Dublin Opinion

‘Fitzpatricio’ we might call him - played by Klaus Kinski - and just as magnificently obsessed with building a Grand Ol’ Opry House on the banks of the Liffey. He has already featured on Dublin Opinion, one Gary Fitzpatrick - through the 90s incarnation of his quest to bring decent country / oldtime tunes to the poor benighted Irish - Great Irish Bands 30 - The Great Western Squares despite the nation’s heathenish infatuation with Daniel and Margo and worse. He now features in a new(ish), and even more excellently named, collective with the same goal in their sights.

To those outside Dublin ‘The Sick and Indigent Roomkeepers’ Society’ might seem like the title of a Dickens novel that got away. If you’re really from Dublin, you’ll recognise it as a rather striking 18th century building between the end of Georges’ St. and City Hall. I had thought the charity referred to had long since ceased to exist but according to the Sick and Indigent’s blurb - it still operates. Fitzpatrick and his fellow musicians have borrowed the moniker for their Monday night residence up the stairs in the Ha’penny Inn. I’m not always one to turn to the English Times but the best write-up on the Sick and Indigents up there on the web is by them Pete Paphides gets Sick and Indigent (article from around this time last year).

According to the article, the Song Club stems from a bloodless coup which took place a few years back at a Monday open mike night upstairs in the Ha’penny. On the no-show of the usual host, Fitzpatrick and the Scottish lass that shares singing duties, Angie McLaughlin - were asked by the owner to take over the night. As far as I can make out from the MySpace Sick and Indigent MySpace they are now up to about 6 or 7 musicians. Unless you invest in their CD ‘The Inistiogue Folly’, the MySpace site appears to be the only source of tracks by them on line (3 tracks up). There are also a couple of low quality mobile phone vids on YouTube.

Sadly, the brilliantly titled ‘Battle Hymn of the Alcoholic’ mentioned in the article isn’t to be found anywhere out there. Those of you lucky (?) enough to live in Dublin will just have to head along on a Monday night and heckle for it. Part of what the Sick and Indigents perform is of their own composition (Fitzpatrick and/or McLaughlin) but manages to sound like public domain - I have trouble distinguishing. Fitzpatrick already demonstrated this knack with his previous incarnation, The Great Western Squares - his own compositions (such as ‘Shake the Memory’ to be heard here on his own MySpace Gary Fitzpatrick MySpace ) sit very comfortably beside the standards. On his MySpace, he also includes a couple of tracks from the hardcore bands in which he served his musical apprenticeship - Pincher Martin and Ciúnas as well as a discography of almost all the records he has appeared on.

Those stuck for occupation of a Monday night might do worse than head upstairs in one of the Temple Bar’s yet unspoiled boozers and soak it all in. ‘Indigent’ may well be a hot word in the years ahead of us - for those of you, like me, already in said state - I should also stress that admission is free. Just make sure you’re in the jacks when the tip jar/hat goes around.