the hum / By Bob Doran

The Irish Connection

Scatter the Mud and other green action on St. Patrick’s weekend

(March 13, 2008)  Monday is St. Patrick’s Day, which makes this St. Paddy’s weekend — a time when Celtic bands are sure to find work. In oh-so-green Humboldt County that pretty much boils down to two bands: the quartet Good Company, who play Saturday at Muddy’s Hot Cup, and Scatter the Mud, a somewhat wilder band that leads traditional Irish sessions in various pubs and cafes locally.

Seabury Gould plays guitar and sings for Scatter the Mud. And no, he is not Irish. “Most of my ancestors are English,” he explained, “but some long ago were Scottish. I have been to Ireland three times and definitely feel a connection.”

Scatter the Mud

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Gould’s entry into Celtic music was almost accidental. While attending college back East, a woman he knew needed someone to play Irish music for a theater performance. Despite the fact that he knew little about the genre, he agreed. He learned to play a few traditional tunes and drew further inspiration from bands like Planxty and The Bothy Band, who spurred a Celtic revival in the ‘70s.

Scatter the Mud came together when he moved to Humboldt a few years ago. “I was eager to connect with people who played Irish music. After living here a few months I got a call from Mike Pearce, who was one of the people who played with The Primal Drone Society. He said let’s get together and play.”

The rest, as they say, is history. A couple of line-up changes later, the band consists of Pearce on fiddle, uilleann pipes and penny whistle; Gould on bouzouki, guitar and bamboo flute; Alan Morden (another original member) on mandolin and guitar; and Folklifer Judy Hageman on fiddle.

As noted above, the band leads sessions. What, you might ask, is a session? “It’s an informal gathering of musicians playing Irish/Celtic tunes,” said Gould. “You’ll find them in most pubs in Ireland, often with a fixed group leading. There are so many tunes — jigs and hornpipes — that everyone knows, so at a session some will play the melody … while others play accompaniment.” In short, it’s a jam.

The Mud leads a session the second Sunday of each month at Gallagher’s Irish Pub, which will often draw a dozen or more musicians. They’ll lead another Monday, St. Pat’s Day, bringing a close to a long weekend. Friday, March 14, StM plays at Muddy’s Hot Cup along with storyteller Carpathian, who offers a program called “Ghosts of the Green Isle.” Saturday. March 15, they’re part of the big Irish Gold show at the Mateel with Tempest and the Druid Sisters Tea Party. (See calendar section for details.)

Monday it’s the Fourth Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at Gallagher’s. Things get underway in the Eagle House Inn ballroom (through the bar) at 5:30 p.m. After a Scatter set, the Emerald Coast Irish Dancers stepdance to the live band. The open Celtic session follows at 7:45 p.m. Musicians are invited to bring instruments to join the fun. No cover, but bring some green for food and drink.

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