Paul and Lorraine

We are playing at Charlie's this Friday and Saturday

2008-12-19T07:54:00.000-08:00

I wanted to make sure that anyone checking could see that we are playing at Charlie's this weekend. We are booked there every other weekend, I believe into February and we should have all that posted soon.

We will also be playing New Years Eve and that is always a blast. I'm hoping to bring some Christmas goodies to the show tomorrow and I'll attempt to do a post about that either today or tomorrow.

Safe travels to everyone, and a happy holiday to all.

-Dr. Paul

Microwbrew Mania and Music Mayhem!!!

2008-12-09T14:47:00.000-08:00

Okay people, listen up! This Friday December 12th is and event that will be as big as YOU make it. The Water Street Inn is having an event like I have not seen before. Basically, for $10 in advance ($12 at the door) you will acquire a wrist-band that will allow you to continually sample any of SEVEN different beers that will be on hand. I know times are tough right now and money is short, but for the price about two downtown beers you can drink all night and listen to us play.

This could easily turn in to a St. Patrick's day-like event. I will post the actual information below but please feel free to contact us or the Water Street Inn with any questions. I'll make additional posts in the comments as I believe we should be able to get some guest musicians to show up as well! This will be taking place in their LARGE ballroom, not the cozy bar, so we can easily fit a lot of people.

I'm excited for this and like I said, it will be as fun as the people who show up!

Here is the info posted verbatim from facebook:

Description
On December 12th the Water Street Inn is hosting it's first Microbrew Mania event in the ballroom. Starting at 7pm this event will only cost $10 with advance reservatiion (651-439-6000 or by confirming through this event page) or $12 at the door. Come and taste seven different tap beers including microbrewed, craft and imported brews.
With admission you can sample to your heart's content and listen to live Irish music. Band will be Paul and Lorraine. Charlie's Irish Pub will have it's full line up of Irish whiskeys, tap beers and other spirits available for separate purchase in the foyer outside of the ballroom. Local brewers Lift Bridge Brewery will be on hand with a specialty cask along with other distributors to talk about their love of BEER. The Water Street Inn's full line up of Appetizers will be available for purchase as well that evening.

On tap:
Two Brothers, French Country Ale; Illinois
Big Sky, Moose Drool Brown Ale; Montana
Murphy's, Irish Red; Ireland
Lift Bridge Brewery, Farm Girl Saison; Stillwater
Weihenstephan, Lager; Germany
Red Hook, Late Harvest Autumn Ale; New Hampshire
Lift Bridge Brewery, Double-hopped Pale Ale; Stillwater

**To help make this event a success for everyone, please do not confirm your reservation on facebook unless you plan on actually attending. Also facebook reservations are only for one person, so pass the invites on through this page or to reserve for a larger group please call the hotel at 651-439-6000 **

Chicago Might Be A Long Drive....

2008-12-04T18:53:00.000-08:00

Home, with the Kittycat, Miss Kitty, as well as King Lear the HUGE and Queen Mab, the Dainty.

It was quite an adventure, and the last hour took two due to snowstorms, and I hadn't exactly slept, but we made it in time to the show JUST. Missed Boss's Amanda Introduction, Rats. As a show, I can tell you it was well worth everything we went to to get to it. I had never seen her and her Danger Ensemble live before, and tape just doesn't convey how amazing cool this show IS. The women has energy, and energy to spare. She is a party all of her own, and I for one, was glad to be invited. It made me happy, all of them together.

I get to go again tomorrow, due to a strange switching of gigs . (NOTE: Paul and Lorraine will not be at Charile's Friday this weekend, we will there on Saturday night , AND the following Friday the 12th)

Getting King Lear and Queen Mad this morning was a sleepy adventure, but I woke up a bit when the Gentleman said he was glad I brought the large cage, as Lear was now weighing in at 30 pounds. The pictures do not really show how HUGE a dude he IS...

I went into the bathroom, where they were, and Queen Mab was high on a shelf. Not high Bengal wise, just cat wise. Lear was hiding in a cave of clothes, when I threw him some shrimp, which he likes. I felt so badly for him, for some reason, being there, and him not knowing what was going on, but knowing something was up, just eating his Shrimp and looking at me, saying "Make it right".. He's been unhappy for a long time, and not in the right place, despite people trying. I want him to be happy.

Here's Mab peeking. I had been with her too you see...

Lear took some chicken from me, on the way home, and did some mewing, and some hissing. He let me scritch his ears, and leaned into the scritch, and blinked at me. He also freaked, lashed out with his claws, tore my coat, and scratched me, but it was all pretty new. They are happy in their room, I hope, I really want him, and Mab to be.

This is as much as The Zombie of No Sleep, Princess of Dead Tired, can write to her Fiends this evening. Your chatter was much appreciated on the drive down and back, and the long hours of the night. Many thanks to Maure in Chicago for putting up Kitty and I for the night! And for not leaving us at the show! (Tho Maure and I did get locked outside the club, despite passes and all my dead brain could do was laugh and freeze)

All in all, very fun! I will leave you will a shot of Kali, aka Selina Kyle, who is traveling to LA tomorrow! We will miss her, but I am sure we have not heard the last of her!

Love and Travel,
Lorraine

Free Jameson!!! Friday December 5th - THIS FRIDAY!!!

2008-12-03T10:19:00.000-08:00

Seriously, how cool is that?

Jameson Irish Whiskey will be doing a promotion at Charlie's Irish Pub from 10pm-11:30pm with free prizes (shirts, hats, cards, lights, etc.) and giving out free samples of Jameson Ginger Ale and Jameson with Coke.

Lorraine and I will be there, of course, and so should the lovely Jameson ladies!

If you have been down to Charlie's, then you know how warm and welcoming it is, and what a great time everyone has. If you have not, come down and find out! We hope to see lots of familiar faces down there and bring some friends and song requests.

See you there!

-Paul and Lorraine

A good weekend for a gig

2008-10-24T12:51:00.001-07:00

Well, that time of the week is here again where Lorraine and I venture forth to the wonderful still waters to fill the air with music and the bellies with fabulous food and beguiling beverages! If rumors are indeed true, then our good friend and talented musician Dylan Hatch will be joining us for certain on Friday night and may even return on Saturday night. If I receive confirmation one way or the other before tomorrow I will indeed post it.

If you have been down to see Lorraine and I, but have not seen us with Dylan yet, you should definitely head out as see how he seamlessly merges with our sound adding fantastic harmonies, driving drum beats and humor (last element open for interpretation). Of course with two boys on stage, lorraine begins to feel outnumbered, but we would never think of pressing such an advantage.

So come on down, raise a glass, sing along, and join us for a few hours where you can forget about everything else and just be with friends.

~Slainte~

-Dr. Paul

Back from the dead

2008-09-29T13:46:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Well, clearly we... okay, this blog is primarily my responsibility so... I have been lacking in keeping up with our blog. I have some pictures to post from the fantastic time we had this weekend at Charlie's! Lorraine and I want to personally thank every single one of you for making it down there and filling the room with energy. We couldn't do it without you! As far as the names of the groups go, it would help me out if you would drop me a line letting me know what you would like to be called and as always if you want the picture pulled down for any reason, just drop me a line.

Our new gig schedule should be up shortly so look for that too! I'll be back with more soon, but I know there are quite a few people out there waiting for these pictures, so here they are!

Well, that was messy. I must work on that.

Coming in the next post... Lorraine and her Pipes of Doom! There will even be a picture!

Until then (which will be soon)

-Paul

Where's the Party?

2008-08-10T20:06:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

Paul and I have been neglecting this blog so sadly, he is more than busy, I am busy, so I thought I would re-direct you to the place I am currenly doing most of my blogging, if you want the day to day picture of Bees, Bengals and Music...

I just don't have the time to do more than one, tho we will be blogging here when we have something really cool to talk about....

Thank you all of YOU for coming out to shows, you make our night, it IS all about you...

Here's the party...

http://lorraineamalena.blogspot.com/

Love and Irish,
Lorraine

Triple Play

2008-07-11T12:10:00.001-07:00

Lorraine and I will be playing this weekend at Charlie's (as I'm sure you already know from our schedule) and we will be recording again on Saturday night. It was fantastic playing with Dylan and we are still pouring over all the recordings, so we decided to get an evening of just her and I as well.

Although we don't have any confirmed guests for this weekend, we do have quite a few open invitations out there, so you never know who is going to show up. Whenever we know that someone will be there with us, we will of course post it here first.

Sunday we will be playing at the Brookside Inn from 2-5 assuming that we don't have any thunder storms to worry about. It's a really nice place to sit outside and listen to music, so stop on by.

We will let everyone know about our upcoming musical release (format still to be determined) as soon as we know. If anyone wants to be placed on an email list to be informed of it's release, just drop us an email at paulandlorrain@paulandlorraine.com.

I'm really looking forward to playing tonight and letting loose as it's been a long work week. It should be a beautiful evening and I hope we an have the doors open to the deck and the river while we play. Hope to see you all there!

Oh, I suppose I should post a photo of some sort. Hmmm. Here's a piratical theme for you..

Yarrrr! Avast!
~Slainte~

Cut, print, it's a wrap!

2008-06-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came down and made it a wonderful weekend! It was fantastic to see many familiar faces, and to all of you who saw us for the first time, welcome! Okay, okay, so I have a bunch of pictures to post and I've been trying to figure out the best way to do so. I suppose I should begin by introducing the players of the evening. Oh, as a side note, I want to let people know that most of the photos were not taken by me but were taken with my camera and I know how difficult it can be to try to take good pictures with a camera that you are totally unfamiliar with. Still, we ended up with some pretty good shots.

First I would like to introduce you to our beloved Web Goblin, Dan. He ran the online twitter updates and I have no doubt could have interrupted local broadcasts with our show if we had only asked. He is truly a gentleman wrapped in an enigma... or is that the other way around? Sorry Dan, I always get that one messed up.

Secondly, meet Matt, our resident sound technician and recording guru. (Movie opening later this Fall and it will be better than Mr. Myers) He currently holds all of the digital recordings and is likely mixing as we speak (type) so we have nothing but immensely great things to say about him! Seriously, without even hearing the final product I know we would love to work with you again. (Matt, this is where I would insert a plug for you if I had your business contact info) ^_^

Thirdly, I would like you all to meet "and" or "&", a.k.a. Dylan. He's back from some time off and ready to feed the Irish in his soul again. It was wonderful to have him sit in with us and you shouldn't be surprised if you see him pop back in from time to time. I will attempt to inform people here when I am aware of a potential "&" sighting. He is a kindred spirit indeed!

Finally, I would like you all to meet you! I will attempt to continue to post audience shots from time to time, so you will all likely make it here sooner or later.
Heck, if you want to guarantee yourself some blog space, just do something unique and interesting for the camera! That usually works. And if you have one of your business cards, take your own photo with the card in the shot and send it in! If I get a few I'll start a dedicated fan/friends of Paul and Lorraine picture wall.

There is so much more to say, but I'll leave you with two final pictures. The first is a decent shot of Lorraine, Dylan, and I. The second is one I took Saturday night capturing the Stillwater bridge and brilliant moon.

