'Goodbye to the Madhouse' is available in selected record shops and online (HMVonline)
The extraordinary story of its making by this rarely seen cult band, committed to music for music's sake, is told in the August 2007 issue of Rock’n’Reel!
The new McDermotts Two Hours album Goodbye To The Madhouse - released on 20th August 2007 by www.onthefiddlerecordings.com - distributed by folk specialist www.properdistribution.com - available in selected record stores and I-tunes. Please keep checking back for information.
This is a poem from Nick's book 'All Kinds of Disorder'. The book comes with a CD of poems and music where Nick has worked with Jon Sevink of the The Levellers.
The Power of Prayer
We have new neighbours.
They keep parking on old Ford
with no tax disc on the sidewalk.
They come back drunk at three
in the morning and row over the television.
Steve wears a leather and torn jeans.
Leila's about nineteen: long dark hair,
too much mascara and short skirts
It's only a six month let.
But they keep the kids up.
I can see we're going to have words.
My wife tells me no.
She wasn't in last week
when this stranger was shouting on the doorstep
for some money they owed him
and Steve came down and beat him up.
Worse. They keep screwing about dawn.
She squeals and moans and shrieks.
He grunts like he's hitting a heavy backhand.
The wall shakes. But I don't think they notice.
Then the kids are up playing Pirate Ships.
I get a lot of headaches
and keep falling asleep at work.
I'm not what you call religious
but sometimes when all else fails
I get down on my knees
and beg for some kind of release.
I've seen them do it often:
come out of the house, rowing.
Steve gets in his car, pulls out and revs up
while Leila slams the door and lingers
on the sidewalk, biting her lip.
When we moved in
the agent called it a busy tree-lined street
which serves as a main bus route.
The old Ford wrapped itself
round our beech tree with the birdfeed
I haul in with a walking-stick. The horn jammed.
Steve's head came though the windscreen.
But his legs were mashed inside the chasis.
Leila leaped back into the doorway
with a few cuts. Some people
on the double-decker bus puked up.
We went out to help.
But there was nothing to be done.
The funeral's next week.
At the crematorium.
Leila says that she won't be staying on.
I told her I'm sorry for what happened
And I've been down to confess.
But this is what I worked for,
this is what I have to protect.
I think if he'd fot the chance
Steve would have understood that.
For more information about the book and record
Click here
'The Enemy Within' HAGCD2
Lineup (McDermott's 2 Hours): Marcus Laffan (drums and percussion), Nick Burbridge (vocals, acoustic guitar and bodhran), Martin Pannett (bass and vocals), Matthew Goorney(electric guitar, banjo and harmonica), Tim O'Leary (fiddle, whistle, bouzouki and vocals)
Track Listing
1. Dirty Davey
2. Boys of the Blackstuff
3. Prisoner
4. Refugees
5. Paddy in Harare
6. Darkness & Sail
7. Rosa
8. The Fields Round Ballyclare
9. Fox on the Run
10. Paddy on the Level
'World Turned Upside Down' HAG006
Band lineup (McDermott's 2 Hours vs Levellers): Nick Burbridge (vocals, acoustic guitar), Tim O'Leary (fiddle, bouzouki, whistles, harmonica and backing vocals), Charlie Heather (drums and percussion), Jeremy Cunningham (bass guitar). Various guests including Ben Paley.
1. World turned upside down
2. Another Campaign
3. The Wheel
4. Blue Bandana
5. Harry Brewer
6. Taking it On
7. La Passionara
8. Laying the Sligo Maid
'Live at Ferneham Hall', recorded live at Ferneham Hall, Fareham
Lineup: Nick Burbridge (Guitar and Vocals), Matt Goorney (Bass/Banjo/Melodica/Backing vocals), Dil Davies (drums), Ben Paley (fiddle/backing vocals)
Track Listing:
1. Fox on the Run
2. Song of a Brother
3. Harry Brewer
4. Refugees
5. Johnny and the Jubilee
6. Prisoner
7. North and South
8. Laying the Sligo Maid
9. Bloody Sunday
10. Darkness and Sail
11. Taking it On
12. Dirty Davey
13. Rosa
14. Farewell to Erin
'Disorder' HAG011 Band lineup (McDermott's 2 Hours vs Levellers): Nick Burbridge (vocals, acoustic guitar), Ben Paley (fiddle, backing vocals, mandolin), Matt Goorney(lead guitar), Charlie Heather (drums and percussion), Jeremy Cunningham (bass guitar). Various guests.
1. Tod the Ranter
2. Summer song
3. Black Sun
4. The old man's retreat
5. Watering the wine
6. Party to the process
7. The madness of John Clare
8. Bloody Sunday
9. A fable from Aigge
10. Just a life
11. The dutiful man as a moth
12. Johnny and the jubilee
'Claws and wings' HAG008 Band lineup (McDermott's 2 Hours vs Levellers): Nick Burbridge (vocals, acoustic guitar), Tim O'Leary (fiddle, backing vocals, guitar, whistles, viola), Charlie Heather (drums and percussion), Jeremy Cunningham (bass guitar), Jon Sevink (extra fiddler). Various guests.
1. Song of a leveller
2. North and South
3. Song of a brother
4. Postcard
5. Travelling to Cockaigne
6. Snapshot
7. Song of a Quakers wife
8. Sto Mo Chroi
9. Song of a father
10. Asylum
11. Beach scene
12 Murphy's wake
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
ROCK BRIGHTON presents FEEDBACK XV
Saturday 1st November at The Brighton Coalition (Formerly The Beach), Kings Rd Arches
Doors open at 7:00pm
Entry £4 / £3 NUS
Thank you for your friendship. The Future of the Blues Festival is on Sat 27 Sept. and Sun 28 Sept at the Rifleman's Arms in Glastonbury. We believe in New Blues!
brilliant gig at broadstairs the other week must be the most chilled mcdermotts gig ever!
and the all kinds of disorder demo is absolutely amazing well done, the poetry is outstanding on its own but with jons accompanyment its a real treat well done from me and the madwoman take care mate ;-)
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