BCS Championship Game Watch in NYC - January 10, 2011

After the parade of 35 college bowl games, the NCAA finally presents the biggest bowl game of the year: The BCS Championship.

Monday, January 10
BCS Championship Game
Auburn Tigers (#1) vs. Oregon Ducks (#2)
Kickoff 8:30 pm

For suggested viewing locations in NYC, visit the MurphGuide Directory of NY Sports Bars.

Here are specials we know about for tonight's game:

$.25 wings & $12 pitchers at:
Shorty's 576 Ninth Ave. (between 41st & 42nd St.) New York, NY (212) 967-3055

$2 Drafts, $10 Pitchers at 2 Duke's locations::
Duke's 99 E. 19th St. (Park Ave. S.) New York, NY (212) 260-2922 and
Duke's 560 3rd Ave. (37th St.) New York, NY (212) 949-5400

Catch all the action on our 36 HDTVs.
Stout 133 W. 33rd St. (between Sixth & Seventh Ave.) New York, NY (212) 629-6191

Pint night at Hop Devil. 24 craft draft beers, $2 off.
Hop Devil Grill 129 St. Marks Place (between First Ave. & Ave. A) New York, NY (212) 533-4467

2 for 1 Bud & Bud Lt drafts at Bourbon Street on Restaurant Row
Bourbon Street 346 W. 46th St. (between 8th & 9th Ave.) New York, NY (212) 245-2030

ESPN is coming to Blind Pig Bar tonight for the game. They will have prizes and giveaways the entire night.
Blind Pig 233 E. 14th St. (between 2nd & 3rd Ave.) New York, NY (212) 209-1573

Spotlight Artists: The Prodigals

Our next Spotlight Artists are The Prodigals. Founder, singer and accordionist Gregory Grene answers our questions below. The Prodigals will be performing this week at a benefit concert for the Andrew Grene Foundation in honor of Gregory's twin brother, a UN peacekeeping official killed in the earthquake in Haiti last year.
Spotlight Artist: The Prodigals
Band Lineup:
Gregory Grene (vocals and accordion)
Dave Fahy (vocals and guitar)
Trifon Dimitrov (bass)
Chris Berry (drums, percussion)

How did your band's name come about?
It’s in the song "The Wild Rover":
“I’ll go home to my parents/confess what I’ve done
And I’ll ask them to pardon / their prodigal son”
...and of course originally from the Biblical story about the son sowing his wild oats. The concept being that the band is still in the wild oats phase…

How long have you been performing?
Since 1997

Past lives (i.e., previous bands, your early years, etc.):
I split my early childhood between Chicago and Co. Cavan. We used to have harvest parties on the farm there, and I got into the box because of a local player called Sean Donohue. Then when I was fourteen, I ended up going to high school in Chicago, and studied with the extraordinary fiddler Liz Carroll. I went back to Dublin for university, and founded the Trad Music Society in Trinity College. I then spent a year traveling through Asia, and part of the way I funded the trip was by playing with a band in Tokyo. I came back to the US, and worked as an actor, ended up with a show on Broadway, and stayed in NYC, which I love. I worked as a music producer for advertising, which meant all kinds of mad gigs, producing reggae in Kingston, and symphony in Prague; but through all of this I kept playing the music with the band, which I started with Sean McCabe at the end of the acting stint.

Photo Credit: Mark Mindlin

Who were your musical influences?
Both my teachers, Sean Donohue and Liz Carroll, in very different ways. And my very first exposure to recorded music was my mother’s Clancy Brothers LP’s, which remain quite brilliant. Other childhood music included Joe Burke, the legendary Galway box-player, and The Dubliners, whom years later I took my father to see at the National Concert Hall in Dublin – still one of my favorite memories. When I moved to Chicago, I was very definitely homesick for Ireland, and bought every Celtic album I found in the local store, and one of those was Silly Wizard, who have remained one of my favorite bands. It was an absolute thrill to have Johnny Cunningham producer our third album.

