Live Music Has Survived the Pandemic

Peter Bird | Feb 22, 2023

Almost three years ago, Covid hit Ontario causing live performances to be cancelled. Slowly, we are emerging from the pandemic, and the isolation. With caution, we are seeing the return of live music. This is my follow up interview with musician Chris Murphy since the beginning of Covid

Q. How does it feel to play in front of live audiences again?

A. I think we’re back to a reasonable sense of normal but not quite 100% normal yet. I play some shows with a sell-out crowd and others are barely half full. Some people are not yet comfortable going out.

Q. During the last interview, we talked about some of the skills that you’d like to improve during the time of the pandemic. One of them was to improve your 5-string banjo skills.

A. Ah well (laughs), I’ve got my sights set on Claw-hammer and frailing styles. I’m working on it. I just need to carve out some more time to practice

Q. Have you learned any other instruments or songs?

A. One thing I have is a beautiful Greek Bouzouki a friend gifted me. I’ve just had it tuned like my Irish Bouzouki, and because there are many different traditional tunings, I’ve been playing around with it. I have added a few songs to my repertoire, but the one I’m most interested in has a personal connection to me. It’s a Richard Thompson song called Beeswing which I learned two years ago. It was the signature song of a good friend of mine, Mike Penton, who passed away way too young. I committed myself to keeping his memory alive, I loved his version. Mikey sang the daylights out of this song

Q. How about your Tuesday broadcasts from the new Murphenbunker.

A. It allows me to be apart from the house. I started downstairs, then I was upstairs and everybody needed to be quiet. Since I built the studio, my two daughters can be freer to do whatever they like. They can even come and sit down and watch.

Q. You also teach guitar. How did that come about?

A. It fell into my lap about 10 years ago. There was a guitar teacher at Perth Road School who was going on maternity leave and wanted to find somebody to take her place while she was away. She contacted me and I took over. When her leave was finished, she didn’t want to return. So I inherited the job and I’ve been doing it ever since.

Q. Have you been able to return to the East Coast recently?

A. We went last summer for most of the month of August. I got to resume my Artist in Residency status on Fogo Island. I recently had a call from the Fogo Arts about doing it again this summer.

Q. Can you comment on what that entails?

A. If I had to pick one thing in my musical career as one of the most significant and meaningful events, it’s being the Artist in Residency. Last year, for example, I was hired to do several workshops including a one-week harmony workshop, followed by a guitar maintenance workshop about how to change strings, and how to use a capo. Then I hosted a weekly, well-attended jam session. The really cool thing was, that after I left, one of the musicians kept the jam sessions going and they’re still going strong. Although it seems like a lot of work, I love spreading music around. I was also able to keep my weekly live streams going from the Murphenbunker. We were certainly busy, with something going on nearly every day. Heather and the girls were with me too. We still managed some hiking and exploring, and some time together with friends.

Q. I’ve known you for about 10 years, how do you feel you’ve advanced musically and as a songwriter?

A. I’ve always had something to learn, I’ve learned a lot about the music business, I’ve learned a lot technically, a lot of new techniques. My guitar playing has improved. I think I was more of a utilitarian guitar player in the past, where I was in situations where I could just strum along and keep the beat. I’ve been able to ease back my strumming and concentrate more on the tone of the instrument and improve little things in my technique. I wish I was a better, more prolific songwriter. I’ve been suffering a nasty case of writer’s block for several years and I’ve not dedicated enough time and focus to actual songwriting. It’s also a skill that requires practice and dedication.

Q. Something has been added to your performance in the way of a very talented fiddler, Jess Wedden. She is also appearing as a guest with Turpin’s Trail. How did this connection come about?

A. I met Jess when she was about 12, when Jon McLurg and I were doing a show at the Shriners Club in Kingston and we heard that there was going to be a young fiddler playing as well. We did a couple of things together and even at that age you could tell she was certainly going places. We kept in touch over the years and did a few gigs, but it’s only been within the last six months that we have been able to perform together more often. Jess is such a talented player and so inspirational, I try to find as many possibilities to perform with her. Her work ethic is just phenomenal. It’s inspired me to become a better musician. In addition she’s one of the nicest people you ever want to meet. It’s really cool hanging out with her.

Recently, Jess and I have been back-up musicians for David Francey concerts. In fact, it was Jess who suggested that I might be a good fit for him when a couple of his main guitar players moved out of the area, or retired, so he was in need of a guitar player and a fiddle player. We stepped into the role, and so far it’s been going great.

Q. St. Patrick’s day is approaching, do you have any shows up and coming?

A. We sure do: Friday, March 17, 6:00 pm at the Cove in Westport. Saturday, March 18, 2:00 pm at the Firehall Theatre in Gananoque, and Saturday, March 18, 6:00 pm at the Doghouse Studios in Napanee. It’s expected that Jess Wedden, fiddler, will be appearing in all shows. Joe Sexton from Fogo Island is planning to join the Saturday shows.

(Watch for part 2 – Jess Wedden’s story)

On behalf of all of his fans and supporters and myself, a fan of Chris and his music, I can truly say we’re glad to have you back live on stage again!

For upcoming shows, see: https://chrismurphy.ca

For videos on YouTube, see: www.YouTube.com/chrismurphy1977

You can also find Chris Murphy on FaceBook