David Keenan's Tour Diary: The Spirit Store, Dundalk

Then came Friday the 16th of March, the first stop on my Strip me Bare Tour and a return to the scene of the crime or the scene of many a creative conception, home, the Spirit Store.

Brendan Behan once said that the Irish were not his audience but rather his raw material.
I don’t believe my auld China was feeling the love from his kin at the time, perhaps he’d grown weary of playing the public fool, or was he sore because of the spiteful comments from his begrudgers ? We’ve all had them.
There is something odd, something eerie about returning home to play in a place that acts as a mausoleum of thought dream, I always get dizzy, loosing myself in memory, drunk on reminiscence, anticipating a flood of emotions.
The Spirit Store is a place in which many versions of myself have existed, It is part of my identity, I first sang there at 11 years of age, in the old room, we’ve both changed a great deal since then.
The place was full last night and now my heart is full, as a fella once said !

Pure unadulterated expressionism from beginning to end, it was the end of the beginning!
A right of passage and a gathering of like minded souls all toiling and cultivating together as one.
Galorious!

I tip my cap to Derek Turner, a constant supplier of support and opportunity to me since 04.

I salute Orwell’s 84 and Harry Hoban and the Brothers Kane for being fearless, in their writings and in their deliveries, the world needs more of their honesty, realism and sincerity.

I applaud all who lent their presence to that warm room after embracing the rains, let us meet again soon and channel once more.

My band of brothers soared !
They are Warriors of expression & we have much to do and say as we make our way along the road.

Today I blacken pages, tomorrow it’s on to Dolan’s in Limerick and the next chapter of this tale.

Thank you Dundalk, it was good to be home.
David X