Rory Gallagher - classic or dud

There weren't any bombs in Cork, wrong Ireland.

Rory was from Cork! In fact you can see this statue of his guitar outside the station:

https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/0b/99/2d/ee/found-rorys-place-in.jpg

And this awesome statue in his birthplace, Ballyshannon:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Rory_Gallagher_Statue_-_Ballyshannon.jpg/800px-Rory_Gallagher_Statue_-_Ballyshannon.jpg

He really was one of the best guitarists, makes Mr J. Bonamassa sound like a beginner

tom may recall this differently (better!) but in the 70s uk rock papers, gallagher was held in fond regard, as a good thing that was also an anomaly: as like the honest and committed flying dutchman of great blues guitarists, who never lets up touring

(which notion i believe i gathered from the EOY awards, where he was year-on-year chosen by the readers for the "annual vasco de gama medal for always being on the road")

iirc this special EOY category vanished with punk, when "blues guitar" was no longer considered necessarily a virtue? but i haven't checked this in all the relevant weeklies tho: nme switched away from what was left of this kind of music and never got on the metal train -- sounds in particular may have remained more loyal to the concept :|

I don't remember much talk about Rory Gallagher at all, tbh! I imagine you're right he wasn't thrown on the scrapheap though.

My confession is that I don't think I'd heard Rory Gallagher until a few years ago and I still have heard next to nothing other than the occasional live thing I might stumble across on YouTube.

Wow.... had no idea, they do show some bombed out houses in Cork, parts definitely look like warzones

Just FYI, Cork is at the opposite end of the island, about as far away as you can get from where the bombs were going off. The footage you saw was probably filmed in Belfast.

oops yeah they seemed to play a little loose with editing

also I'm dumb

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvO5OdZgtyM

I love how it's just the jam parts.

I've been listening to so much 70s blues rock lately (latest purchase was Foghat's debut) but had never really given Irish Tour '74 a listen before today. Guitar playing is incredible, but I really wish his keyboardist didn't sound like he was using a Casio.

You might want to check the Live! In Europe album, which was done right before he added keyboards.

I personally like the rinky-dink electric piano, as it adds a unique flavor absent from other acts of the time & ilk. I can see how it could grate tho.

Thanks for the Live in Europe recommendation, this sounds better to me already.

No keys on the 1979 Stage Struck live album either, more in the hard rock direction too if that's your thing.

i'm another one who's grown to love those keys. that guy's on "blueprint," one of my faves. plus i love how he announces his bandmates on the live albums. "rod de'ath rod de'ath." talk about your de'ath metal! (i know he's the drummer but...)

The Beat Club Sessions is great early live stuff if you don't mind it a little raw