Please feel free to leave any comments and updates will follow soon.

-Dr. Score

Back up and running!

2008-06-09T13:37:00.000-07:00

First off, a great big THANK YOU to everyone who had anything at all to do with the completion of my PhD. It's great to have it done and I'm looking forward to bigger and better things. But, I promise not to bore you too much with any tecchnobabble... well perhaps a little from time to time as denying one's true self is just not healthy!

Lorraine and I are extremely excited to do our live recording at Charlie's Pub on June 20th and 21st! I look forward to telling you all so much more about our future plans and the myriad of potential publishing options we have. (Okay, for any Greeks out there, we don't technically have 10,000 options, but we still have a lot.) More to follow soon! I will post a picture of the flyer I have made if anyone could use it.

Oh, and this whole naked blogging thing that everyone is talking about over at lorraineamalena.com, well I liked Kitty's standards for hotel rooms. Last time I was in a hotel, the a woman on the housekeeping staff entered my room while I was totally naked... ... ... finally. *impish grin*

Viva le Y chromosome!

Dr. Score

And It Is About Time!!!

2008-05-24T22:45:00.000-07:00

We have some rather exciting news, Paul and I. (exciting to Paul, especially, as he went to his cabin this weekend and does not know it yet!) but first, a big thanks to Johnny Sjogren for coming down and playing with me while Paul was at the cabin! We had SO much fun, and I think everyone else did as well.

Ok, you've heard us talking for some time about The Live CD, and saying yes, yes, we are going to do one. Why go into a studio when what we do best together is play for YOU???

So, our next shows at Charlie's Pub are June 20th and 21st, and Charlie's being he special place that it is, we are going to record both nights. We have the sound engineer, Matt, who we met at Convergence, we have an idea of what we are doing, we will be having some live blogging and, hopefully, if Danguy can figure out how to do it, a live webcast going on!

All we need is YOU. Because it is not a show without you. You know who you are, you are anyone who has ever come down and spent an evening, with a pint or two, at Charlies, listening to us play, fall on our faces, and rocking the Irish in your soul.

We will have Jeremy the bartender from the Gods, AJ, the most Dapper manager going, and of course Chuck and Judy, the owners. We will have some special guests, and some new songs.

We will have the Posse, the Lady who loves 7 Drunken Nights, Crazy Dancing Guy ( MUST get him on the web!!! ) the Couple from Arizona (without the rattlesnake killing golf cart) The nice Blondie lady who, it turns out is having a Birthday then, some old friends and some new.

Here's your chance to get onto a cd! We will be taking pictures for the cd of the crowd, and you just might wind up famous on the web, depending on how entertaining you get!

Current titles have narrowed down to three: "Live at Charlie's", "We're Irish enough for you" or "It was only a matter of time"

So, consider this your invitation!

See you soon!

Love and Irish,
Lorraine

Three Cheers For Paul!!!!!

2008-05-14T20:50:00.000-07:00

Let it be known that today, our own Mr Paul Score, has been awarded his Doctorate Degree! I can't tell you what he does, he has explained it to me many times, some sort of Genetics, I believe, involving saving children's lives, but I do know, that this is very wonderful!

Mr., er, Dr. Score has asked that we behave with a little more respect now. Whiskey sent to the stage must be presented on a silver platter, and of course, that Charlies now stock Balaviene 30 year old Port Wood, in a bottle kept for the purpose.

I , of course, helped out quite a bit. When we got on stage last Saturday, Paul handed me his thesis, and asked that I read it over, as I do, in my day job, come across quite a bit of writing, and I offered some suggestions on how to liven it up. Look for it on the NY Times list shortly.

In other news, our friend Dan Guy is coming out for the shows at Charlies on June 20-21 and has an evil plan to bring video, and do some live web things. So those of you far away came be apart of it. At the very least, we will do some live blogging.

And this just added, Kips now has music on Fridays, 7-11 so look for us the weekend of June 6th, both nights!

The next Charlies gig with Paul and I, which is Jume 20-21st, I think ought to be a serious Graduation Party for Paul. Both lonline and in person. You will want to be there either way.

Charlie's , I know, will want to reserve him a room!

Love and Irish,
Lorraine

Old Friends and New Friends

2008-05-11T15:39:00.001-07:00

Hello All!

Much fun was had at Charlie's this weekend. I think what I liked best about is that we made a LOT of new friends, and got to see some old and dear ones.

Tee-shirt Girl from St Pats came down, ( she and us separately ended up on the front page of the Stillwater paper that weekend, both for being the ultimate in Irish ) and Mr Trouble, as I call him came, hee-hee and brought two friends from Portland, who, I suspect, from talking with them during the breaks, both were better Trad players than Paul and I. Nice to have met you!

Aleta, a new friend from my girl-band blog ( www.lorraineamalena.com/blogspot ) came brought four of her friends. And of course, Chuck and Judy and Jeremy and Hillary AND of course the Never to be Thwarted AJ. ( who rocks our world. This weekend he told me he had a proposal for me, and I said I liked him but could not possibly marry him, it would never work out, and he said no, no, a proposal for both you and Paul and I said THAT was definately not going to work for me, hee-hee, but it turned out to be a GIG thing..)

There was a Wedding in the hotel on Saturday, and I do not much like wedding people, as they tend to be rather drunk and not into music, but THIS wedding was different, and made the third set rock for me, as they wandered away from their party. Loved them, tho I never did sort out how they were all related. Kept me up half the night.....

There was one group of Friends that came down just as second set ended and so only got to hear the third. I told them they had to show up on time if they wanted to ROCK. The way it most often works is first set, we warm up and play a bit of the mellower dinner type music, getting more rock as we go, it lasts and hour and a half, then second set, THAT is the one. We go an hour and anything can and will happen. Third set is 30 to 40 minutes, and can be fun, and goes anywhere, but it is mostly me thinking , I am really getting tired here!

So, thinking on it, anytime is good, and will be fun, but the earlier you show up, and the longer you stay, the more chance there is of REALLY getting out the Irish in your soul.

Paul and I have been neglecting this blog most shamefully, I do admit, not because we don't want to chat with you, quite the contrary, but he has been doing Things in order to get his PhD (which I am told is a fair amount of work ) and I am beyond busy, and do most of my blogging over at Lorraineamalena.com , you are most welocme over there if you want a more day to day picture of a poor little Irish Folk Rock Stars adventures, we would welcome you!

See you soon!!!!

Love and Irish,
Lorraine

New Gigs are up!

2008-04-25T13:57:00.000-07:00

I just posted the New Gigs over in the Gigs section, so nip on over there and let's start making Plans!

It's going to be raining, and snowing, and horribly wet and muddy this weekend, in other words, typical Minnesota Spring, but Paul and I will be out playing at Kips, no matter what Saturday ! Neither of us is sick anymore (well, ill anyway) and we are ready to rock.

On May 23rd and 24th, Paul is off for a Family Holiday, and so Big Johnny Sjogren, from the Tim Malloys is going to come down to Charlies both nights and sit in with me. I am hoping he will talk his bandmate from Celtic Nation, Joe Smith, into coming down and maybe bringing his Irish Pipes. (they have another name, but I am not up on my Gaelic) Joe might also play some fiddle, sing or guitar.

Paul, you are missing the good stuff!

Paul has been away this last couple weeks doing thing connected with getting a PhD in Genetics, like Handing in Thesis, Defending the Thesis (I am pretty fierce and offered to do this for him, but he declined) We wish him the Best of Luck, and can't wait to hear how it all went...

Dr. Paul?

We both hope to see YOU very soon. Come down and lets have some fun, eh?

Love and Irish, Lorraine

House of Plauge

2008-04-12T13:46:00.000-07:00

Hello All!

What a month it has been, since St Pats, first Paul was really sick and lost his voice for 9 days! Poor man, he says his kids loved it...Big Johnny came down and played with me at Charlie's for one weekend, as Paul could not speak, and was way too sick and much fun was had by all, I can tell you, any time we get to play with a Tim Malloys is a fine time.

Actually, another of Johnny's bandmates, from Celtic Nation, Joe Smith, came down and sat in with us too. I love hearing him play my violin.

Now I am sick. Same thing as Paul, very horrid nasty sort of thing, and tonight yet another of Johnny's bandmates, from Bedlam this time, Paul Reggee, is going to play me for the evening. Paul and Paul.

I played last night, and we had a great time, nearly forgot I was so sick. I think it was mostly the people who showed up. Three of our first favourite folks came down ( sorry no photos ) but they are them and we love them. It was snowing and icky and no one was going to come out we thought, and it started out slow and I thought, excellent, I will get thru this, and go home.

Then our frineds showed, and another table of friends. I thought, well, ok, it's cool people, I can do this for cool people. SO I said "OK, new house rule, no one gets to come in here unless they are a One Of Us. And another table came in, and I told them the new rule, and they began to dance.

Cool. Yup. Obviously. One of Us. New friends. And another table. Told them the rule. They cheered and said they were in the right place. New friends again.

And so it went. Friends everywhere, and I got thru the gig. Coughing all the way. We should call the band House of Plauge.

Thought I could do it again tonight, but finally gave in and called Paul to see if we could get a Stunt Lorraine. I think the straw that finally broke the camels back was looking in the mirror and realizing I LOOKED as bad as I felt.....

New gigs are coming soon, and we will let you know just as soon as we do!!!!!

Love and Irish,
Lorraine

Happy Post (Post) St Pats Day!

2008-03-23T09:44:00.000-07:00

Hello, my Friends!

Yes, here it is Easter and I am only JUST getting around to talking about the St Pats Weekend...And as it is only 50 weeks until the next one, never to soon to start planning.

Paul's excuse for not Blogging here is, as all of you who were at the shows know, is that he is SICK. Sick like the Irish had a potato famine. Full blown FLU, poor guy. He made it through the shows, barely, and then promptly lost his voice, completely and totally. (just in time for our show with the New Folk Collective, this past Friday, which, we sadly, had to cancel)

Here is a picture of Paul on St Pats, in his Happy Place....

All of the shows were WAY too much fun, even with Paul sick. People do NOT mess around about St Pats, and this year it started on Friday. On Saturday, we played Sham Rocks in St Paul for the first time, in a tent, at 2 in the afternoon, and I thought, who the heck will be there then????

MAYBE 1000 PEOPLE! All dressed to the 9's in Green. I felt SO under dressed, not easy to do in Black Velvet and Rhinestones! And then onto Charlie's for the evening...

Sunday was video with the Tim Malloy's, shot by Bill Sitiler. Here is Bill and Adam conspiring...

And Johnny, the Spirit of St Pats Day himself, with a fan who looks like he has WAY more energy left than Johnny....

On Monday we started at 4 and the place was packed, and went up from there. We made SO many new friends! And of course, no St Pats would be complete without , oh yes, Crazy Dancing Guy!!!!!!!! Who came down and was as crazy a dancer as one could ever have hoped for , bringing all of his friends and making our night! We love you Crazy Dancing Guy and Friends!

