Great Big Sea’s Sean McCann announces solo dates
Music News | Jan 27th, 2010
(Photo by Bryan Kremkau)
Inspired by the birth of his sons, Great Big Sea’s Séan McCann chronicles the beginnings of his journey through fatherhood on the solo debut Lullabies For Bloodshot Eyes. “The arrival of my two sons prompted a fundamental change in my disposition,” confides Séan, “for the first time in my life, someone else mattered more to me than I did…and I was terrified.”
The responsibility for a new life can be overwhelming for many parents, but not many choose to chronicle their experiences in a disc of dreamy lullabies and late night elegies. “These songs were born of the simple fears of a new father; failure, loss, and living up to the hopes and dreams of brand new eyes,” recalls McCann. “When I was a boy the world seemed brighter…and it’s good to feel that light once again…even though it scares me.”
The bittersweet opener “Somewhere (for Finnegan) was written for his son Finnegan after kissing him good-bye at the airport to resume touring, “I guess this was my way of finding the bright side of the situation. Things could always be worse.” Final track “Don’t Cry (for Keegan)” captures those first few moments after birth when, “I swear I could see right through him. Translucent. He looked at me with black alien eyes as I picked him up as if to say ‘please don’t drop me’… And I won’t.”
Others, such as the whiskey soaked “Hold Me Steady” (written by Rick Hartley) recall a bygone era of late nights and invincible youth: “at the Rose and Thistle circa 1999, I knew immediately this was a classic…I’d just bought my first guitar and was eager to learn. [Rick] taught me to play a D7, but I haven’t seen or heard from him since.”
“Wish” written for his “beautiful and very patient wife” captures the isolation of the road when “wishing is a good way to pass the time” while the tongue-in-cheek duet “Lazy Lover” chronicles the struggles of parents to make time to be lovers.
When he’s not on the road, Séan returns home to his native St. John’s to write and spend time with his family. He is currently working on the upcoming Great Big Sea release, due out this summer. The band will be performing select dates in March:
March 6 DALLAS, TX North Texas Irish Festival
March 7 HOUSTON, TX House of Blues
March 10 SALINA, KS Stiefel Theatre
March 11 OMAHA, NE The Slowdown
March 12 BOULDER, CO Boulder Theater
March 13 BOULDER, CO Boulder Theater
March 14 ASPEN, CO Wheeler Opera House
March 17 MADISON, WI Majestic
March 18 INDIANAPOLIS, IN The Vogue
March 19 CHICAGO, IL House of Blues
March 20 CHICAGO, IL House of Blues
Visit http://www.greatbigsean.com for more info about the new album and tour dates.