Photo Credit: Marion Ross

What are some of your favorite venues to play?
So many fantastic ones – I love the festival circuit, without whom almost none of the Irish musicians could make the kind of go of it we’ve been lucky enough to enjoy. And we’ve gigged in those from Montana to West Palm Beach. Then there are the big concert venues, and they’re also mighty – I would say, often much more willing to take a risk on our mad music than you would think. We’ve played House of Blues from Boston, to Las Vegas, to Los Angeles, to Cleveland (where we’re headlining their St. Patrick’s day music lineup again, for something like the fifth year in a row). In NYC, one of our most memorable gigs was at Webster Hall for a St. Patrick’s Day some years back; and we’ve played Lincoln Center, and B.B. King’s. But our home from home, no question, is Paddy Reilly’s Music Bar on 29th St. and Second Ave.

Paddy Reilly's is a historic spot on NYC's music scene. Tell us a little about your residency there.
It is a place where we are able to break in new material, to hang out, to generally feel like we are at home. Steve and Rayleen and the gang have been the backbone of Irish music in New York for years, and have nurtured every major act you can think of, from Joanie Madden, to Eileen Ivers, to Black 47. They are invaluable.

Photo Credit: Moira Duffy

Tell us a story or anecdote about performing in NYC.
When I first walked into Paddy Reilly’s, Steve Duggan (owner) happened to be chatting to Joanie Madden (legendary flautist/whistle-player). I asked him for a start, and he said, “What do you think, Joanie?”
And she said, “Sure, Steve, give him a shot!” And that was it.
Three or four months later we were playing a private party for Christy Turlington aboard a yacht in the Hudson River – real fairytale of New York stuff.

Linkage:
Website: Prodigals.com
Facebook: The-Prodigals
Myspace: prodigals
Wikipedia: The_Prodigals


Where can we buy your music?
Amazon, CDBaby, iTunes – all the usual suspects!

Several talented musicians have been part of The Prodigals line-up over the years. Has there ever been a Prodigals reunion with past members?
Very much so. The first time was in 2007, at the Dublin Irish Festival in Ohio, one of the very greatest Irish fests. We did a set as “Whiskey Asylum,” which was an amalgam of the Prodigals and the Mickey Finns, who consist of Brian Tracey and Ray Kelly, both former Prodigals, as well as Mattie Mancuso. Mattie insisted on wearing a polka-dot dress for the gig. Not only is Mattie one of the world’s greatest fiddlers, but he has very fine legs with the right shoes to set them off. There’s still great footage up on YouTube.

Photo Credit: Marion Ross

How much time is spent on the road touring with The Prodigals. Any good stories to share?
We’ve racked up astonishing miles and time on the road. We’ve toured across the US, as well as Germany, Canada, and a number of tours in Ireland. Re stories – there are tons of them, and in general not to be shared in this kind of forum! But one small, funny one was from around the year 1999 or so, on our tour of Germany, where I had reserved a van at the airport. Something went wrong, somehow, and the van was nowhere to be found when we landed. It turned out to be a busy weekend for rentals, and all they had left were two vehicles. So three of us got into a midsize car with the majority of the gear; but our bass player and soundman ended up heading to Stuttgart on the Autobahn, with Mercedes and BMW’s hurtling past at 150 kmh, while they teetered and creaked along at about 60 kmh, in the very first SmartCar I had seen.
Those of us in the midsize car arrived at the hotel first, of course. So we were outside, having loaded the gear in, and saw them pull up in this absolutely tiny vehicle, and unfold themselves and the gear for all the world like indignant clowns emerging from a Barnum and Bailey miniature clown car. They were seething, especially the bassist, and we were all trying to be sympathetic until our drummer, Brian, started to snort with suppressed laughter. And as soon as he started, we all just lost it, laughing literally until the tears were rolling down our cheeks.
To the bassist and sound man’s credit, they saw the joke too, though not right away…

Any advice to someone just starting out?
Make sure you really love the music, and are doing it for that reason. The one thing that doesn’t work is trying to do something that will “sell.” Because it won’t sell, because it will sound phony; and at the same time, you will hate what you’re doing, and doubt yourself and your own truth. Despite all the self-help patter, you really cannot control outside markets. After years of placing music in commercials, and seeing the desperation that artists have to be “what people want,” and even worse, the attempts by record labels to mould their artists into being like someone else that earned money for them – it simply doesn’t work.
Whereas if you play music you care about, even if it’s just for yourself, you can get into a kind of zone that’s as close as I know to Zen. And paradoxically, the odds of outside people liking you – or even selling a track or two – is much, much higher. Truth, including idiosyncratic truth, is a characteristic that folk respond to.