There are far too many moments to remember, the Twisted Sisters, Vodka Lady, the nice woman who took our tip jar around, the Possee, and Georgia Guy. YOU are the ones who make the show. You and all of the others my still-clouded tired brain is forgetting. (Let me know if I am missing you, and I sure will take care of that!)

We came. We played. We had a Blast. We fell down, and are still trying to get our brains back. Thank you all SO for coming, and thanks to the Stillwater paper who had us on the cover, and the St Croix Valley River Press, who did such a fine article on us and Charlie's Pub.

As Paul has all of the pictures of ME on his camera and he is still lying in bed , silently, I will leave you with a lovely serene picture of ME, taken on a mountain, outside of LA the day BEFORE the madness....

We can't wait to see you, each of you, and all of you, again very soon. Please come back for some more fun, because, as ever, it isn't any fun without you!

Love and Irish, Lorraine

Coming Soon...St Pats!!!!

2008-03-05T10:46:00.001-08:00

Hello All!

First off THANK YOU to all who came down this past weekend! Both nights were so wonderfully fun. At several points I was not at ALL sure who was entertaining who....(and it takes a LOT to render Paul and I incapable of playing!, due to the fact that we were laughing so hard, CRUMKAKA indeed!)

If these two groups had been both in on the same night, the place WOULD have imploded, but we adore them! (and yes, we are learning the Jim Croce song you requested!)

I love the yellow eyes!!!!! And it was SO fun having you down.

And Hello's to Janelle and Harlan, our Stoic Scandinavians! (who do NOT like anything Scandinavian , apparently, and you thought I would not remember your names! )

We had a truly fun couple from Chicago, the women played Bassoon, (sadly, she did not have it with her, THAT would have been fun!) And the Gentleman was a Physicist,we called them the Tundra Couple , as for the first set, they sat outside, enjoying their cigars, irr-regardless of the fact that is was about 5 degrees....Everyone who came is said "Would you look at that, WHAT are they thinking of???" They are coming back in May, you'll love them too!

Sadly, my camera ATE a lot of my pictures, so all I have left is this plate of half eaten salad....

WHY it kept THAT and deleted the good ones, we will never know.....

In further news, I believe the St Croix River Valley Press is doing a feature on Paul and Lorraine for St Pats Day! How fun will THAT be? More on when that will run as soon as I have the news....

No gigs this weekend, I am off to Los Angeles to do some work with my girlband, Lorraine a' Malena.....(Paul is, sensibly, resting up..)

But NEXT weekend!!!!!!!!! We wait all year!! We love it!!!! And since we started gigging, we FEAR it too, hee-hee!!!!

Friday and Saturday the 14th and 15th is Paul and I at Charlie's 7:30 to 11:30 and On Sunday we are going over to the Shamrock Bar, where the Tim Malloys are playing and we will be shooting some Video!

And then of course, back to Charlie's on Monday the 17th from 4 to Midnight!!!!!!

There will be pictures...I will have my Green Riding Crop with the Shamrock on the end of it, and Paul will be wearing his "Leprechaun Beard and Ears " that I got him.

(he also told me last night he had picked out his St Pats Day Tee-shirt, first time in a Boy Band , that a Boy got in ahead of me on clothes!!)

We can't wait to see you again...SOON!

Love, Lorraine

Paul on His Own and Lorraine's Birthday!

2008-02-08T08:41:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone!

I have posted gigs up through March, over in the gig place, here on our web site. The only one not up there is this coming Saturday, the 8th, from 8-12, Paul will be playing with Paul and Mark from Bedlam, out at McGarry's. Yet Another band!!!!!

Next week is my big Birthday Week! Three days of shows, with three different bands!

( Due to the fact that PAUL is going to be hanging out in Las Vegas, he SAYS at a Genetics Conference, but I've been arranging tickets to various shows for him this week, so who really knows...)

We are going to have some fun...Valentines Day is Thursday the 14th, and I'll be playing with Lojo Russo AND wearing PINK! Not a soft pink, but full on HOT pink. And we will have chocolate!! (rumor has it that Dylan Hatch, drummer from Funk's Grove will be joining us as well...)

Friday the 15th is actually my Birthday and we'll have John "Big Sexy" Sjogren and Adam Stemple from the Tim Malloys hanging out, with any number of other Special Guests from around town, it's going to be some GREAT music! AND cake!!!!

And then on Saturday the 16th, (if Paul comes back from Las Vegas, I don't know, we may lost him) it's Paul and Lorraine! We will be appearing that night as Brain Dead Zombies!!! Which ought to make for a truly interesting, full on, hilarious evening!

We have people coming from, literally, all over the world this week, so come down and help me celebrate my Birthday and make some new friends. I'd miss you if you didn't come!

Love and Irish, Lorraine

Charlie's Friday and Saturday!

2008-01-31T17:37:00.000-08:00

Hello , Friends!

We are, as it turns out, playing Charlie's this coming weekend, the 1st and 2nd, Friday and Saturday.

The Mighty Fitz is doing up a final schedule and promises us that we will have it thru May very shortly, and I will get them posted.

Everyone having a fine time in the COLD????? Ugh. Not me! Oddly enough tho, I feel really ready to play this weekend, like I WANT to go out...Is that crazy?

So, if I can do it, you can! Come down where it WILL be warm, and the music and friends will be happeneing. We had a couple of song requests this week and we have taken the , very different for us, hee-hee, actualy learning them, and so, if all goes well, we will have some new songs.

( well, ok, so Paul sent me an e-mail saying he MIGHT learn one or two this week. STILL a big step for us! ) Fingers crossed. Anything can happen and generally does!

Love and Irish,
Lorraine

It's only cold if you're alive!

2008-01-24T11:38:00.000-08:00

Hey everybody!

I have to try and get these blogs out earlier. Lorraine and I had a great time this weekend and as usual it was filled with new friends and plenty of other surprises.

Friday night we had a fabulous time and CDG stopped out with a big group of friends. It was really nice to see people going out to have some fun on one of our first really cold weekends. We never know quite what to expect when the weather is an issue. I have to say that Lorraine and I really enjoyed playing for everyone and you were all such a fantastic audience.

Saturday night was more of the same, except for the surprise that the heat was not working properly in the pub! It was soon fixed, but it takes a while for a corner room with a large amount of windows to warm back up again. Still, everyone stayed and we all warmed ourselves with music, dance, Irish coffees, and even a few people used the candles on the tables to warm their hands. It wasn’t insane cold, I mean you couldn’t see you breath or anything, but L and I had a joyous time keeping our instruments in tune and feeling our fingers from time to time.

It really strengthens my faith in our ever-troubled society when couples like Steve and Kristin, and people like the Brie sisters (so named because they were sharing their baked brie with everyone [it’s sooo good!]) show up and are so amazingly friendly. Please come back again any time, as you (and the rest of you, who know who you are) make each night such a fantastic experience. It’s a privilege to play for you.

This Saturday our Lorraine is going to be out of town so I will be playing with two friends of mine out at McGarry’s Pub from 8-12. They are currently in an emerging duo called “The Irish Volunteers” and I look forward to catching one of their shows. “They” are John Sopkowiak (The Drunken Uglies) and Michael Matheny (Gallowglass). I could go into their entire bios, but I think it would be more fun to just show up and hear it live.

Safe journeys Lorraine and I hope to see the rest of you soon!

-Paul

Brave Souls, All of You!

2008-01-20T00:44:00.000-08:00

Oh, we had some fun this weekend....

We will be doing some more complete posts, complete with pics, as soon as we have brains again, but I wanted to hop on and say THANK YOU to everyone who braved the below zero temps and came down this weekend.

Especially tonight , Saturday, when the Pub had no HEAT! You have no idea how it feels, as a performer, to have people sitting in their coats and hats and gloves, warming hands over candles, and loveing every minute of it. Truly. It meant so much to both Paul and I.

( and my thanks to the people who lent a hat, and a sweatshirt and scarves to me so I could warm up enough to play! )

THANK YOU, everyone, both nights. You are why we do this, and we could not do it without you......

One shout out, to Kristin and Steve, I have been trying to reply to your e-mail and keep getting bounced back.....??????

Ok, one more shout out, Crazy Dancing Guy... You rock our world!!!!!

Love and Irish, Lorraine

Music and Mayhem

2008-01-15T08:33:00.001-08:00

So, I FINALLY got around to downloading the pictures from my camera so I can post them for you all. We had a fantastic weekend playing for everyone that showed up. Friday night, a wonderful group of people came in after celebrating the college graduation of a friend of theirs. Several of them are in a local band called Ruben.

They hail from Lake Elmo (my old stomping grounds) and are a great bunch of guys. I'm going to try to get out and see them soon.

It brings to mind the topic of live music and why I love it so much. It never ceases to amaze me how often someone will come in to a show and comment on how fantastically fun it is and ask why they had never heard about it before. I’m never sure what to tell them.

Live music is always a risk and most people don’t want to take the “risk” of driving out to see someone and having it suck. We have all been in that situation before where the band is just WAY too loud, or one or more of the members is clearly tone deaf and thinks singing louder will help. I understand not wanting to head out and try something unknown, but that is why word our mouth is so important. And I have to say that is one thing that I love about the fine people who come out to see us, they come back and they bring friends.

Well, I could go on for a while on this subject, but I have to run right now. I’ll try to get back again before out gigs this weekend.

And remember that pirates can be pretty too!Aaaaarrrrr!! ~Slainte~

Post New Years

2008-01-04T14:09:00.000-08:00

Hmmm....What lovely New Years photos we managed to post this week!

Or not!

Paul and I are both STILL tired from that gig! And we are going back to play tonight, and tomorrow! ( that's Friday and Saturday, depending on when you read this ) Trying to work, and get things done, stay awake in the evening ( or get up n the morning ) has been a challenge this week.

We will be posting pictures, and lots of them, promise!!!!

If you are out and about, come down and say hi, at Charlie's. We will be playing this weekend under the name " Walking Dead "

Love and Irish, Lorraine

A Happy New Year to All!

2007-12-31T12:30:00.001-08:00

Greetings everyone!

We had a great weekend and really enjoyed the shows. It was fun to do some Christmas music as we don't really get much of a chance to do that. Here are a few photos of the weekend to share. Crazy Dancing Guy (CDG) joined us and at one point had a dance-off with another energy filled patron. It was a festive time to be sure!

Tonight we will be at Charlie's again from 8:30 to 12:30 to say goodbye to the last year and greet the new one. No matter where you are or what you are doing, remember to be thankful for the previous year and hopeful for the next. May the new year bring joy to each of you and don't forget to come up with a good resolution! Each year I have the same resolution, to not make a new year's resolution, and each year I seem to fail. Funny that.

See you all in the new year!

~Slainte~

Winter FUN!

2007-12-19T11:06:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!

Just taking a moment to post some gig info and to put out a reminder for people to get out and enjoy themselves at this busy (and over-commercialized) time.

Lorraine and I will be playing at Charlie's Pub this weekend, so if you have your shopping done, or if you just want to forget about the fact that you still have shopping to do, come on down. I think it is going to be a fantastic weekend, as most people are starting a four day weekend (if you are fortunate enough to have both Monday and Tuesday off work). The pub should be a warm festive place to spend some time with friends.

