Irish!

                Tonight we went to the Runcible Spoon and we listened to Irish music by a group of men who just get together to play. There were six men all playing a variety of different songs and instruments. The environment in the restaurant was calm and relaxing. Also there is a very nonsense environment just by looking at the stuff around you and listening to the music that is in the area.

                There were a variety of people and different instruments. The people ranged in different ages but, also different looks. There was an instrument called the Irish flute which is made of wood and, is played just like a regular flute only with holes instead of keys. A guy named Greg was one of the people playing the Irish flute along with Professor McDonald. There was a regular guitar, a mandolin, and a fiddle. Another interesting instrument is the Bodhrun, it is an Irish percussion instrument, from what I saw you hold it on your knee and you have a stick that you play the instrument with. It has a very unique sound to it. There is an Irish bouzouki and it looks like a guitar and is kind of played just like a guitar. There was also conceptino and a tin whistle. There were two younger looking guys playing instruments and the rest were older. People came in and were in the other room studying and also listening to the music being played. There is a device on the end of the bouzouki that each time you played it would tell you each note that you have played during the song.

                The artists were very social within each other. They would play a few tunes and then they would stop and just talk to each other. They love learning about everyone’s life and what goes on day to day. It is a very social environment with the men playing music and the customers eating. In a friendly way the music is participatory, they told us that if someone wants to join they bring their instruments and play. They also said if people want to come in and sing to the songs they let them. They are very friendly to people that join and maybe don’t know all of the tunes but, have skills.

                They play as many tunes as they can get in that night. Each time they play there are usually three songs each time they play. They stop in between playing the instruments and have conversations. Greg is the session leader but, doesn’t necessarily lead each tune. Someone will start playing and if you know how to play the tune you start playing along. Whoever started playing will decide which tunes within that time they will play. The players average about twelve sets of 3 tunes each night. They are very helpful to their fellow players, after each time playing if a person needs help with a tune they will stop and all help each other with the notes.

                While I was there I concluded that it is a pretty nonsense place, it correlates with the name of the restaurant. Runcible means nonsense and in the restaurant there are pictures on the wall that combines figures and unrelated items and puts them into one picture. In the bathroom there is a tub that actually has a fish tank inside of it. The way the music was played was in a nonsense way, it wasn’t real organized but it was still interesting. They took time to talk and get to know people.  I believe that performers make it a habit to go and perform every Tuesday. It may be a break from work and a kind of relief from daily life. They get to go show off their talents and what they know best. The cultural environment is Irish and you can ask questions about their background.

                The Runcible Spoon is a great place to eat but, also it is a place to go relax and enjoy great music that you don’t get to hear all the time. It is a place to study and also a place to go get to know a culture that you may not know about. The music is very entertaining with the unique instruments that they use. It is something new to come enjoy while you’re in Bloomington. As a college student it is great to get to know the different cultural environment and going out and listening to great music.