Tell us about your involvement with The Andrew Grene Foundation.
I and a very close friend of Andrew’s and mine set it up as a way of trying to channel the feelings of loss into some kind of productive channel. We’re trying to make a difference to Haitians in a way that we hope Andrew would have approved, through micro-finance and education. In the former, we are linking up with Fonkoze, which offers microloans to folk who are trying to put together a subsistence business – owning a couple of hens, or cows, or similar – which will enable them and their families to move forward and hopefully get a solid footing under them economically. In the latter, we are working through scholarships for students, which in a country where the average earning wage is $2 a day, and where the average family spends 45% of their income on education, is potentially a very valuable handhold.
For more information, visit: AndrewGreneFoundation.org

Blatant self-promotion: What would you like to plug?
Really, what I’d like to plug right now is the charity we set up in memory of my twin brother Andrew, whom we lost in the earthquake in Haiti. He was working as a peacekeeping strategist with the United Nations there, and we set up the Andrew Grene Foundation in the hopes of advancing the people in whose service he gave his life. This Wednesday will be one year since the earthquake, and we’ve set up a benefit concert on the night after, at Sullivan Hall in the Village, with ourselves, the Mickey Finns, Cherish the Ladies, and Eileen
Ivers.

Thursday, January 13
From Ireland to Haiti:
A Benefit concert for the Andrew Grene Foundation
Commemorating a year since the earthquake struck in Haiti.
Featuring performances by:
Cherish the Ladies
Eileen Ivers
The Prodigals
The Mickey Finns
For more info. visit: Andrewgrenefoundation.org
Tickets: $20 on-line
8pm
at:
Sullivan Hall
214 Sullivan St.
(Between Bleecker & W. 3rd St.)
New York, NY
(212) 634-0427
SullivanHallNYC.com


Can you recommend any other act we should feature on MurphGuide?
The Mickey Finns, great musicians, and great friends of ours.

Any big plans for 2011?
Time for another album, I believe… And other than that, looking forward to all the fabulous times we get to have, playing the gigs!

Below is a video of The Prodigals performing "Snow Falls on Derrycark". Recorded Live by Twin Cities Irish Music at the Iowa Irish Fest in Waterloo, IA in Aug 2010:

NFL Playoffs: Where to Watch in NYC

[Note: This post was about Wild Card Weekend.
Go here for the Conference Championship Round]

The NFL playoffs kicks off this weekend with the Wild Card round:

NFL Playoffs - Wild Card Round
Saturday, January 8
New Orleans Saints vs. Seattle Seahawks - 4:30pm ET
NY Jets vs. Indianapolis - 8:30pm
Sunday, January 9
Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs - 1pm ET
Green Bay Packers vs. Philadelphia Eagles - 4:30pm

Most bars in the city with a TV will be showing the games, especially the Jets game on Saturday night. But if you are looking for bars with a sports atmosphere, check out our directory of NYC Sports Bars: MurphGuide.com/sportsbars.htm. If you are partial to a specific team, and want to hang out with fellow supports, here are some game-watch parties for you...

Saturday, January 8 - 4:30pm
Seahawks vs. Saints:

at

New Orleans Saints vs. Seattle Seahawks
4:30pm ET

Seahawks fans in NYC have their own meetup group. They gather at Carlow East on the upper east side:

meeting 4pm
at:
Carlow East
1254 Lexington Ave. (between 84th & 85th St.)
New York, NY
(212) 650-9118
-----------------------------------
Saints fans gather at Bourbon Street on Restaurant Row.
They will be showing the game with sound
and 2 for 1 Abita drafts
4:30pm
at:
Bourbon Street
346 W. 46th St.
(between 8th & 9th Ave.)
New York, NY
(212) 245-2030
BourbonNY.com

Bar None in the east village identifies as an official New Orleans Saints bar, hosting Saints viewing parties every Sunday:

Bar None
98 Third Ave.
(between 12th & 13th St.)
New York, NY
(212) 777-6663
BarNoneNYC.com

Known for its eclectic array of performances in the back room, Parkside Lounge is a regular bar in front, which will be showing the games, and welcomes Saints fans tonight:
at:

Parkside Lounge
317 E Houston St (Attorney St.)
New York, NY
ParksideLounge.net

---------------------------------------------

Saturday, January 8 - 8:30pm
Jets vs. Colts:

at

NY Jets vs. Indianapolis

The NY Jets Meetup Group hosts gatherings almost every week. Howard and his crew are a friendly bunch of avid Jets fans.Tonight, they are meeting at Blondie's:
RSVP at Meetup.com and ask for Howard.
Blondies 212 W. 79th St. (between Broadway & Amsterdam Ave.)
New York , NY

------------------------

The NY Colts fans Meetup Group will be gathering at Village Pourhouse on Restaurant Row. Drink specials: $10 Bud Light Pitchers, $5 Vision Vodka Cocktails and $5 901 Tequila Shots. Free Bud Light draft for anyone wearing Colts gear.
at:
The Village Pourhouse
366 W. 46th St.
(between 8th & 9th Ave.)
New York, NY
212-979-BEER
VillagePourhouse.com

--------------------------------------

Overlook hosts specials for every playoff game, with EXTRA specials during Jets games:
$20 unlimited Bud Lights during Lets games and a free raflle at halftime
at:
Overlook
225 E. 44th St. (between Second & Third Ave.)
midtown east,
New York, NY
(212) 682-7266
OverlookNYC.com
-----------------------------------

$3 Coors Light
Watch the game on 14 flat screens
at:
McFadden's Saloon
800 Second Ave. (42nd St.)
New York, NY
(212) 986-1515
McFaddens42.com
---------------------------

Pre-game: 7pm
Game-time buffet, mixed drinks & bottled beer
$40 per person (plus tax & tip)
limited seating in private dining room, call for reservations
at:

Bourbon Street
4012 Bell Boulevard
Bayside, NY
(718) 224-2200
BourbonStreetNY.com

----------------------
Wild Card Weekend at Stout
Showing the games on 36 HDTVs
at:
Stout
133 W. 33rd St.
(bet. Sixth & Seventh Ave.)
New York, NY
(212) 629-6191
StoutNYC.com

----------------------

Parkside Lounge welcomes Jets fans:

8pm
at:

Parkside Lounge
317 E Houston St (Attorney St.)
New York, NY
ParksideLounge.net

-----------------------------
but wait, there's more...

Jets fans meet up at TG Whitneys with 2 for 1 drink specials, $10 pitcher & appetizer specials.
Wear your best jets gear for free shots.
Call Frank to reserve a table:(212) 888-5772
T.G. Whitney's 244 E. 53rd St. (between Second & Third Ave.) New York, NY (212) 888-5772

Slattery's will have happy hour prices ($5 beers) during the game and a free shot with your first drink. You may be able to find Murph (author of this blog) here tonight.
Slattery's Midtown Pub 8 E. 36th St. (between Madison & Fifth Ave.) New York, NY
(212) 683-6444

As always, Third & Long will have drink specials throughout the weekend and all games will be aired w/audio. Be sure to say hello to Curtis.
Third & Long 523 Third Ave. (35th St.) Murray Hill. New York, NY (212) 447-5711

Rogue will have $12 pitchers Coors or Miller Lite $18 pitchers other draft beers $3 domestic beers bottles (Bud, Bud Light, Mich Ultra & Miller Lite) $5 Bloody Marys $10 domestic draft & wings.
Rogue 757 Sixth Ave. (between 25th & 26th St.), Chelsea, New York, NY (212) 242-6434

Boasting the ONLY 20 foot Hi Def screen in the village, Amity Hall suggests you call ahead for a reservation. They will have gametime specials and live DJ starting right after the game
Amity Hall 80 W. 3rd St., Greenwich Village, New York, NY 212 677-2290

Bar 43 has 120" HD Big Screen and 9 HD Plasma TVs Upstairs and 3 HD Plasma TVs Downstairs. They promise loads of specials
Bar 43 43-06 43rd St. (between Queens Blvd. & 43rd Ave.) Sunnyside, Queens, NY (718) 361-3000

Calico Jack's hosts a Jets Game Watch Party: Enjoy 1/2 Price Apps, $3 call mixed drinks, $3 margaritas, and $3 domestic drafts at:
Calico Jack's Cantina 802 Second Ave. (between 42nd & 43rd St.) New York, NY (212) 557-4300

