My dad was like, Hey, let's get this bigger and faster car to race. And I'm like, OK, so we went from go carts to Bandolero. So legend cars on Got into a full size stock car. Late model stock car. Um, when I was 13 14 and so getting to muscle around 400 horsepower, it was a lot of fun and it was challenging. But he also learned every step of the way. So, um you know, finally breaking into
We've gone on the road quite a bit doing that program and other programs with-- well, not with JP, but another bando player. But a lot of the rhythms are the same as what he puts into his music.
Brazil plays this accordion. Argentina plays the bandoneon, which is more like this with the bellow. So every country is completely different on which accordion they play, unlike piano.
That's kind of the way I put it with them. And I started in Bandon, in Cork. So that was my first business.
That's a question. That's a good question. Before I play bandoneon, I was a drummer. And I remember, I was walking the streets.
And I remember, I was walking the streets. And I saw a bandoneon in a music store. And it was the only instrument in the store.
So there was a time that it was very cheap to buy in Argentina. So most bandoneons were gone. But in those days, there are many factories.
It wasn't possible because I was-- there weren't any others. If I'd come out in Bandon, County Cork, I would have just been gay chopping a log or gay riding a bike. But so I moved where the gays were, is what I did.
The next piece we want to play is called "Taranguino." And it's a composition I wrote, inspired by my grandfather, who was an accordion player. And he always wanted to play the bandoneon, the instrument I'm holding right now. And it's a very particular instrument because every button plays two notes, one note when I open the bellows.
I don't know. It's kind of mysterious. But where do you find a bandoneon? That's a question. That's a good question.
And it was the only instrument in the store. It was a very old bandoneon. So I exchanged the drum set for the bandoneon.
The most famous one is Double A, Alfred Arnold. And this is actually a bandoneon from them, that they gave to me as a sponsorship. And in Argentina, there is another, Lucia, doing bandoneons now.
Brazil, right now, you play accordion, that's a very cool thing to do. Argentina, bandoneon, very cool thing to do. France, playing accordion, very cool thing to do.
I remember we had five presidents in one week, really. At that time I decided I wanted to be a bandoneon player and a composer. And I remember my family was very upset.
It was a very old bandoneon. So I exchanged the drum set for the bandoneon. And I remember the store guy, he was very happy because at the time nobody wanted to buy a bandoneon.
And I remember the store guy, he was very happy because at the time nobody wanted to buy a bandoneon. Now, it's very difficult to find bandoneons in Argentina because most of them, they are taken to Japan. In Japan, there are a lot of bandoneon players.
Now, it's very difficult to find bandoneons in Argentina because most of them, they are taken to Japan. In Japan, there are a lot of bandoneon players. And in Europe, there are a lot of bandoneon players as well.
In Japan, there are a lot of bandoneon players. And in Europe, there are a lot of bandoneon players as well. So there was a time that it was very cheap to buy in Argentina.
And Dave was pretty much like, yeah, I think that is good. who worked on it, and also that place, Bandon, that had some energy of its own.
Organetto was kind of the first one. And then they started to look kind of like, if anybody knows a bandoneon or concertina they play in Argentina, they started to look more like that. And then around 1900, people started saying, why don't we put a piano on the right side?
Loved you music. Maybe there's a good story here or not. But I was somewhat excited, trying to find where can I find a bandoneon to buy? And the music stores were all, like, oh, no, no, you just find them.
He's really good. So in those days, if you want to buy a bandoneon, it's more easier than before, than 10 years ago, for example. Isn't it true that, like, the greatest bandoneons were actually made in Germany? Yeah. The instrument was invented in Germany.
No, but now being adapted for TV and directed by Kathy Burke and, you're telling me, set in West Cork, in the towns that-- where you grew up and where I spent a huge amount of time very dear to my heart, down around Bandon and Skibbereen and Baltimore and all of those great places. What's it like for you to see your work being received in this way, and back in your hometown, effectively?
so laser focused in this movie. You were prepared. I don't remember how long before we started that you went up to Bandon, but it felt like you were there for ever just prepping. And that was exciting to me because I just felt like I was taken care of and safe.
just trying to find the perfect spot. And we ended up finding it in southern Oregon on the coast, in this tiny town called Bandon, which the only reason anyone really knows about the town is because, I guess, two of the best golf courses in the country are randomly there.
But we are glad that it looks a little bit dark now. And, anyways, we're going to start with a piece that is called "After the Curtains," written for violin and bandoneon, followed by "Universe." So thank you so much.
So I exchanged the drum set for the bandoneon. And I remember the store guy, he was very happy because at the time nobody wanted to buy a bandoneon. Now, it's very difficult to find bandoneons in Argentina because most of them, they are taken to Japan.
And this is actually a bandoneon from them, that they gave to me as a sponsorship. And in Argentina, there is another, Lucia, doing bandoneons now. He's really good. So in those days, if you want to buy a bandoneon, it's more easier than before, than 10 years ago, for example.
And in Argentina, there is another, Lucia, doing bandoneons now. He's really good. So in those days, if you want to buy a bandoneon, it's more easier than before, than 10 years ago, for example. Isn't it true that, like, the greatest bandoneons were actually made in Germany?
They're not starving in southern France during the German occupation, but they're not eating very well, either. They're living on beans and bread and butter. When they can get it, very little meat. So skin diving for fish was really important and they lived near Bandol, site of another great wine growing region and dove in the Mediterranean to catch food, catch fish for food.