The OrphanAGE, Vol. 1.11

– 5 min read
A glass filled with amber liquid sits on a tiled surface, casting a shadow. The glass's rim is green, and the setting is a cozy, dimly lit room.
Photo by w.e. leathem

First Lines

Once upon a time a very good time it was there was a moocow coming down along the road… ~ James Joyce, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

March is the month God created to show people who don’t drink what a hangover feels like.
~ Garrison Keillor

In like a lion out like a lamb…

The ol wives’ adage looks flipped on its ear this year. And yet overhead, Leo & Aries hold steadfast to their regularly scheduled changing of the celestial guard.

Yesterday, was St. Paddy’s day – one of three public celebrations I tend to give wide berth (New Year’s Eve and Cinco de Mayo being the others). …throngs of cultural aspirants, amateurs making spectacles while putting the body politic at risk, just doesn’t seem to hold the attraction it once did. And yet, there's a deeper aspect to these revelries, something at its core: a sense of tribe and family, of friend and community and the simple pleasure of just being together in the sad beauty of it all.

Yes, as March holds to its chaotic character, we should all probably take more to heart Billy Shakes’ Caesarian admonition: BEWARE! At the same time, perhaps, it's time to double down on holding close those we care about and simply reveling in our time together.

Peace,
Dante

In this Issue

  • Trad Music by Turlach Boylan
  • Essay by John Story
  • Photography by Genevieve Casey

Turlach Boylan

This photo of Turlach Boylan playing the Banjo depicts a cozy indoor gathering with musicians playing various instruments, including a guitar, accordion, and banjo, creating a warm and lively atmosphere.
Turlach Boylan (banjo) with Erika Scarlette O'Shea, Mike Duggar, David Dean Agee. Photo by Genevieve Casey.

A child of County Derry, by sixteen Turlach was a familiar in the kitchen and parlor gatherings of John Kennedy of Cullbackey, County Antrim. Adept at a host of instruments including flute, whistle, mandolin, banjo, and others, Boylan earned an All-Éire for slow Airs on flute. He continues to play, and to date has released two full-length albums: The Tidy Cottage and Lift.

Sessions were wrapped on a new album when long-time collaborator, Davey Mathias, passed unexpectedly. (Donations to help finish the project can be made through Club Medici. Please be sure to earmark your donation for the Turlach Boylan Album.)

The Old Bush

With Davey Mathias at KC’s historic Browne’s Irish Market.

Brendan Tonra’s, McGreavy’s, Bride’s Favorite

From the album Lift.

Soon No More and The Decade Waltzes

Beautiful unreleased version by Turlach Boylan & Davey Mathias. Here's the link to the song on SoundCloud.

Eulogy for an American Bar

by John Story

Vintage stylized sign with ornate details features "Fred P. Ott's Bar and Hamburger Business" in bold text, with a mustached man in a suit and hat above the words.

It was always about the people.

Sure, the location was great, the decor was eclectic, the wings were tasty, and it had an unpretentious charm. But it was the people who gathered there that gave it its character. They were warm and relaxed. Colorful, but genuine. They were equally welcoming to newcomers and regulars. They were inclusive and non-judgmental. They made it a comfortable place to be. (Not inconsequentially, politics was rarely discussed.)

It was the kind of place where you could celebrate your victories or drown your sorrows. You could gripe about your day to a sympathetic ear and find encouragement when you needed it.

There were lawyers and students, artists and cooks, servers and real estate agents, construction workers and IT gurus, health care professionals and retirees. Everyone had an existence outside of the bar, but this was the place where all that was paused: a commercial break between scenes of life.

Though its clientele covered a good bit of the socioeconomic spectrum, these were people that worked for a living. And while there may not have been a plethora of advanced college degrees, it was a decidedly smart crowd. There was clever word play and jokes based on arcane cultural references. Even the low-brow humor was delivered with panache. Indeed, one of the highlights of each day was the opportunity to match wits with Jeopardy! contestants, the day-drinkers often outpacing the champions. For all practical purposes, Alex Trebek was a regular customer.

In an increasingly disconnected, cyberactive society, this was refreshingly real. The desire to commune with others in real life—in real time—was infectious. The distorted hyperbole of infotainment and social media was replaced with a 1:1 ratio of reality. Just stepping inside was a grounding experience. A chance to exhale and slip on your comfy shoes.

It is said that we have two families in life: the one we’re born with, and the one we choose. These weren’t just bar patrons: they were family. And this bar—this shabby, worn out den—this was their living room, their family room, their kitchen table.

For this strange and wonderful family, it was….

Home

Note: For over 40 years Otts was an off-the-beaten path pub, a locals’ oasis, tucked away in an overlooked corner of KC’s best known tourist district. It closed in 2019.

Genevieve Casey

A group of musicians play traditional instruments, including a flute and violins, in a close setting. The scene conveys warmth and camaraderie.
A serene river surrounded by lush green trees under a cloudy sky. Rocks partially emerge from the calm water, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
A woman with blurred surroundings plays the violin passionately in a dimly lit room, creating an intimate and immersive musical atmosphere.
A man in a blue cap plays a violin passionately, while another man with white hair strums a guitar in the background. They are in a cozy room with bookshelves, creating an intimate, musical atmosphere.
An elderly man with a long white beard and glasses plays a drum with focus and passion. A mandolin is propped nearby. Warm, nostalgic ambiance.
Sheep and a border collie stand on a rocky hillside. The sheep huddle together, while the collie is focused, possibly herding them. Lush greenery adds vibrancy.
Black and white image of a person with long hair and glasses sitting on a bench, holding a violin. Surrounded by bookshelves, they appear thoughtful.
A close-up of a steaming cappuccino in a navy cup, topped with cocoa, on a patterned surface. A sugar bowl and spoon are blurred in the background. Cozy ambiance.
A cozy pub setting features musicians playing various instruments. In the foreground, a man in a plaid shirt plays the banjo. Warm lighting and a relaxed, joyful atmosphere.

Photos by Genevieve Casey.

It takes a certain eye to truly capture any arts Scene. For ever so long, Genevieve Casey and her camera have been regulars at the sessions both here in KC and across the pond. The OrphanAGE is tickled that she allowed us to share a smattering of the wonderful images she’s captured. Be sure to visit her online or drop by her monthly, first Friday Open House at the Bunker Center for the Arts, hosted with her Husband, the sculptor and visual artist, Wes Casey.