Makem offers suggestions to tyro songsters
By Deric Green

Noted performer Tommy Makem is out and about, still carrying his tunes — with every right to be proud of 50 years of fantastic music under his belt. His second annual Armagh song festival earlier this summer attracted thousands of locals, plus hundreds of international fans who favor all things musically Irish. 

"The young musicians who were there were absolutely fantastic. They had a chance to play and a place to perform," he enthused.

 Makem indicated that he was spotting more and more great new performers as he makes his current concert rounds, hoping they will get additional venues in order to practice their craft.

In April, Makem toured Ireland after a hiatus of several years on the road. He visited nine venues that sold out to old friends and plenty of new ones. "There are certainly beautiful new theaters in the provincial towns," he waxed. "It was sensational. A whole bunch of young people were there who turned out to hear the singing." 

This was a positive sign for Makem, who admitted he was worried about what he saw as the neglect of the song tradition in Ireland. "There is nothing wrong with instrumentals. I would encourage that, as I would encourage all sorts of traditional music. Yet the use of words adds to the enjoyment of a tune," he said, pointing out that songs were a major component of the entire Irish story-telling custom.

 Makem had some words of advice for young songwriters. "Write from your heart, not for the year 2001, but for all time. Any artist who gets up on stage needs to move the audience. Move them to laughter, to tears, to rethink something. It's that connecting, that communicating with the audience, which is extremely important," he continued.

He encouraged tyro writers to look "into your own soul and life, then write about what you know. There's more to coming up with something really good to say, not just 'moon and June' stuff but telling a real story." 

Makem said it didn't make any difference if the writer was white, black or polka-dotted if they wrote from their inner self.

Unfortunately, according to Makem, some trend setters simply push their own musical agendas. "I shouldn't be negative, although there is some reason to be that way. I know some people's concept of music differs from mine, but there is damage being done when experimenting with a culture. and people tend to go with what they hear," he warned. "I find a lot of pop music to be really shallow, not much too beyond one little thing, like 'I love you, I love you.'"

Yet all musicians don't fall into that category, Makem emphasized, praising contemporary singers such as Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and Paul Simon for telling stories from their hearts. When hearing the likes of these performers, the audience then has something to respond to, Makem added.

"And when you feel the audience with you, it is nothing at all like anything else in the world. When I get that feeling, I know I've communicated with them and I know that I moved them. That's what is so great being an entertainer," he concluded.
 
 

Tommy Makem will again be appearing at Milwaukee Irish Fest, with shows at 10:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 17; 6:45 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 18; and 3:30 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 19.