I hope you all take the opportunity to spend time with loved ones in whatever manner suits you best. I know this can be difficult for some, as many of us are separated by great distances. Still, it's places like this where we can cross those distances and touch ever so briefly.

I have been spending some great time with my kids and really enjoying having a camera again. To that, here are some photos to remind you to get out and tromp through the roses (or smell them, if that's your thing).

As Lorraine posted earlier, we will be playing at Charlie's on New Years Eve, and I think it will be a wonderful and crazy time. I'm planning to have a lot of friends and family show up for what is sure to be a festive evening.

Well, I'm off to finish cloning Lorraine (I don't think it will ship by Christmas Malena, sorry.) but I look forward to seeing everyone soon. Remember the important things and know that the best gifts don't have price tags, which when you think about it, makes them really, really, difficult to return!

Happy Holidays!

New Years Eve!!!!!

2007-12-14T15:59:00.000-08:00

Sadly no shows this weekend, tho I must say it bodes well for getting a lot of work done in my other life. ( if someone doesn't do some housework soon.....And I live alone except for Misty-girl and Venus, and all THEY do is shred things, no help there )

One fine thing, it's yes on New Years Eve, at Charlie's Pub!! What could be better? It's a wonderful hotel, you would not even have to drive , if you didn't want to, and hey WE, Paul and Lorraine will be there!!!! Wearing ALL our jewels. ( I have more than Paul, oddly enough..)

Last year celebrated ALL the New Years, except for the West Coast, on their own those two hours behind....

Not sure of the times yet, but I'll let you know as soon as I do.

It will be warm, it will be fun and we would love to see you!!

Love and Irish, Lorraine

It's never cold in the pub!

2007-12-11T09:32:00.000-08:00

Greetings all pub goers and music lovers! The holidays are fast approaching (or all ready here) and I can’t believe that I still have shopping to do. As always, during this busy time, don’t forget to take some time out for yourself and stop and enjoy the moment. One suggestion I could make, right off the top of my head, would be to head down to the local Irish pub for a pint or two.

If you come down to Charlie’s on the 21st and 22nd, Lorraine and I will give your feet something to tap to while you begin to discover you’ve entered a pub filled with friends you didn’t know you had.

This past weekend was fantastic and I want say again how great it was to have all of you there. We told you we were going to put your pictures up, and here they are!

Jeremy and AJ were busy keeping the drinks full, as always, and we all found ways to stay warm in the cozy little pub, even though the temps outside were, um, let’s just say low.

Lastly here is a picture of our favorite fiddle player, Lorraine. You would think there would be more pictures of me, but that’s always the disadvantage (advantage??) of being the one taking the pictures!

We’ll post again before we play next. Until then, may your hearts stay warm with the love of friends and family, and may you each find at least one unexpected joy this year.

Hope to see you all soon!

-Paul

Snowed in No More!!!!

2007-12-05T16:54:00.000-08:00

Yes, sadly, we got snowed out last Saturday at Kips. I was sad, but Paul, who lives almost within walking distance was really sad...Couldn't do it tho, we were too snowed here, and I don't know I could have even got out of my Spooky House on the Hill.

This weekend tho will be different! I no longer park in my driveway, Heck, I no longer HAVE a driveway, it's too steep to plow, and too narrow, so I park on the street. ( Which costs me $15 a day in parking tickets, as I can't remember the darn system here. No one can, it's like Parking Roulette. Everyone tries to park on the side of the street with the most cars and the police rake in the $$$ every night....

We should have some mighty fine fun tho, and BOTH Paul and I have new cameras! SO we will be taking pics all weekend of YOU and posting them up here again next wekk......

Come see us, we are ready to go AND have some new songs to try out.

( including, rumour has it, one for the Birthday girl, Nicole on Friday! )

Love and Irish, Lorraine

Full Moon With Lojo and Missing Mr Score

2007-11-25T09:36:00.000-08:00

Hello all my fine Friends!

I am still REELing from the two nights of shows with Lojo. Thank you SO much for everyone who came down! Oh, we did have some fun! Full on improv both nights. Magic or a train wreck at every moment, fine line, but either seemed to work for both us and everyone there.

I do love playing shows with her. She is a lot like Paul in many ways. ( ok, so Paul is 6'2 and a guy and she is 5'4 and a girl , but hey ) She has the same sort of humour as Paul and I get going, and a willingness to go way to far out on the ledge, and then JUMP, not knowing what the heck is going to happen. I haven't laughed so much in yonks.

Paul was greatly missed and we had much fun calling him Saturday night. And then he would send texts , which I would read " another text from Paul at the Score Family Reunion," I would say. I one point I passed around the cell and everyone in the place got to chat with him.

I loved playing with Lojo, always do, but I am really looking forward to getting back together with Paul next weekend at Kips. There is something comforting about mostly knowing what you are doing on stage, song-wise. ( tho I do like the" hmmm, I know this song, and I also know it is not going to sound ANYTHING like how I know it, or what key it is in" feeling I get with Lojo. )

It should be a fun show, as Paul has been off for a couple weeks and is ready to play, and I am feeling pretty wild and brave after this weekend. Kips is the Pub tho with all the TV's, three of which face the band and no one else can see. I get kind of lost sometimes.

( most bars have sports, but Kips does one TV of Weather Channel, one of weird documentary with subtitles, and one of sports. Paul has to kick me a lot which means " HOW many times are you going to play thru this tune.." )

One funny thing, people laugh a lot at our Name " Paul and Lorraine " and ask us if we couldn't come up with SOMETHING at least, but twice last night people asked me where so and so were playing, and both times no one knew the band name! Some weird, Gaelic I think, or what was it again, I would say........

But no matter how many pints you have, you will wake up in the morning going, " what was that band again...Paul and Lorraine! "

At www.Paulandlorraine.com

See you here, there and everywhere soon!

Love and Irish, Lorraine

Lojo Russo and The Fabulous Lorraine

2007-11-19T19:22:00.000-08:00

Hello All You!

I know you are thinking about the Holiday coming up, and your families who are coming, or where you have to go for the Big Dinner. Some of you are happy about this and some of you are not. Am I right or what????

Either way , by Friday you are going to need to Get Out. Or you are going to need to take these people somewhere. What better place than Charlie's Pub??? And to see my own humble self, The Fabulous Lorraine, playing with The Folk Rock Darling ,( from either Minneapolis, LA or Iowa, who can say) , Lojo Russo ( hey, she may be short, but this women can ROCK!!! )

Come on down. Ok, so maybe we don't know each others music, we have never " practised " single song, and we have NO idea what is going to happen, but, hey, what could BE more fun?????? Every time Lojo and I have gotten together on stage, the result has been magic.

( there was even a tape for sale at one point, as I recall. Hour and a half long show, and we did SIX songs and had John " Big Sexy Sjogren, from the Tim Malloys acting as Butler bringing Champagne to the stage as at various intervals! Tho, I admit we have moved on from there and actually DO play music...)

I can promise you, you will have fun. I can tell you that you do want to be there. And, I can swear, Paul is close to ditching his Family and coming on up.

Oh, yes, we will be calling him. Frequently. On stage and live.

Don't miss this.

Love and Irish,
Lorraine

New Gigs Up!

2007-11-11T12:33:00.000-08:00

We had such a fine time last night at McGarry's, they make us feel so welcome! It is far away and out in a little town, but well worth the drive. The food is beyond fine! And I like the space too. I also love the way in that place that everyone knows each other, anyone who comes in, knows everyone else, tho they are all so very different, they are a family.

And we are happy to be a part of it.

Paul and I got a chance to work on some new songs, people kept requesting songs we had only half learned and when we mentioned that we only half knew them, they said " Who Cares do 'em anyway , test them out on us!" So that was a whole lot of fun...

The Mighty Fitz, who books us everywhere, has sent us more gigs, and they are all posted and up , thru the end of January, so make your plans, my friends! We are all over the place, and would love to see you!

Next up is Thanksgiving Weekend, at Charlie's with Me and Lojo Russo. Paul is rather disgruntled, as Lojo seems only to come up to town and play when I need someone to fill in when Paul is OUT of town, so he never gets to see her and make some music. I half suspect he will leave his annual family gathering and come up anyway, just because it is going to be SO much fun!!!!

Love and Irish,
Lorraine

McGarry's this Saturday!

2007-11-08T18:14:00.000-08:00

Hello All!

It's back to McGarry's for us this Saturday! I am not sure we knew we were playing or not, but we are. ( Good thing I booked my ticket home from LA for Friday !! )

And some more big news...I now have a camera !!! That means that Paul and I will be taking pictures again ( of you! ) and posting them on the blog. All the funnest people will be up there for all the world to see! ( unless, of course, you would rather NOT be, not to worry ) but it's pretty fun!

Also, this being LA and me being here with my Lorraine a Malena bandmate, Malena, I now have FOUR new pairs of shoes to wear on stage! Good thing I wear all that black, they will go with EVERYTHING! ( Hope paul has some spiffy new things to wear too.....

So, how's the weather there? Here we have sun and 75-80, I feel like it might POSSIBLY not be that warm back home....

Hope to see you on Saturday!

Love and Irish,
Lorraine

Way too much fun!

2007-11-05T19:01:00.000-08:00

We had SO much fun at Charlie's last weekend! The music was fine, but it was the people who showed up that made the night ( you know who you are ! ) Paul and I are truly trying to fix the lack of camera situation, one of us at least, ought to have one!!! We want YOU on the blog!!!

The fine people from Stillwater Living showed up on Friday, while I was on stage with special guest John Sjogren, from the Tim Malloys. ( He did his version of Molly Malone, and brought the house down! )

I made the comment a bit later, after Paul had re-taken the stage, and they were STILL taking pictures, that it seemed to be my lot in life that I could walk into a gig looking great, with my hair down and perfect, BUT that the people with the cameras would wait a set until I was sweaty and my hair in a desperate messy bun, before shooting us....And mugged for the still shooting people with hair everywhere.

Look for the magazine and pray for me, the Gods only know what they will print.

Paul and I have a couple weeks off now, and then I am back at Charlies with LOJO RUSSO , but we can't wait to get back and so want to see you. To the nice lady who was princable, ( yes I know I am spelling this wrong, but nothing in spell check can make it right, see? I need you! ) of the local middle school, bring your people down, we will make for a mighty fine evening!

One note, based on the last couple of shows , Charlie's shows are starting to fill up fast, so get there early to get a table.....

Love and Irish,
Lorraine

Halloween and Charlies!!!!!

2007-10-30T15:47:00.000-07:00

We are back home at Charlie's this weekend, and it looks like, due to the weirdness of gigs, the Only Paul and Lorraine show in November! Lojo and I are doing Thanksgiving weekend, which of course will be fun, but if you want your dose of Paul and Lorraine, you might want to come out. I for one, am excited and ready to play.

I think we will have some guests, Maureen, from , well, I have no idea where she is from, but it's not here, is driving up, and Sharon, the Hot Birdchick , is having a signing at Dreamhaven and bringing the gang down afterwards. Sharon's book " Disapproving Rabbits " is just out and FLYING off the shelves. I am sure she will be happy to sign for anyone at the show, who doesn't make it to the Dreamhaven event.

