Dee Higgins fills us in on what they have been doing since we las saw them and what the future may hold.
How have the band spent the past 10 years since last visiting the US?
Everybody’s been doing different things – it would take a few chapters to account for a small percentage of it all. As for myself, I’ve been playing gigs with Padraig Stevens, Anthony Thistlethwaite, Davy Carton and others. Plenty for doing all time, I can’t remember being bored.
We all remember your first trip to Philly at the Chestnut Cabaret – super show and huge crowd. Also those at the Trocadero and several at the TLA on South Street. any stand out in your eyes and memory?
That first visit to The Chestnut Cabaret was exciting and special. It was our first time playing in the US and there were so many familiar faces from back home at the gig. Some of them were part of the inspiration for writing ‘N17’
We made more and more friends on all our return visits and managing to end up in The TLA was very satisfying. We had a few lesser-attended shows along the way but they were all enjoyable. We played the Philadelphia Folk Festival one time and there was a deluge for most of the duration of the gig but people stayed out in it and stuck with us. I was very impressed.
We also have great memories of you playing at the Electric Factory in Philly with the Pogues and Blackthorn (local Irish band).
Any stories from appearing with Shane McGowan that night?
We didn’t have any much interaction with Shane and The Pogues on the occasions of our sharing a bill. All the talk from people during the day would be about Shane and where he’d been drinking and how drunk he was going to be for the show if he showed up but we were more interested in deciding what songs we’d be playing.
What’s your favorite place to play in the US, Ireland and the world?
There’s no such place – you can have one of those exceptionally magic nights where the band and the audience go to some other level of existence but you can never predict it. I pretty much like playing everywhere, but we do choose our venues carefully as well.
If you could see any singer or band who would it be?
I love Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band but the venues are too large in my opinion. I’d love to see them in The TLA – now that would be good.
We have a lot of Mayo people in our readership – as Galway just lost to Mayo – Will Mayo ever win an All Ireland
I think they will. They’ve been so close and so unlucky but the resilience of their spirit and belief is truly amazing. By the way, it’s 22 years now and counting since our crowd won one!
Lastly – Are there any plans to have a wider Tour in the future and would Philly be in those plans?
We’re delighted with the gigs last weekend and we’re eyeing up coming back next Summer for a slightly longer trip so hopefully we’ll be able to include Philly in the next round. I don’t like making plans too far ahead.
