New York Notes: Finally by Derek A. Dempsey is Highly Recommended by Whom You Know! Finally, Peachy has found a cd worthy of your attention! Go Irish!
Derek A. Dempsey
The last time we recommended a CD by an artist (we are not counting the single CD of Christmas songs we liked) was April 2011: http://www.whomyouknow.com/2011/04/new-york-notes-exclusive-music-of.html You know Peachy Deegan hardly ever writes on music. That is because she is super-picky and highly discriminating. If she listened to 100 new songs in a row that she never heard before by people she's never heard of, maybe she would like one song of the 100. She has never owned a large music collection because she has incredibly defined taste that is diverse in its own right. Now she likes Adele's 21, and keeps listening to Bing Crosby's Pennies in Heaven but she sings her own Regis words. There was a period in her life where she only listened to U2, and how can you possibly blame her for that? And, that was BEFORE she lived in Ireland.
One day, it was AFTER she lived in Ireland. At that point in time, she lived at 3 World Financial Center at her desk at Lehman Brothers. On a rare occasion, she left her desk.
One time when she left her desk, she went to Thady Cons on Second Avenue at 48th Street, which we are incredibly sad to say is not there anymore. There was a fantastic band that played called Cray & Dempsey and so we met Derek. Derek thinks Peachy is just like Charlotte York from Sex and the City, so he calls her that.
Derek A. Dempsey is a singer, songwriter and entertainer from Dublin, Ireland living in New York for over a decade. He is best known for singing original songs of great passion and truth and a select set of covers from the past 50 or so years that mean something to him. Peachy went as often as she could to Thady Cons and of course loved the Alice song the most.
The album we're highly recommending today is "Finally" by Derek Dempsey and the only thing that is not perfect about it is that it is missing the Alice song-but since that is a traditional Irish song and an old one and this album is all newly written by Derek, we understand why it does not belong here (but we are still looking forward to seeing it dedicated to Peachy on You tube which we will also review.)
What makes "Finally" different? The album includes such live favorites as An American Sings His Song (Requiem for Johnny Cash), Shine a Light, Lullaby for Dylan, and Days of ’92. All self- penned, which is great to know as we appreciate artists that write their own music the most.
The Album is a reflection on Derek’s tastes in music, very eclectic, this can make categorization difficult, however, its honest and genuine style make you want to listen to it again and again. The order of the songs makes total sense and we agree with it.
"Days of '92" is a phenomenal kickoff to this stellar album. Its upbeat nature is characteristically Derek and will make you want to get up and dance immediately, even if you are sipping tea, not Guinness. It is followed by a darker number-"An American Sings His Song" reminds us of a cowboy riding off into the sunset and Derek has written it for Johnny Cash (we know Bono did one song with Johnny but Johnny is not in our collection so no comment on him-before our time we think. We just know he dressed in black.) Horses reminds us of the same spot when the cowboy wakes up in the morning it sounds like dawn breaking-beautiful and serene.
"Memories Of" is something that should absolutely be on the radio, especially as an improvement to any elevator music-it is perkier, smoother and obviously sounds better. Looks like Derek plays the congas on that one too. "Shine A Light" we have heard before this album was released to the public-see we wrote about it here in April 2010. (Derek used to have another name he used-D'Antony D which has since been dropped we believe.) Now, who is Josie, Josie? Next time we want to see Charlotte, Charlotte! Just kidding. Josie must be cheerful and fun because this song certainly is. Another dance number, we'd say. It has a timeless quality that ensures this song will be enjoyed for years to come.
"Your Love" will bring you back down to reality with its soulful notes and Derek will show you he's also a poet. "Lullabye for Dylan" is sad-what can we say-but clearly by all of Adele's Grammy wins you can see sad can also be successful and this song is precisely that. This song reminds us of a quintessentially modern-day Irish lullabye. "Six Billion Lights" starts off by reminding us of the Drummer Boy Christmas song but to really get this song you have to read what Derek writes about it in the cd jacket cover. (It is about as long as this review so we won't repeat it.) Appropriately, "Finally" is the penultimate song of the album and "Finally, Again" is the last and an instrumental version. Smooth and intelligent, these bring closure and serenity to the listener, even if you are in the Manhattan craziness. If the people that owned Thady Cons (we do not know them or even of them) heard this album, they would build up Thady Cons again.
Derek says, “The plan for me is just to keep moving forward, I was banging my head against a wall in Ireland as far as a making success, so I came to this amazing country that I adore and love. I was meant for this country, I am not only accepted, but loved for my art and passion and self belief, what more could an artist want aside from a hit song???”
What can you and Peachy do now that you can't hear Derek at Thady Cons?
Today, Derek plays a monthly residency in Cold Spring, at Whistling Willies on the last Tuesday of each month and can be seen participating in the open mic there on Wednesdays. Add four performances to Las Vegas with his duo each year and you have the picture!
Of course, we are looking for a deserving hot spot for him to play in Manhattan.
Do not do something cheesy for St. Patrick's Day.
Go out and buy some real Irish music, namely Finally by Derek Dempsey!
We highly recommend Finally by Derek Dempsey.
“Finally” is available on itunes, Amazon.com and cdbaby.com.
P.S. Derek did you know Peachy was a Perilhette?