What else? Halloween is this week, which for me is a month long event ( ok, year round. I never have to re-decorate, makes things simple ) Perhaps I will dress in something Spooky and Black this weekend ( for a change, hee-hee ) Paul will be coming as Shrek, complete with full green body make up. ( kind of combining St Pats and Halloween )

AJ the manager is coming as a bunch of grapes, and Jeramy the bartender is going to be a Mermaid. Chuck and Judy , the owners, who usually drop by for a set or two, will be coming as Owners of a Wonderful Old Hotel, but their baby Boston Terrier is going all out!

And I am not SURE but someone told me that Elizabeth, manager of Dreamhaven books , will be in full leather, complete with 6 inch heels.

THIS will be a party...( even if I did just make up a FEW things in the last couple paragraphs )

I will leave you with a picture of Paul and I , along with the Hot Birdchick, taken last week in my backyard, while combining Birding and Cooking....

Let's see you all there! ( Possee, it has been a while...)

Love and Spooky and Irish,
Lorraine

Charlie's This Weekend...Free Booze!

2007-10-19T12:15:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody! Say, if you like free live music and a free drink or two, then come out and join us at Charlie’s Pub tonight and tomorrow. They are running a promotion sponsored by Macallan Amber and will be giving free sample drinks starting at 9pm each night. We, of course, start at 7:30. Here is a picture of a couple of the Amber girls with AJ at their last promotion. I’m looking forward to a fantastic weekend and I hope to see you there.

It may be cold and wet outside, but it will be warm and festive in the pub.

~Slainte~

Much Fun at Kieran's

2007-10-14T18:40:00.000-07:00

Kieran's this weekend was BEYOND fun, both nights, THANK YOU , all of you who came down! I can't possibly do justice to everyone who contributed to the fun, can't wait to come back again!

I will say tho, if the Three Zombies have any pictures, Please send them to me! My blog over at www.lorraineamalena.com is all about you guys and the Lorraine a' Malena gang needs to know you in all your Zombie glory!!!!! ( I will never forget the Zombie Table Drum Solo! )

Nicole, you and you 30 or so friends sure do know how to have a Birthday Party!

Iowa, so glad you two found us, come back again soon! We will rock your world once again. ( remember to check out www.lojorusso.com if you like us , you will love her, and she plays down your way quite a bit )

And to the Gentleman in the corner table, who came early both nights to see us, my hats off to you, people who love what we do that much , mean so very much to us.

And ok, REALLY would not have been a party without the Folks at the front table on Saturday. If I knew all your names, I would post them, and I know we have worked together SOMEWHERE, and I will remember it at some point, but remember, you have promised me much cool new music.

I loved the third set on Saturday, the crowd had thinned and all you lot kept requested songs we had already done, and Paul and I threw caution to the wind and did them all. I was way tired, but, oh, it was so worth it. Both nights. We feel so very loved.

Remember tho, it's YOU that makes the show, and it's YOU are as much of a part of the evening as we are.

We could NOT do it without you!

See you soon???????

Love and Irish,
Lorraine

Kieran's This Weekend

2007-10-11T20:29:00.000-07:00

Hello again!!!

Gigs have gotten all turned around this week. Now , it would seem, we are going to be at Kieran's in Minneapolis both Friday and Saturday, which is good, a lovely Pub it is, and we always seem to have a good time.

Charlie's last weekend was REALLY fun, I don't think we hardly ever got to get off stage. Thanks to everyone who came down. We even debuted a new song. Ok, actually we LEARNED the thing, on stage , on the spot. There is a very nice lady who comes to see us and we have been promising to learn her favourite song for months, and she came in, and said TONIGHT???? Well, what could we do but say , uh YES! We will do this song. Thanks to a handy printer in the office, wireless internet and Paul's laptop, a little google and a whole lot of faith, we obtained lyrics and did the song.

Not half badly, I might add, since we didn't know it and had only heard it a couple times. And oh, the name was " Seven Drunken Nights " very fun song about a guy who keeps coming home drunk and seeing suspicious things but his wife tells him he is drunk and they are something else. I love it!

Paul and I are working on the whole camera thing, and hope to ( one of us anyway ) have cameras again soon, so we can get back to posting pics of allthe fun that goes on. We talked about how we miss being able to do that today.

I posted many new gigs today, and we have some more pending, and we are planning on doing a New Years Show. Now THAT will be a Party!!!!!!

Come see us soon!!!!!!

Love and Irish,
Lorraine

Back to Charlie's

2007-10-04T06:48:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

Where has this week gone??? It has gone by SO quickly. Paul and I had a great time at McGarry's last weekend, I love the staff there. ( actually, that's true of most of the places we play at, Pubs seem to attract really nice people, both to work in and to hang out at )

I must admit when the BUS pulled up I was a little taken back, bachelor parties scare me somewhat, but these guys were, yes, drinking and doing All the sorts of things they do at such parties, but they were also polite, liked us, and mixed with the Pub Patrons and in general were a delight.

( this never happens at bachelor parties , our thanks! )

I have gigs thru the end of the year, and will be posting them later today, including a Special Thanksgiving weekend gig with myself and Lojo Russo, while Paul is of doing Family things .

This weekend we are back at Charlie's. Hopefully the cords we seems to have lost will be waiting. Its funny to have lost them, since due to all the construction around my Spooky Little House on the Hill, I never take the PA out of the car. ( I would need a crew and Sherpa guide to get it from where I can park, to the house )

Come down this weekend, and will WILL be having some fun.

Promise.

Love and Irish , Lorraine

Almost the Weekend!

2007-09-13T18:19:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!

Tomorrow is almost here, FRIDAY! And you may well be done with your work week, but Paul and I are ready to go! It's Charlie's this Friday and Saturday from 7:30 to 11:30. And just in case you think Paul and I sit around eating Bon Bons ( What ARE Bon Bons anyway ?? ) all week, we are really ready for some fun too, it's been a long one. We are actually doing a wedding at Charlie's as well, Saturday afternoon, which I call a handy little coincidence , location-wise.

Sunday, both Paul and I are heading out to Renn Fest ( without my dog, bad idea that was last weekend, didn't play a note! ) Look for us at the Bedlam Shows. Or just look for us, who can say what will happen, but if you see us, please come up and say Hi!

Love and Irish,
Lorraine

Come out tonight!

2007-08-31T12:03:00.000-07:00

Hello All!

It's finally stopped raining here in our part of the world, and Paul and I are playing at Charlie's tonight , Friday, and Saturday. 7:30 to 11:30. And we are SO ready to rock the Irish in you! The both of us have had a long hard week , and had last weekend off, ( well, " off " from gigging ) and need to relax and have some fun!

Rumor has it that Paul Score will be out at the MN Renn Fest this Saturday, not in costume, just walking around, but I just bet, if you go by a Bedlam show, you might just see him there as a special mystery guest. ( you know Big Johnny! He could talk a flea into sitting in, for a cup of mead at the Mead Booth , hee-hee )

I don't know when I will get out there, I sure am hoping to, but its a long drive, and I have a large Dog for the next month who goes a wee bit NUTS at the sight of crowds or other dogs, so we will see. I am working with him. ( I call him my upper body workout! )

Hope to see you this weekend!

Love and Irish,
Lorraine

The Best Weekend Ever!

2007-08-19T12:05:00.000-07:00

Last night was BEYOND the best fun Paul and I have ever had. Wait, I should back up a bit, it was the best weekend ever. On Friday, there were SO many fun people, the Posse came down ( ALWAYS an event )and we had people from Japan, and another person having a party to send someone off to China and lots of real fun folks..I sure didn't expect it could get any better....

But Saturday night....Paul and I managed one 15 minute break the entire 4 hour show! I am still reeling, as it were, we had SO much fun!!!!! Sadly , both of our cameras were down, ( mine due to a Bizarre Hairspray accident ) but many folks had cell phone cameras and promised to send us shots. ( Yes, the one of the Laughing table, these people never stopped, and the people in front of them, yes, I will learn the songs you requested, ) and we will post them as they come in.

There was a wedding in another part of the hotel, and they were so very sweet. Sometimes weddings are hard , not sure WHY people drink quite so much , but this one was just lovely. They asked us if we would play a song for the couple to have their first dance to, and I tell you, there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

We had a group of people who were celebrating the Fathers 75 Birthday who were such wonderful fun! He will never forget his Birthday Song.....

And there was a group of people from Iowa, who have come up to see us before, and are now , apparently , going to lobby their local Irish Pub to have us come down and play there. ( no, I was just teasing you, I don't think the one friend is a stalker! Hee-hee )

They came halfway thru the night, and wanted to hear Tim Finnegin's Wake, and we had already done it ( it is a PRODUCTION this song, goes on for 20 minutes! ) and we weren't sure we wanted to do it again for everyone, but, I tell you, when people throw that much money on stage, they can have whatever they want!!!!!

The people in front of the Laughing Table , ( wonderful blonde lady, you and I share a sense of humour, I adore you! ) and the gentleman who knew SO much about Irish , ( yes, please send photos ) made my night. Please come back soon!

The Pub was standing room only no one wanted us to stop. We would have gone on, but Paul and I were simply too beat to continue. I was shaking after we stopped, but we sure didn't want it to end!

I am sure Paul will be on shortly to add his comments, and we will post photos as they come in! And I am just as sure I am forgetting to mention people and all of the great things that went on, so if I am, remind me here!

I must say, I have never felt SO loved and have never had such a fine time. YOU made the night, and YOU made me so very happy, I am still smiling today. My only regret is that the Owners, Chuck and Judy, were not , sadly, in the house. I only hope they know what a truly magic, special place they have.

Let's do it again soon. Yes?

Love and Irish,
Lorraine

The Weekend is Coming!

2007-08-14T19:08:00.001-07:00

Last weekend was fun, playing with Paul Regge, and many thanks to Paul for taking the gig, ( The Mighty Fitz asked if I could find someone and take the gig, as everyone else was booked or out of town ) he is a fine player and we learned a lot of songs on the fly.

. Thanks too, those of you who came down to suppot us too, you can't know how much I apreciated it, that you were there. ( you know who you are ) The rest of the people were, well, pretty , well DRUNK is a good word, happens that way sometimes and makes for a difficult gig. All part of the job.....The fact that there were really fine moments makes up for it. Again, you know who you are. You are as much a part of the evening as we are, and we could not have done it without you.

Doesn't happen very often at Charlie's, that we get out numbered.. That place is special. Most nights are all about US having a great time, playing music, trading quips and just realaxing in our living room. With bartenders. It is still my favourate place to play, tho they are all special in thier own way.

I can't wait for this weekend , when I get my own Paul back ( I mean that in a Band type way, NO dating yr bandmate, ever, trouble will come of it! ) We are going to be on Fire and there is going to be some serious fun!!!!!

So do, please, come down, tell us about Irish Fair, or your Storm Stories, and what you have been up to. Have some dinner, a pint and a whole lot of fun.

And we will do the same.

