Ballyshamisen

Ya know folkes, I've always thought that Irish music could have used a little injection of 3-stringed twang-twang of the traditional Japanese shamisen. And whaddaya know, along come a few free tickets to a concert featuring a mix of Tsugaru shamisen music and traditional Irish, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Japan. It was odd and cool at the same time. And looking past the fact that neither of the guys playing Irish music were actually Irish, or that fact that most other people in audience were only there cos they got free tickets too (or forced to go as employees of concert sponser Yakult) it was really good. Rock on.