As home of one of the premier Philly cheesesteaks in New York, Shorty's is known for hosting Eagles games all season. They are showing all 4 playoff games this weekend with sound (DJ Ridley plays music during commercials). $3 session bottles, $5 sam winters, $5 jagers, $3 shorty shots, $6 chz stk wiz sliders. And 22 beers on tap...
Shorty's 576 Ninth Ave. (between 41st & 42nd St.) New York, NY (212) 967-3055

----------------------------------------------

Sunday, January 9

at

Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs
1pm ET

at

Green Bay Packers vs. Philadelphia Eagles
4:30pm

Eagles Game Watch Party
$20 bar special
Showing the game on all 25 HDTVs
at:

Turtle Bay Grill & Lounge
987 Second Ave.
(between 52nd & 53rd St.)
New York, NY
(212) 223-4224
TurtleBayNYC.com

Spotlight Artist: Ashley Davis

Our next Spotlight Artist is singer Ashley Davis.
After studying traditional Irish music in Nashville and Ireland, the Kansas-raised singer Ashley Davis now calls New York home. Her songs blend Celtic influences with American folk music. Ashely answers our questions below. Thank you to our friend Christopher Deignan at the NY Irish Center for the introduction.

Spotlight Artist: Ashley Davis
How long have you been performing?
I began performing publicly when I was 15. My first gig was in the freezing cold on the back of a flat bed truck out on a trail ride!

How did you get involved in music?
I always loved music and it was a large part of our household; though not Irish music. We listened to a lot of '60s folk, opera, country and classic rock. It wasn't until I began singing country gigs that people began to comment on the "traditional" nature of my voice which forced me to take a closer look at my roots.

Musical influences:
Connie Dover, Joan Baez, Moya Brennan, James Taylor, Patsy Cline

Favorite venues to play:
Liberty Hall - Lawrence, KS
Joe's Pub - New York, NY
Dornan's - Jackson Hole, WY

Blatant self-promotion: What would you like to plug?
My latest album! You can now buy "Down By the Sea" through my website or on Itunes.
Linkage:
website: Daisyrings.com
facebook: Ashley Davis fan page
Myspace: daisyrings
Other: Please sign up for my newsletter through my website!

Where can we buy your music?
All online dealers including Itunes, CD Baby and all albums directly through my website.

Tell us a story or anecdote about performing in NYC.

I recently performed at Connolly's for a benefit where Larry Kirwan and I did a rendition of the Pogues' "Fairytale of New York". (Seen in a video & blog by James Hannon)
That and opening up for Moya Brennan to a sold out crowd in NYC are certainly highlights!

Any advice to someone just starting out?
Your attitude is usually the first thing to go. When you lose that, then you lose your vision. Hold onto both and you'll eventually reach your goals.

Your CD "Down by the Sea" features some legendary Irish musicians, including Paddy Moloney (The Chieftans), Moya Brennan (the voice of Clannad), Joanie Madden (Cherish the Ladies) and Cathy Jordan (Dervish). How did that come about and what was it like working with them?
When I set out to record the album, I wrote out a list of people that I would like to record with and approached them! Paddy Moloney was a complete sweetheart and offered before I had to beg!
What are some highlights of your time spent on the Isle of Man.
It was an honor to do an artist in residency on the IOM. The music and people are wonderful and I cannot wait to return.

Can you recommend any other acts we should feature on MurphGuide?
Celtic Cross - they are a great young band that are very friendly. The lead singer is named Kathleen. She is very affable and friendly. Or Moya Brennan, she plays over in NYC about once a year.

Any big plans for 2011?
I just got word that "Down By the Sea" is now being featured on Aer Lingus flights, so that has been a great kick off to the new year. Many concerts ahead around the US and hopefully a good chunk of time in Ireland this summer to work on my Irish and play some gigs. I also need to write my next album...
You can catch Ashley Davis, along with Cormac De Barra, next week:
Saturday, January 15
New York Irish Center presents...
An evening with Ashley Davis
featuring world renowned harpist Cormac De Barra
There is an 80 seat limit
Tickets $32 each
includes free pre-show cocktail hour
Special Offer: $27 ticket if purchased in advance: PayPal.com
doors open 7pm, showtime 8pm
at:
New York Irish Center
10-40 Jackson Ave.
Long Island City, Queens, NY
718 482-0909
NewYorkIrishCenter.org

Members of the NY Celtic Music Meetup Group and The Irish in NY Meetup Group will be in attendance. New members are welcome.