Love and Irish,
Lorraine

Who Are These Bands??????

2007-08-07T06:16:00.000-07:00

Ok, this will take a fair amount of explaining, hope you have had your coffee.

Gigs this week, Paul and I are both gigging and playing and will rock the Irish in you souls, but not together. This week anyway.

Tonight, Paul is sitting in for John " Big Sexy " Sjogren with John's band Bedlam, at Merlin's Rest. John is in Scotland with Adam, from his other band, the Tim Malloys. Paul will be playing with Mark Sterling and Paul Reggee. I used to be in Bedlam myself.

Still with me? Have some more coffee....

This weekend St Domminics Trio was meant to play at Charlie's, but they have studio time booked ( Yea! ) so the Mighty Fitz asked Paul and Lorraine to take the gig, except Paul is going to his cabin with his kids. So I went and found ANOTHER Paul to play with me, yes, the same Paul that our Paul is playing with tonight. So it will not be St Domminics Trio at Charlie's, and it will be Paul and Lorraine it just won't be the SAME Paul and Lorraine the one generally sees. The part of Paul will be played by, uh, Paul.

Better add some Whisky to that coffee, it will all start to make sense soon.

Last weekend at Charlie's was more fun than a new kitten ( which I know something about, just having aquired a little Bengal Kitty ) Three anniversary couples on Friday night, 11 years, 35 years and 50 years. ( I had thought perhaps I had teased one gentleman a little too much, and was very glad to get a note from him yesterday saying how very much fun they had had...)Paul's parents showed up too. Saturday was looking kind of dissapointing until midway thru second set when the place filled up and we never stopped! Some of our favourite people showed up, and I don't think we even took a break for more than a moment. Nice jazz hands people!!!

The best moment was a couple that really really liked what we were doing, and explained afterwards they thought " Paul and Lorraine" was a commpletely different band they had seen there one night and had NOT liked, so as we play there every other weekend, they were carefullly avoiding the pub those weekends!!!! Changed that we did, hope to see them more often now!

( also, I promise never to end a night with Freebird ever again. Unless we get a LOT of cash )

So, I don't have any idea what is going to happen with the alternate Paul and Lorraine this weekend ( I am sure our Paul is saying the same thing abut his gig tonight ) but I do know one thing....

We're going to have us some fun. Join us? It wouldn't be a party without you!

Love and Irish,
Lorraine

So far all is well....

2007-08-01T17:29:00.000-07:00

So you know, Paul and I are ok, as are Big Johnny, Adam and Betsy ...

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who are still currently out on that bridge...

( Massive bridge collapse in Minneapolis......)

Updates as they occur...

Lorraine

Temporary Resident of Bedlam

2007-07-31T09:29:00.000-07:00

Greetings all! First I want to send a shout out to Jody Dowling (hope I spelt that right) for sitting in with me at Kip’s on Saturday. He is very talented, grand to play with, and we had a great time.

Speaking of sitting in, I will be playing with Bedlam tonight and the following Tuesday at Merlin’s Rest (3601 E. Lake St., Minneapolis) from 9-1. I’ll be filling in for Mr. John Sjogren (Mighty big shoes to fill!) and playing to save my life. Well, that’s how it’s going to feel at least! It is going to be a BLAST and I hope to see some of you there.

Lorraine and I will also be back and fabulous at Charlie’s Pub on Friday and Saturday. The lumberjacks have fled the city and parking will once again be plentiful.

We will post again before the weekend! Until then…

~Slainte~

Gig update!

2007-07-21T14:51:00.001-07:00

Tonight, the part of the Fabulous Lorraine will be played by none other than Bedlam’s Paul Regge! Ms. Lorraine will be back to her regularly scheduled program in time for Kips next weekend. So tonight it will be Paul Squared, or A-Paul-A-Piece, or just generally Appalled. Bring on the lumberjack women!

Happy Birrthday Paul!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-07-20T07:24:00.000-07:00

Right, folks, this is Paul's Birthday weekend. So I guess it is ok to tell you now that Lumberjack days , and the Charlie's Gigs are all part ofa Plan that I worked our with the city of Stillwater!!!!! Yes the mayor is coming by to give him the keys to the City and the all female Lumberjack dancers will be stopping by!!!!!

Paul will also be down there during the day, rolling the logs, chainsawing and, well whatever else lumberjacks do!!!!

So even tho it may be a little crazy, our own little pub wil still be home, not to mention a great refuge from the wildness. I think all 10 or 12 of Paul's kids will be there, we will have drink specials, yes, you can specialy buy Paul a drink at any time, AND you can nip out for some wonderful cheese curds at any time.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See you there!!!

Love and Lumberjacks,
Lorraine

Minstrels Amid Mayhem

2007-07-18T12:10:00.000-07:00

Greetings to all!

I have to say that I am really looking forward to playing this weekend at Charlie’s. It has been a little too long between gigs, but Lorraine just HAD to go to New York and be all important and stuff. *grin*

This weekend will be a crazy one down in Stillwater as they are having their annual Lumberjack Day’s celebration. As always, we would love to have you all come out but, if you are unaware, the parking situation can be difficult at best. My advice would be to make a day of it and enjoy the great weather we are supposed to have this weekend instead of trying to make it in at gig time. I’ve heard that there are a couple of other musicians that will be in town for the event as well. Big Head Todd will be there Friday and The New Cars will be the headliner on Saturday, but I still think we will be more fun!

Our last time there was a blast and I have been meaning to post some photos of the event, well at least some of the photos that I can get away with posting. Our friend and manager, A.J. was able to hang with us for a little while and brought a group of former coworkers down to have some fun… and they did! It was great to have you all there having such a good time.

Lorraine and I look forward to seeing you there, and if the cities density is a little to high for you this weekend, please come visit us at another time or location near you.

Hope to see you soon!

~Slainte~

New Gigs are In!

2007-07-11T12:39:00.000-07:00

New gigs are up now in our appearances section!!! Can't wait to get back again, especially to Charlie's, it feels like so long since we have been there....

Also, NW has returned my luggage, so I can actually PLAY them!

Love and Irish,
Lorraine

No Gig Tonight..

2007-07-07T11:08:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Northwest airlines and a whole lot of lost luggage ( the ONE time I have to check fiddle and gear! ), Paul and I will not be playing at McGerry's tonight. We are very sorry for the cancelling, and hope that if you do go down, whomever the Mighty Fitz is getting to play for us will make you as happy as we would have. ( Fitz only deals with the best, so , if you wanted to go out, do so!!!! )

And to the owners, again, we are very sorry that my travel ( AND NORTHWEST!!!!!!! ) has inconvienced you!

I am back from shooting in New York, and REALLY looking forward to seeing everyone again! New dates thru October will be posted in the next couple of days! I enjoyed the video shoot, but my heart is in playing for YOU , because YOU are what makes the magic. Live and being Paul and I feels like being in our living room, and I am so glad to be Home....

Love and Irish,
Lorraine

From New York.....

2007-07-01T20:30:00.000-07:00

Hello All!

No gig posts, as we had no gig this past weekend. Next weekend we play Saturday at, hmmm...McGerry's? ( help! somone tell me where we are playing! hee-hee...)

I am off in New York this past week, and this next one, shooting a video with a band Malena ( my bandmate from Lorraine a' Malena ) and I are playing with. Having a beyond wonderful time!!! And learning SO much about production , camera work, acting and just how cold the ocean actually IS in this part of the world!

I am blogging about it over at www.lorraineamalena.com/blogspot

Love and Irish,
Lorraine

Charlie's Party This Weekend!

2007-06-19T16:01:00.000-07:00

Hello All!

Last weekend at Keiran's was definitely interesting. Saturday was a LOT of fun, second set started off hot and went up from there. In fact , there didn't end up being a third set, we went long in one and two and then the place emptied, as it does down there, and we spent the last half hour talking with the people who had come down to see US. Thank you and thank you!!!! ( sorry about the no Bob Seger, hee-hee )

I think the funniest moment of the night was trying to explain to one gentleman why I didn't eat White Castle. He couldn't understand why anyone would not. Hmmmm....

I did manage to fall ONTO the stage most spectacularly, over the monitor, onto drinks , most un-dignified!!! ( never happened back when I was a drinking women! ) I was ok, if scraped and somewhat bruised....

Ah well, onto next weekend.....

We are at Charlie's and I want to invite ALL of you to come down. I am leaving for New York and Boston on Sunday , for two weeks , to shoot some music videos with my Hidden Variable Band ( me, Malena Teves and Chris Ewen , more over at www.lorraineamalena.com ) and I think Saturday ought to be the official Bon Voyage Party!!! So it will be a month, nearly until we are back at Charlie's again, and we are going to have some FUN.

I love all the places we play, and all of the people that we meet, but there is truly something special about Charlie's. I am not sure what it is, but it has always seemed to me, that it is everything an Irish Pub ought to be. It's like playing in our living room, only we have bartenders for the evening. Everyone ends up being friends by the end of the night.

I think some of it is the owners, Chuck and Judy. They are hands on type owners and it is a labour of love for them. As likely as not, you will find them in the audience, on any given night, having just as fine a time as anyone. They treat us so very well, from making sure the popcorn is hot for me when I come in, to offering a room at the Inn if either Paul or I are too tired to drive home. ( or in Paul's case WHISKY!!! Just kidding, Paul is a pro...) Some places are all about money, and I feel like window dressing, but at Charlie's, I feel like part of the family.

As will you, if you come down. We will make sure of it.

So, please, do come by this weekend, and wish me luck, I am a little nervous, and would love the moral support! ( I will , once again, have some new hair on Saturday, hee-hee, you know me! )

Love and Irish, Lorraine

Friday Already????

2007-06-15T09:22:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it is Friday already! Where did this week GO?????? I keep thinking to myself this morning " Paul and I are going off to play Kieran's this weekend..." And , uh, that seems to be TONIGHT!!!!!

Last weekend at Charlie's was much fun. Strange , but fun. There were a few folks , you know who you are, who made it all worthwhile and kept us sane. And then there was everything else. There were weddings down the hall both nights and the first night one of the groomsman got pretty happy, so happy he was, uh, asleep , before the wedding photos were taken! You could hear the bride all the way to the pub....( myself, I would have taken shots of him , uh, sleeping , and included them in the album, and teased him about it forever more...)

The second night , two groomsman managed to get into an old fashioned wedding brawl, and Paul and I got stranded on a break on the wrong side form the pub! Such excitedment!

Those wacky Groomsman!

That aside, the music was a lot of fun, and on Friday, our littlest fan ever, perhaps, one years old, made our hearts melt. When they are into you that young, you know you are doing somethng right. We even had a couple bring some friends in ON PURPOSE to hear our version of Danny Boy. WHo knew....

Saturday night, HALF of a group of fans known as the Possee showed up, which always makes us happy. We called them the " Poss" The other half went camping , apparently. What's up with that? Camping? Next time pitch your tents right by the river and come up to the pub! We are WAY more fun than camping!!!!!!!

Hope to see you all at Kieran's tonight or tomorrow! It's a different place for us and we would love to see some familular faces.....And make some new friends....And have some fun!

