What are the best live session recordings?

[Jeff Meade]

I picked up "Live at Mona's" when O'Leary and Ourceau were in town. Of course, I have Matt Molloy's CD. But I imagine there are a lot more live recordings of Irish traditional music sessions. So ... what am I missing? (Beside that obvious "brain" thingy.)

[Dan McHugh]

I love "Live at Mona's". Whats funny is that there seems to be no way of getting the album except directly from Patrick.

Music at Matt Molloy's is the only other one I know that has that similar feel. Yeah, if anyone knows of similar stuff please let us know.

[Danny Cummins]

I love "Mona's" as well. The "Hare's Paw" set has become a favorite around here and my wife does a lovely job with "Jug of Punch" and the other one. Nice and steady....

[ecelt]

Live at the Mermaid, of course

[Marianne MacDonald]

The Lahawns Live at Lena's is great. Lena's is in Feakle, Co. Clare. I play it a fair bit on the show. The other one I like is the compilation CD from the Seisuin na hEireann gig that went on for a few years in Quin, Co. Clare. It features the top pub sessions in Ireland. Both of these are only available in Ireland, however.

[Jeff Meade]

I think I just love the rawness of session recordings ... like the point during the Matt Molloy CD where a guitarist's performance where a tray of dishes falls. And probably my favorite session sound is not a musical instrument, per se, but the sound of shoes stomping. I think it's why I like the session sounds on our site. It's a bit tinny, and you can hear the barflies chattering in the background ... but that's what a session is. It's not the same as a performance. It's community.

[Jeff Meade]

Yikes! I thought it was just shoes. But, again, I am a drummer, and so the deeper historical and philosophical implications often go right over my head.