The Boston Years

LINER NOTES:

The fiddle has played him since 1982 and in 1986 Damon began playing for others at social dances between rural New England and Nova Scotia. He is one of the last generations before the dawn of the internet to aurally inherit folk music. Based in Boston from 1997 to 2017 he has been featured on numerous recordings, toured extensively, and has made his living primarily as a freelance performer. His unique and energetic style of fiddle playing has been described as “Ingenious” by Steve Morse (WBOS/The Boston Globe) and lies somewhere between the driving dance beat of Cape Breton and the lyrical music of Ireland. Adept at movement and dance whilst playing he has worked on stage in theater and in dance and currently tours nationally with The Irish Comedy Tour. While not on stage he currently works in the performing arts and in 2017 he relocated to the mid-coast of Maine where he is eager to focus on his own music for his next act. This recording is a small sampling of the recordings and live acts Damon has been privileged to work with. For more information, or to hear more of these artists, please see details below for each track. All tracks used by permission. © 2018 Live Art Technologies

1. Three Up (Live)

Johnny Come Latelies – Three Up (composed Damon Leibert) and Catharsis (composed Amy Cann), recorded live at The Skellig (The former Burren’s sister pub in Waltham, MA) in 2003 for a 2004 release of the now out of print CD “Episode.” Robert Elliott guitar, Neal Cadogan drums, and Andrew Oikle bass. The JCL’s, as they are called, have toured from the west coast of America to Ireland several times. The band was formed out of a famed Irish session at the now gone Tir na nOg in Somerville, MA where Damon first stepped into the Boston music scene in 1997.

2. King of the Fairies

Dunn – Recorded for their 2009 CD “Farranree.” Damon Leibert on fiddle/strings, Josh Oliver on bass and Rodrigo Bonelli on drums.

3. Spancil Hill

Ronan Quinn – Irish born balladeer Ronan Quinn now resides outside Boston, MA. Originally from Miltown Malbay (Co. Clare) Ronan traveled extensively before landing in Boston. Damon worked on both of Ronan’s records and has shared the stage over the course of two decades with “Fluffy” as his friends call him.

4. Cher Bassette

Josh Lederman & The Cambridge Somerville All-Stars – Having recorded and toured the US & Ireland with Josh’s previous band Los Diablos, Damon continued to play with Josh’s next project. A throw-together band of some of the finest and eclectic musicians in the Boston area. Weekly shows at the famed Plough & Stars led to this studio recording of a traditional song.

5. This is the Way (Live)

6. French Canadian Set (Live)

Johnny Come Latelies – Recorded live at The Skellig (The former Burren’s sister pub in Waltham, MA) in 2003 for a 2004 release of the now out of print CD “Episode.” Robert Elliott guitar, Neal Cadogan drums, and Andrew Oikle bass. The JCL’s, as they are called, have toured from the west coast of America to Ireland several times. The band was formed out of a famed Irish session at the now gone Tir na nOg in Somerville, MA where Damon first stepped into the Boston music scene in 1997.

7. Message in the Box

Damon Leibert – Over the course of co-owning/operating Bluetone (recording) Studio we received many weird phone messages. This combined with some dabbling on button box, bouzouki and fiddle led to this odd little homage to the answering machine after it interrupted way to many sessions. Composed Damon Leibert, 2010.

8. Deeper in the Well

Johnny Come Latelies – Composed by our friend and former Somerville resident, Steve Mayone, this was recorded in 2003 and released in 2004 on the now out of print CD “Episode.” Robert Elliott guitar & vocals, Neal Cadogan drums, and Andrew Oikle bass. The JCL’s, as they are called, have toured from the west coast of America to Ireland several times. The band was formed out of a famed Irish session at the now gone Tir na nOg in Somerville, MA where Damon first stepped into the Boston music scene in 1997.

9. Mad Lady and Me

Dunn – Recorded for their 2009 CD “Farranree.” Written by Jimmy McCarthy, and sung by Shane Dunn. Damon Leibert on fiddle/strings, Shane Dunn on guitar/vocals, Josh Oliver on bass and Rodrigo Bonelli on drums.

10. Down by the Glenside

Inchicore – Damon performed with Inchicore from 2001 to 2016, mostly from 2008 on. Comprised of the late Tom Miller on bass (Dublin City Ramblers) and fronted by guitarist and singer Derrick Keane. The band takes its name from Derrick’s hometown in Dublin, Ireland. Derrick has shared the stage with such greats as Willie Nelson, The Wolfe Tones, The Furey Brothers, The Dublin City Ramblers, Brendan Grace and of course along with Damon on The Irish Comedy Tour. “Down by the Glenside (The Bold Fenian Men)” is an Irish rebel song written by Peadar Kearney. Recorded and unreleased in 2011.

11. Mary Hold the Candle Steady While I Shave the Chickens Lip (Live)

Inchicore – Damon performed with Inchicore from 2001 to 2016, mostly from 2008 on. Comprised of the late Tom Miller on bass (Dublin City Ramblers) and fronted by guitarist and singer Derrick Keane. The band takes its name from Derrick’s hometown in Dublin, Ireland. Derrick has shared the stage with such greats as Willie Nelson, The Wolfe Tones, The Furey Brothers, The Dublin City Ramblers, Brendan Grace and of course along with Damon on The Irish Comedy Tour. Recorded live at O’Sheas on Cape Cod in 2012 the tunes are: Julia Delane’s, Tam Lin Reel, and The Reconciliation.

12. Walk with Me

Paddy Saul – Damon has worked with Irish born sing-songwriter Paddy Saul since 2002. Paddy has collaborated with some of the greats of the Boston music scene, featuring Steve Scully. Mark Hickox, Jimmy Ryan, Casey Sullivan, and Stu Kimball. This song was written by Paddy and recorded in 2008 and not released until 2018. The full story and more information can be found here.

13. Petronella

Peter Leibert – From the Johnny Come Lightlies CD “Grounded Roots,” this track features Damon’s father, Peter Leibert on concertina, Robert Elliott on guitar, and Chris Murphy on bodhran.

14. Summer Days

15. David’s Jig

Dunn – Recorded and unreleased this Natalie MacMaster tune features Damon Leibert on fiddle, Shane Dunn on guitar, Josh Oliver on bass and Rodrigo Bonelli on drums.

16. Zero Zero

Damon Leibert – A tune written by Damon featuring Christian McNeil on guitar/bass and Damon on bouzouki/mando/strings/sequencing. Unreleased, the recording in 2009 features dark messages left on the studio answering machine in a time during the mortgage crisis.

17. Marathon Reel

From the Johnny Come Lightlies CD “Grounded Roots,” this track includes Robert Elliott on guitar, and Chris Murphy on bodhran. The Marathon Reel (composed Damon Leibert) and Robert Elliott’s reel (composed Damon Leibert). The Marathon Reel was written for Ronan’s then girlfriend’s flatmates as they were running the Boston Marathon in 1999.