Love and Irish,
Lorraine

A lot can happen in two weeks.

2007-06-05T13:58:00.000-07:00

Okay, I’m back and I’m busy. What a couple of weeks I’ve had, I don’t even know where to start. Right now I’m trying to schedule the rest of my summer and I don’t know about the rest of you, but I think that genetically modifying mice is easier than scheduling three children’s summer break.

I went up and opened our cabin two weekends ago and it was hard to leave. I could go on and on but I’ll let this photo speak for me.

Seattle was a lot of work, but a ton of fun. I have many pictures, but here is one that I took from the Space Needle. (Yes I went on the Space Needle. It’s just one of those things you have to do.)

In the evenings I hung out here…

I keed, I keed, but I still wanted to share the photo because I almost fell over laughing when we saw the place.

I actually spent most of my evenings in a little Irish Pub called Kells. www.kellsirish.com We were eating lunch there on Wednesday and my coworker looks at the scheduled band list and says that someone named Peter Yeates was going to play. www.modhran.com/yeates.html Well, after they picked me up off of the floor (I know, I know, not that unusual in an Irish pub) I went back, and listened to him on Wednesday night and Thursday night. Then I went back again on Friday and Saturday night to hear both him and Ken Larson play and guess who else shows up?

Why Lojo of course. (old pic) I have no explanation for it and I’m not going to try to grasp any significance, I’m just going to accept it all with a bemused smile and a cosmic “thank you.”

Okay, that kind of catches anyone up, who for whatever reasons, may be remotely interested in my life. Now onto the gigs! We seem to have three weekends in a row in June! I must say I am pleased, as I love to play, but I hope my kids don’t mind hanging out with me at Kierrans.

Come on down and have a pint or two and we’ll sing you a song. Not so we can forget life for awhile, but rather embrace it!

As always, keep the emails and feedback coming, and well see you there!

~Slainte~

New Gigs Up!

2007-06-02T07:35:00.000-07:00

Good Monring All! ( or Good whatever time it is now for you reading this! ) No gigs this weekend , Paul is out at a Genetics Conference in Seattle, where he is most likely haveing a great time, perhaps we will hear from him, tho you know those wacky genetisits! We do have new gigs confirmed and up over on Appearences page tho, three weekends in a row in June , and one of those in Minneapolis, for those of you who keep saying Stillwater is too far. ( well, if you don't drive, I see your point, but everyone else....)

Still too sleepy this morning to think of anything interesting to say, besides, Can I have some more tea! I am going to take the big white dog out for a long romp in the woods, and then settle down to some work. Sadly, it is too wet here to work in the garden, and the bees are best left alone at this point.

Perhaps I might even learn a couple new tunes! That'll teach Paul to go out of town!

See you soon!

Love and music,
Lorraine

Bees and Shows

2007-05-27T18:56:00.000-07:00

Hello All!!!

No gig pictures this week, so here is a picture of me today out tending the Bees. Different, eh? No make-up needed and you can't wear black, the bees don't like it. More Bee pics over at lorraineamalena.com

We only played Friday night this week, at Charlie's. There were some great people there, and some, uh, NOT so much great people. I am going with drunk , very very drunk. ( you have to be very very drunk to offer to FLASH an Irish Band if they play Dave Mathews for you )

But the fun people who were there were some of our favourites, and the last half an hour , after the Very Very Drunk people had left, was lots of fun. Thanks everyone who stuck around till the end, it was well worth it. We had some good moments in the first set too, even knew some of the songs people were requested. Everyone seemed very into Paul's Going To Prison In Austraila Forever Songs, for some reason. ( I still think Paul has some past life issues he is resolving , hee-hee )

No gigs next weekend!!!! That hasn't happened in months. My garden is going to be very happy, I am thinking. I am still bugging The Mighty Fitz for gig info, but I think we can safely say June 8th and 9th will be at Charlie's.

Hope everyone has a great weekend , and a lovely week!

Love and FIddles,
Lorraine

Gig Change and Pirates

2007-05-21T19:55:00.000-07:00

We didn't manage to take any pictures this week, and posts should have pictures, so here is one of me on the way to the gig that I took for my Lorraine a' Malena bandmate, Malena.

W had a great time at Kips last Saturday! It was the best Kips gig ever. ( and , no, we have still not yet met the manager, but Bartender Aiden, and the waitstaff are wonderful and make us feel truly welcome !!!!) There was a group of 4 men there who were delightful, they had gone to high school together in the early 60's and ever since have gotten together once a year, no matter what for a night of drinking and fun. They bought Paul so many whisky's we were thing of calling in Big Johnny from the Tim Malloys and Bedlam to help him out in this emergency!!!!!!

( they bought me one too, which after I raised my glass to them, I passed to Paul and we explained it was wasted on me as I don't drink. They did kiss my hand, tho after the show, which I don't let people do often, which shows how much I liked them! )

One announcement, we are only playing this Friday at Charlie's, not Saturday. Paul has had a Family Thing come up. Here's a note from the Mighty Fitz, our booking agent, on who is standing in for us:

"Clairseach " Chuck & Ann Heymann : Ann Heymann (Gaelic wire-strung harp, vocals, wooden flute, tin whistle, bodhran [skin drum],bones), Chuck Heymann (vocals, button accordion, guitar, and cittern). This couple, now living in western Minnesota, is always a great treat to have at Kieran's. They spend a great deal of their time traveling the world playing and teaching traditional Irish music. We are lucky enough to be able to get them to play at Kieran's when they are in town. Ann is known the world over for her harp playing and Chuck is one of the nicest traditional players you will ever hear as he brings a great collection of songs and accordion tunes into the mix.

Thank you Clairsearch!!! ( I may have to be coming down and relaxing at Charlie's for a change )

I can't find any current pictures of Paul to post, and I feel like I should include him somehow, so here is one I have of Paul on his first day of Kindergarden. Goes a long way to explaining a lot of things, now doesn't it?

Love and Irish Music,
Lorraine

What do you mean it's already Thursday!?!?

2007-05-17T12:33:00.000-07:00

Greetings all! Lorraine and I had a great time last weekend and we had wonderful crowds both evenings. Friday night we were graced with the presence of a young girl named Geri. She mentioned that she played the fiddle and Lorraine asked her if she would like to come up and play a song. Now we have a very hard and fast rule about inviting people up on stage, but we figured that this one couldn’t possibly backfire on us. She came up and played us a song and she showed great poise, grace, and talent by playing in front of many strangers for the first time. I also found out afterward that she is not used to playing on a full sized violin as well! You did great Geri!

This Saturday we will be at Kips again! I do like the bar as it has a decent atmosphere and great food and as posted earlier, we got to know some of the employees as well, though I still have yet to meet the “manager.”

I also managed to go see Bedlam at Merlin’s Rest on Tuesday. I played a few songs with them and Ann Viviano was sitting in for Lorraine, as she was home sick. It was the first time that we had played together and it was a lot of fun. I’ll sit in with those guys any time!

Well, I hope Lorraine is feeling better and I hope to see a few of you at Kips this weekend.

~Slantie~

Lots of Fun and Looking for More!

2007-05-09T19:32:00.000-07:00

I had a lot of fun playing with Bedlam at Merlin's Rest last night. Mark and Johnny are more like playing with a rock band than an accoustic band. Mark plays bass and Johnny ( John " Big Sexy " Sjogren from the Time Malloys ) plays guitar and they lay down a really solid base for me to go wild on! There was even a great lightning and thunderstorm going on. The crowd is really friendly and made me feel so loved and welcome. I'll be sitting in again next week for Paul Reggee, but most likely for only two sets, it's a long drive, mid-week, and those guys wear me out!!!!!

I am really looking forward to getting back to Charlie's this coming weekend with my own Paul ( well, not MY Paul, I mean my Paul as in my bandmate, never never date your bandmate, trouble will come of it!!! ) Charlie's feels like home. The owners have become great friends and we meet and make SO many new friends every week. And I love the hours, 7:30 to 11:30.

It's a true Irish Pub, old friends, new friends and great music and you never know what is going to happen. The people who come down for the evening are as much a part of the show as we are. Most night I leave there feeling like I have been given as much as I gave, if you see what I mean.

And that's why I do this.

See you soon!!!!!

Love and Fiddles,
Lorraine

Salsa, Gigs and a New CD Soon!!!!!

2007-05-06T21:31:00.000-07:00

The one time both of us forget our cameras!!!!!!

Played McGarry's last night , which is very far away for me, but we love the owners and the staff. Very nice little place with GREAT food. The gig was nice and we were having a fine time , meeting new people and trying out a whole lot of new songs, when a Party Bus of women pulled up! They were all dressed in Sombreros and Mexican Skirts and had a bride to be with them. We played Mexican music for them ( well Irish, but , hey, like they knew at that point, anyway they loved it ) and it was Cinco de Mayo.....

And us with no camera!

Many thanks to Roadie Elizabeth!!! I know I was way to tired to take down my half of the PA and could not have done it without you! ( Paul, let's think about doubling her wages...)

I am going to be filling in for Paul Regge and playing with Bedlam this Tuesday night 9-1 at a new Irish Bar called Merlin's Rest ( 3601 E Lake St, Minneapolis ) Fun band, with John Sjogren from the Tim Malloys....I have told Paul ( of Paul and Lorraine, darn all these Paul's ) that he is required to come down and do a few songs with me!

( he may do as he is told or not, we go back and forth as to who is the Leader of our band, we settled it by getting a HAT and who ever has the HAT is the leader for that moment, hee-hee )

Looking forward to getting back to Charlie's next weekend, and having some fun. We are also, big announcement here, getting ready to record a cd, LIVE at Charlie's , over a couple of days! We are currently thinking early August, or earlier if we can make it happen. We are going to take a lot of photos, and hope to put our best ones on the cd booklet. More on this as it develops....

I can tell you this tho, we want you to be there!

( Posse, Fun 6th Anniversary Couple and the Couple who is bringing me the DVD of Waking Ned Devine, you are REQUIRED to be there! )

Love and Salsa and Music,
Lorraine

Spring has sprung, the grass has ris, I wonder where the flowers is?

2007-05-02T12:40:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. Sorry for the delay but life's crazy meter is on its way up to eleven these days. We had a wonderful weekend at Charlie’s. The weather was fantastic, the doors were open to the patio and people were out to enjoy the emergence of spring.

Friday night we had a group come out to see us who had been with us on St. Patties day and they came back and brought a cow. Apparently the owner of the cow also played the bagpipes and Lorraine went through the thought process of going to an Irish pub and deciding whether to bring the pipes or the cow and having the cow win. ~pause for reflective thoughts~ When I returned from our first set break I found I had been replaced! Windy (yes, the cow’s name is Windy) had a hell of a voice and I couldn’t knock her for her choice of beverages.

Saturday night was a hell of a party and we would really like to thank everyone who came out to have fun with us. I came up with a new saying that night that I think really embodies my feelings on our performances. It simply goes, “Welcome to our living room! We’ve hired some bartenders for the evening.” That’s what it feel like to me anyway, just hanging out with friends and having fun. Here is a picture of a wonderful couple that was celebrating their anniversary and has hired us for their wedding party in 2010! I bet we’ll even know a new song or two by then. Hehe.

