com