Below is a video of Ashley performing last April at The Irish Arts Center:

50 First Jokes 2011: A January Tradition

The 5th annual 50 First Jokes will be at 92Y Tribeca this year, on Wednesday, January 5, 2011.

The concept is simple: Get 50 comics in a room to tell the first jokes they've written in the new year. The result is brilliant because of the talent assembled by co-producers Claudia Cogan & John F. O'Donnell. You will see a dizzying array of up and coming comics from the New York underground comedy scene and writers from late-night television.

John F. O'Donnell, Jiwon Lee and Claudia Cogan
after 50 First Jokes 2010. (photo by Paul Katcher)

The room is supportive, as people realize they are witnessing a rehearsal, of sorts. The audience gets to be in on the ground floor of the joke-writing process. It's like seeing a spring training baseball game: some of the material may get cut from the team, but the gems will be polished by the time they go off to the majors.

Jon Friedman at last year's "50 First Jokes". photo by Paul Katcher

Wednesday, January 5, 2011
50 First Jokes
Presented by Claudia Cogan & John F. O'Donnell
$12 admission
doors open 7:30pm, showtime 8pm
at:
92Y Tribeca
200 Hudson St.
(between Canal St. & Vestry St.)
New York, NY
92ytribeca.org/comedy

Want to save 2 bucks? Use the code FJ10 for $2 off per ticket when purchasing on-line: 92y.org

See our write-up of last year's show:
murphguide.blogspot.com/2010/01/funniest-show-of-year-50-first-jokes.html

This year's roster of comics scheduled to perform includes:
Adira Amram
David Angelo
Vince Averill
Nate Bargatze
Kevin Barnett
Greg Barris
Erik Bergstrom
Kurt Braunohler
Claudia Cogan
David Cope
Robert Dean
Lisa Delarios
Joe DeRosa
Pat Dixon
Sean Donnelly
Ophira Eisenberg
John F. O'Donnell
Myka Fox
Jena Friedman
Jon Friedman
Nikki Glaser
George Gordon
Roger Hailes
Rondel Hartley
Calise Hawkins
Myq Kaplan
Mike Lawrence
Annie Lederman
Damien Lemon
Ben Lerman
Jared Logan
Carmen Lynch
Nick Maritato
Matt McCarthy
Kurt Metzger
Scott Moran
Mark Normand
Sean O'Connor
Yannis Pappas
Sean Patton
Jesse Popp
Mike Recine
Andrea Rosen
Dave Rosinsky
Giulia Rozzi
Matt Ruby
Jason Saenz
Sara Schaefer
Amy Schumer
Dan Soder
Danny Solomon
Neal Stastny
Brent Sullivan
Team Submarine
Nick Turner
Brooke Van Poppelen
Victor Varnado

The Big Quiz Thing Kicks Off 2011 in a New Venue

The Big Quiz Thing has added a new venue to their rotation.
Tonight, the popular long-running quiz night adds Drom to Monday night its rotation of venues (along with Crash Mansion & Le Poisson Rouge)




Monday, January 3
The Big Quiz Thing
With video round: "Classic Commercial Quiz"
and audio round: "Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! "
hosted by Noah Tarnow
with sidekick EDP
and featuring comic Claudia Cogan
$300 cash prize
$10 admission
7:30pm
at:
Drom
85 Avenue A
(between 5th & 6th St.)
212-777-1157
New York, NY
DromNYC.com


BigQuizThing.com
The Big Quiz Thing Blog

Upcoming quiz things (big ones):
Monday, Jan. 3 at Drom
Monday, Jan. 17 at Le Poisson Rouge
Monday, Jan. 31 at Drom
Monday, Feb. 21 at Crash Mansion

View the BQT trailer:

College Football: Bowl Games

College Bowl season is in full swing. If you haven't already checked it out, I encourage you to visit our special college football section, complete with a directory of all the college bowl games, as well as where the alumni clubs gather for game watch parties in NYC, and area bars that provide specials during college football games.

Visit: MurphGuide.com/football/college