{"product_id":"athens-hotel","title":"Athens Hotel","description":"From the Label\n\n...I happily raise a toast to \"Athens Hotel\", the memorable new CD from...Colcannon. \"Athens Hotel\" is a powerful collection of mainly original music that honors the Celtic tradition by using it to make new and definitive music. With the release of this album, Colcannon takes its place as one of the best American Celtic bands playing today. Surprises and chance-taking abound. Stellar jazz trumpeter Ron Miles and trombonist Bill Stanley lend a New Orleans brass band lilt to \"Ben's Two-Step\/Jumping Ship\". Irishman Mick Bolger's throaty, soaring voice warm;y hugs the lyrics and gives the proceedings an unmistakably authentic ring. Tim O'Brien's production on the traditional and original songs is impeccable, giving full voice to the band's gifted instrumentalists. (John Lehndorff, Boulder Daily Camera 6\/93)\n\"Athens Hotel\" is an accomplished blend of folk and Celtic influences with plenty of heart and soul to spare. It's worth buying for the title cut alone, an original bittersweet prayer for the homeless distinguished by the same rough-edged sentimentality that marks the best work of poet\/vocalist Tom Waits. I'll be the first to admit it: it's hard not to get choked up as the band plays a brassy Salvation Army flourish and sings lines like \"and God be good to anyone who's sleeping out tonight. Tuck them in and keep them warm and don't turn out the light.\" Colcannon's versatility is confirmed by \"Sister Josephine\", the cut which follows immediately after. A comic tale of a suspicious \"nun\" with tattoos and hairy knuckles, it's amusing without being condescending or offensive.\n\nProduct Description\n\n\"Athens Hotel\" is the second album from the modern Celtic folk group Colcannon. Released in 1993, it features several songs that have become audience favorites: \"Sister Josephine\", the story of a nun who isn't, the title track \"Athens Hotel\", a song about a welfare hotel in Denver, and the haunting and ominous \"Crooked Jack\". The original instrumental \"The Red Kite\", featured on this recording, became the source material for bassist Mike Fitzmaurice's later large scale work for Colcannon and orchestra that goes by the same name.\n\nFrom the Artist\n\n\"Athens Hotel\" is the second Colcannon album, released in 1993. It is the last recording we did with members Doug Berch (dulcimers) and Larry Worster (guitar). Many of the songs have remained in our repertoire- especially \"Sister Josephine\", which we get requests for at just about every concert we play. There are some other lovely pieces that we don't play live anymore, because they require the incredible dulcimer playing of Doug- his composition \"Stella Maris\", for example. The second track on this album is \"The Red Kite\", a jig of Mike's that features a little \"fugato\" section in the middle. Mike has since expanded this piece into a three movement work for Colcannon and orchestra (also called The Red Kite) that we have performed a couple of times, but have not yet recorded.\n\nAbout the Artist\n\nThe musicians of Colcannon are: Mick Bolger- vocals, bodhran; Mike Fitzmaurice- acoustic bass; Rod Garnett- flutes; Jean Harrison-fiddle , accordion; Doug Berch- hammered and mountain dulcimers, whistle; Larry Worster, guitar\u003cbr\u003eASIN: B00000G34K\u003cbr\u003eVSKU: DBV.B00000G34K.G\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Good\u003cbr\u003eAuthor\/Artist:Colcannon\u003cbr\u003eBinding: Audio cd\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNote:\u003c\/b\u003e Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition Notes\u003c\/b\u003e: Individually inspected: Guaranteed to play perfectly or your money back. Case may show wear and may be in library packaging. Ships Fast!  \u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Dream Books Co.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41915745239098,"sku":"DBV.B00000G34K.G","price":8.29,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/6011\/0138\/files\/B00000G34K-0.jpg?v=1794365035","url":"https:\/\/shop.dreambooksco.com\/products\/athens-hotel","provider":"Dream Books Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}