In the first week of March 2008, Aslan played 3 nights at Charlie´s. I have already written about that experience in this post.

Soon after they left we got wind that they were going to play at a different bar here in Lanzarote this autumn. We said nothing and waited. Then the proprietor of that bar came and confirmed this to one of our musicians in person. Still, we said nothing.

A week later Aslan´s agent telephoned me and asked me if I would mind if the band played at this other bar in September, and then they would play at Charlie´s again in March next year. I didn’t let him know that I knew anything about their arrangments and said that they can play at Charlie´s in September as well. He got a little flustered, the poor man, and said that he would ring me back – which he did 3 hours later and told me that it had been all confirmed and there was nothing he could do, and he had to keep this band playing all year round . So he wasn’t asking me if I minded – he was telling me, which I knew anyway. I then told him that the lads are very welcome at Charlie´s for a drink when they are here, but they should play in the other bar in March as well.  I don´t owe Aslan anything and Aslan don´t owe me anything and are obviously quite entitled to play at any venue they like.

I have met and been in touch with plenty of very successful artists and their managers this year, and although I am new to booking such acts, they all told me they respect the man that brought them to town in the first place, and the balls that he had to do this, and they would never play in another venue in that town until such time as the first venue refused them. This is what I would have tought to be the case anyway. But there you go.

I spoke to Christy for a few hours one day he was here and believe that this wouldn’t be his way of going on, and I stand to be corrected in this, but just to let him know that we would be delighted to have him back playing at Charlie´s with our own fantastic resident band Skin & Hide backing him – which we don’t expect he will, but for him to know that he is welcome at any time.

Meanwhile we are “flying” at Charlie´s these days, and the patience, hard work and dedication from us all to build Charlie´s and Skin & Hide to be what has been voted “The Best Live Music Venue in all the Canary Islands” seems to have paid off. We take nobody or anything for granted and know what it takes to keep entertaining at this level. But don’t tell anyone how easy it is for us, because we love it. Shhhhhhh!!

I suppose we might just survive without Aslan, with a little help from our friends!

Our many thanks to our customers for their support, both residents and tourists. We really appreciate your custom and your company.

Cheers.
Murphy

Howdy again,

As most of you know, we (Skin & Hide) are on holidays from the 10th May to the 24th. We would like to thank “Ignition” for covering at the bar the first week, and this week we have a bunch of talented f*ckers from Manchester covering. They are playing a lot of music similar to Skin & Hide, but with fiddle and banjo instead of electric guitars! They are a right sound bunch of lads that I have known for a couple of years from my trips to Manchester. Next Saturday night should be a great night with Skin & Hide sharing the stage with the lads from Manchester for some of the evening. It’s also the banjo player´s (John) birthday.

As for Skin & Hide in Ireland… most of us travelled to Galway for Leo’s funeral, which was a bad start to the holidays. If there is such a thing as a “nice funeral”, Leo’s was very special. It was the first time in my life that I saw people singing and playing music at a graveside, and it went on for what must have been an hour, while Sharon and Leo´s friends and relatives took turns at filling in the grave. It was an amazing natural feeling to have been there. As devastated and shocked as Sharon was, she still found the energy to organise such beautiful music in the church and sent Leo off better than anyone could have done. I would also just like to take this opportunity to thank Leo’s brother Kevin for his hospitality in the Roisin Dubh after the funeral.

As I write this, Massimo is in rome playing music with a few of his friends during his holidays, Widgeon is in Texas, Shane in Kilkenny, and Shaky on a plane back here to Lanzarote from Dublin. Jon Gold is chasing sheep around Connemara with a vicious look on his face, and Sergi is lost somewhere between Scotland and Ireland, looking for Barcelona with a compass in his hand!

We are all looking forward to a great summer in Charlies, and our next “siesta” will be the first two weeks in December.

Our thanks again to all the lads that filled in for the holidays at Charlies.

Cheers
Murphy

We all had the pleasure at Charlie´s Bar of welcoming Sharon Shannon and family here in february. I went to the airport to pick up the troop, and within minutes realised there was a real character amongst them. It was Sharon’s partner, Leo, cracking jokes and looking forward to the week that was ahead. We had a great week just as he anticipated. I had long conversations with this dark-haired man with a real twinkle in his eye for life. He told me a lot about his life experiences and we pondered many questions about life itself. We were looking forward to meeting up for a pint during the summer and having a laugh and just catching up again. I didn’t know Leo very well, but in the short time that I did I liked him. It’s that simple.

Then in a very short message on my phone today from John’s daughter, I found out his life had been cut short, and as I write this some hours later, I feel so f*cking empty, sad, and I don’t know what else. I am thinking about Sharon, Leo’s offspring that he spoke to me about, but most of all I am thinking about Sharon, only because I know her personally and not his kids. Leo told me that they were together nearly 9 years or so and that they would be together until death. He was right.

My own brother passed away 10 years ago, much too young as well, and I asked him today to welcome Leo and show him the good haunts and the ropes in his new world.

Sharon – all of our thoughts are with you right now in Lanzarote. The reactions and the looks on the lads´ (at Charlies) faces as I told them spoke for themselves. It was and is nothing but extremely f*cking sad and complete disbelief. We are here for you, Sharon, and always will be, come hell or high water.

Leo, you are gone ahead of us now. Keep an eye on what we do and try to steer us in the right direction until we catch up with you again. It was a real pleasure to have met you, even though it was for such a short time. There was something so genuine and human about you.

Tog a bog e,a chara

May you rest in peace.

From all of us in Lanzarote

Hey Bertie,

I would just like to take this opportunity to thank you for your time and effort as Taoiseach of our great country.

I have already written here about some of your achievements (and lack of them!), but for sure, you got the most important things right.  I firmly believe that you gave it your best through all kinds of difficult circumstances over the years, and steered the ship in a very steady fashion.  It must be the most lonely job in the world to be Prime Minister of any country if you want to be good at it.  Sometimes you have to make unpopular decisions for which you can isolate yourself as a human being, but in the end your vision made it all work out.  I know there are those who would say that this, that and the other went wrong, but there was a lot more that went right than wrong for sure, given the fact that you are a human being and not a machine.

I wish you well in your retirement as Taoiseach, even though I know you have a lot to give to society yet in one way or another.  Take it easy for a while and come down here to us at Charlie´s Bar and have a pint or three with us.  You truly are an extraordinary, ordinary man.  Enjoy a chara.

Mise le meas

Ó Murchú

P.S.:  If anyone can get this e-mail to Bertie in person, please do so.