And now, for my little homage to spring, a picture of the two kites my kids were flying the other day in our park. They had a blast and I got to climb 15 ft up a pine tree to recover a streamer, so I got to feel like a kid too.

This Saturday we will be at McGarry’s in Maple Plain. We have played there before and the food is excellent and the staff and patrons are extremely friendly and welcoming. I’m looking forward to seeing that crew again and raising a glass or two with some friends.

~Slainte~

This blogging thing is easy!

2007-04-18T11:30:00.000-07:00

Greetings to you all! This last weekend was another example of how different two nights can be. Now I’m not superstitious and I’ve never had a bad Friday the 13th before, but I must say that this one pushed it. Fortunately nothing tragic happened, just a lot of little things to raise my general level of annoyance with the world. The crowd also seemed to be in their own little space, as if to acknowledge someone else’s presence would immediately render them vulnerable to attack by bad spirits.

Saturday night, however, was an absolute blast. We had a fantastic crowd and everyone was getting the point of the evening, which of course is to have as much fun as is legally possible in a public setting. Here is a slightly blurry (sorry, it’s the best I had) pic from that evening.

Last night I was fortunate to obtain a ticket to go see The Frames at First Ave with Jodyth (Thank you!). They are a band from Ireland fronted by Glen Hansard, who appeared in the move “The Commitments.” It was a great show and I really enjoyed hearing some new live music. I’ll have to get my hands on some of their CD’s as soon as I can justify the expenditure.

Lastly, I thought I would introduce you to my family and put some other faces with my own. Here is a picture taken just after our last decent snowfall and some serious sledding. Dylan (right) is 10, Devin (middle with goofy look ….kids) is 8 and JoHanna (left) is 4. They are as wonderful and amazing as they look.

All the best, always.

-Paul

How does this thing work???

2007-04-13T12:41:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm going to give it a go!

I have to say that I have really have enjoyed all the poetry as of late. Way to go Dan! It has been making me want to pause and be creative myself. I’ll have to wait to see what happens by the end of the post.

Thanks to everyone who came out to see us at Kips the last couple weekends. It was great to finally get a chance to talk with some of the staff. They kept mentioning a “manager” that I never saw and I am beginning to wonder if there is a curtain somewhere with various controls hidden behind it. Speaking of the staff, here is a picture of Mike, one of the superb wait-staff at Kips.
(He's the one in the middle!)

Tonight we are back at Charlie’s Pub and I am really looking forward to it. The weather is warming and I bet their deck will be opening soon, and then look out! What a great place to spend a warm Spring/Summer evening.

All right, here is a quick shot at some Haikus

Little pants on twigs
Mysterious woodland sounds
Clover stained kneecaps

Which side drew first blood
A war with no history
No one remembers

Unicorns at war
Triangulate the rainbow
Fire for effect

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

~Slainte~

Jazz Hands and Dancing at Kips

2007-04-08T09:25:00.000-07:00

Hello All!!!

Every time we play Kips , I have a better time , and it is the people, once again, who make it so much fun for Paul and I. The sound is still very strange, from the stage it feels like you are playing underwater ( ok, so I have never actually PLAYED underwater, but that's what it would feel like if one could ) but it seems as tho it sounds good out front. ( band rule #1 )

These folks were easily the Table of Fun last night. This is them doing what I call Jazz Hands, and they called Spirit Fingers ( which I like better, much better, as will Malena ) They also danced. I don't mean danced like one does when one is overcome with Irish, but DANCED. Together, alone, didn't matter, and I am talking , a frenzied Polka ( missing by inches the speaker poles ) , Irish type step dancing, and the wildest Russian Dance EVER. I was impressed.

And now we have new friends.

They sang along, in and out of tune, clapped, in and out of time, danced like there was no tomorrow, sang Puff the Magic Dragon ( first verse only ) had some pints ( and one snifter of Irish Mist, which they passed around the table, replendishing when needed. Nice commeraderie that. ) All in all, another great night in the pub. I hope they come back again.

I also got to meet Mike Lynch, who I have heard of for many years, but never got a chance to meet. Mike is one of the great session players in the Twin Cities, he plays with all the great Irish players when they come thru town and is darn charming to boot. He plays the bodrhan. ( pronounced Bow-ron , those wacky Irish ) I'd love to have him sit in some night, and trust me when I tell you I don't say that about drummers, bodrhan or otherwise, very often. Nice to meet you Mike!

Next Friday and Saturday is Charlie's again, 7:30 to 11:30. Come on down. It's more fun if you're there. Yes, you. All of you. ( if you're reading this , I am talking to YOU )

Oh, by the way, I am loveing the Haiku and poetry. Subject: Unicorns and Leprauchans. Dying horribly or getting sent to prison in Austraila forever. This will make Paul happy.

Love and Irish,
Lorraine

This Saturday at Kips, Once Again!

2007-04-02T20:14:00.000-07:00

Just got the word from the Mighty Fitz, who books us ( and every other cool Irish act going ) and he says this Saturday, coming up, is Kips once agin! Which makes Paul and I very happy!

Now if the Table of Fun comes back with a bunch more friends ( we are still working on what the heck the song with Whhaay-hey-hey is that you want ) and a bunch of you other folks, ( you know who you are! ) and some new friends, all come down, we will have a , well, proper time in the Pub!

See you on Saturday, 9-12!!!!!!!!!!!!

Paul and Lorraine

Last Night at Kipps

2007-04-01T09:53:00.000-07:00

Hello All!

The gig at Kipps last night was a lot of fun. The sound is kind of strange for the band, you feel like you are in a box like thing, the way it bounces, and I have a bit of an ear infection, so it was doubly weird for me. But , as the rule goes, it sounded good out front!

For me, when playing, it's all about the audience being with you, having fun, and being as much a part of the show as we are. If there is even one group of people there who are having a smuch fun as we do, it makes my night. The kind of people who by the end of the night, we're friends. We've had a great time and are ready to do it again, just as soon as possible.

Lots of people enjoyed the show last night and went away happy, but my award for Here's Our New Friends goes to these girls...This is them doing the Whooh-oh-oh-oh WITH the jazz hands during Bally Bay ( and yes, we will figure out the song you wanted to hear so badly, despite the fact all you could remember of it was the line " Whhay-hay-hay ! )

I know our appearence for next weekend still reads " To Be Determined " and I have a call into the Mighty Fitz asking , uh, where exactly are we playing????? I will post it just as soon as possible. My guess ( which may turn out completely wrong! ) would be Kipps again, or McGarrys ( out in Maple Plain ) Stay tuned for updates.....

See you soon!

Love and Irish,
Lorraine

St Pat's Day Pics!!!!!

2007-03-22T10:15:00.000-07:00

Ok, , Folks, as promised, here are the pics! This is the group we came to call " The Posse " They came early and stayed late , and were more fun than kittens! Names escape me at the moment, but here they are leading the Unicorn Song, which they had been PRACTISING! It would not have been a party without them..( Or for that matter YOU, and you know who you are!!!! )

Here is me eating my Shamrock riding crop, and some wonderful folks waving there's . Who knew it would be a fad?????

These people brought a tree...Never found out why exactly, but hey, who are we to say what's needed for a Party?

Here are a few more of my favorite moments of the three days.....

And finally, me with Crazy Dancing Guy!!!!!

Come back and see us again, SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love and Shamrocks,
Lorraine

Happy St Patricks Day!!!!

2007-03-17T10:45:00.000-07:00

Hello all you fine Folks!

The Big Day is Here and we are pretty well ready for it. Last night was a wonderful Pre Big Day show, LOTS of people came down, and altho I am sure the table that wanted to hear Freebird, all night, went away dissapointed, everyone else had a grand time. We have pictures of the 30th Anniversary couple, and the Couple From Somewhere, and at the very end of the night, Crazy Dancing Guy came back and finished the evening with another crazy dance , to the Irish Song!

( he says that he will be comign back again today, and we are hoping for more crazy dance! )

Pictures are going up on Monday, all at once, as I still can't make this computer download from my camera and I am sure that I wll be too tired tomorrow to do anything but catch up on Netflix.

Paul stayed over at the hotel last night, and says that things are already starting up down in the Pub. We go on at 4 and I am truly hoping my energy comes back before then!!!! There is a Rock Star Energy Drink out there with my name on it! Nine hours of playing today.

( I wonder just how many Unicorn songs that will be??? )

Now I am off to try and decide exactly what I am wearing on this Days of Days. I have Shamrock tattoos and a Shamrock riding crop ( no, no idea what I am going to do with it ) and some great Shamrock socks. Just a few bits shy of an outfit!

Have a great day where ever you are and remember, green beer is an overrated expierence!!!!

Love and Fiddles, Lorraine

St Pats Day #1!

2007-03-16T15:15:00.000-07:00

Hello All!

Last night at Charlie's , Day #1 of the St Pats Marathon was great fun, as everyone who came will no doubt tell you. We got some great shots, which if I was less crazed would be going up today, here and now! Yes, we told everyone, " You're on the Website Now! " ( and you will be!!! Promise!!!! ) Thank you all, you made the night wonderful fun.

( especially Crazy Danceing Guy and friends and my table of three right up front who said they had planned ahead and got a hotel room, the first event at the Pub last night being a Whisky Tasting Party! )

John Sjogren , from the Tim Malloys did come down and we played a few songs together, while Paul got some time off for WHisky Drinking. I think I should make him play fiddle next time so I can sit back, hee-hee. ( tho that might not be our best choice, uh, musicly speaking ) Paul has his Taylor back and we are looking forward to tonight, and then of course, The Big Day!!!

Look for the Pictures, here, just as soon as I can post them!!!!

Love and Irish, Lorraine

And Here We Are in Time for St Pat's!!!!

2007-03-14T19:58:00.000-07:00

Hello all and welcome to the all new Paul and Lorraine Blog! I think it perfect that we are starting this up on St Pats week, being an Irish Duo and all! We hope to be posting pictures , both of us and the Folks who come down to see us and to keep you up to date on where all the fun is happening!

The Noon to 3:00pm in MInneapolis gig that I spoke of has been, sadly, cancelled, due to the fact that the Pub in question could not get a permit for ampllified music. Darn! They said they would be happy to have us come on down and just play, but could not commit $$$ so, we have opted for just playing out at Charlie's in Stillwater, 4:00pm to 1:00am in the big ballroom, so there will be plenty of room for everyone!

( which, in my opinion might be a long enough day anyway!!! )

We will also be at Charlie's on Thursday and Friday from 7:30 to 11:30 and rumour has it that John ( Big Sexy ) from the Tim Malloys is going to be there on Thursday, and is bring a posse, including the legendary FItz, who must going silently mad booking all of the bands in all of the Pubs for this Holiday of Holidays weekend!

Come on down if you are about, we would love to see you!

And have a great time where ever you are!

Love and Shamrocks, Lorraine

Hurrah, hurrah.

2007-03-13T12:26:00.000-07:00

This is a test post. Welcome!