Worst and best busker?

ErnieBert

There was a busker outside Brown Thomas who lost the crowd by being a total smartarse. When I got there, he had attracted a sizable crowd which blocked the street. He was a big confident man with what seemed like a great stage presence; I'd say he was either Australian or British (I'm not great at identifying accents).

He had a handsfree mike attached to him. He got some bystander to hold his unicycle and was asking the crowd to cheer but he just got a feeble response. To try to win the crowd, he approached two teenaged boys in the audience and told them that it's okay if they want to hold hands which embarrassed them. He repeatedly used foul language event hough there were lots of kids there. He quipped that it is no wonder there is a recession on in Ireland because everyone in Galway was so miserable. He continued to dish out the insults much to the bemusement of the crowd. He slagged off some French people too.

Good performers should know their audience but this guy was died on his feet.

At this stage, I became curious on how he was going to win the disillusioned crowd over. The guy holding the unicycle walked away which got the biggest laugh. The performer threatened not to do the show unless people gave him some good energy to which about 25% of the crowd dispersed.

As more people walked away, he then realised that he had lost the crowd and packed up hi s stuff. i never saw anything like it in my life. He didn't collect a cent either.

Anyone else see it?

drum!

Plenty of competition for the "worst busker ever" on Shop St these days...

Seaneh

The ones who bother me most are the ****ers who use amps.
**** off, If I want to hear your whaling, I will stop and listen, you aren't exactly inconspicuous standing there with your guitar, you don't need a ****ing amp and microphone, bell end.

moonflower

Yeah I saw that guy earlier today, he was telling the crowd how much they should pay him, seemed a bit desperate tbh

Esel

Maybe MuckSavage is playing Galway at the mo?

mathepac

Seaneh wrote: »

... **** off, If I want to hear your whaling, ...

Jeeze Seaneh, calm down, a mhaiceen, you'll bursht a blood-vessel an' then me and Jonneh and Maryeh'll have to cart you off to hospital on the Newcashtle Road.

Whaling is illegal for years man and onleh them Japanese crowd do it now and not on Shop Street because of the Guards.

See yeh later in the King's Head for porther, an' don't be goin' upsettin' yourself.

Galwayguy35

Why would anyone bother giving buskers money anyway?

thesandeman

Esel wrote: »

Maybe MuckSavage is playing Galway at the mo?

Feck ya! Was hoping nobody would come up with him till I finished reading the thread.
This new guy will probably get a TV show soon.
Saw the dude yesterday. Embarrassing.
He isn't going to be the only one around for the next week.
The guy who breaks the law by charging people to hop on his squiggly bike will probably arrive tomorrow.

ErnieBert

Seaneh wrote: »

The ones who bother me most are the ****ers who use amps.
**** off, If I want to hear your whaling, I will stop and listen, you aren't exactly inconspicuous standing there with your guitar, you don't need a ****ing amp and microphone, bell end.

Buskers who use amplification and/or backing tracks are cheats. If you aren't good enough to perform, don't add insult to injury by blaring your talentless muck at the highest notch.

And as for those long haired tools with the panpipes? Amps. Backing tracks. Crap tunes. Grrrrrrrrr

the keen edge

Seaneh wrote: »

The ones who bother me most are the ****ers who use amps.
**** off, If I want to hear your whaling, I will stop and listen, you aren't exactly inconspicuous standing there with your guitar, you don't need a ****ing amp and microphone, bell end.

ErnieBert wrote: »

Buskers who use amplification and/or backing tracks are cheats. If you aren't good enough to perform, don't add insult to injury by blaring your talentless muck at the highest notch.

And as for those long haired tools with the panpipes? Amps. Backing tracks. Crap tunes. Grrrrrrrrr

I agree that some of these guys need to turn it down a notch, however using an amp is necessary for some instruments, not a case of not having talent.
There was a guy rocking out with a electric guitar, amp and backing track near Easons yesterday he was good and enjoyable to watch, obviously talented to some degree.

I saw the guy with the unicycle too, he had attracted a sizable crowd; however funnily enough though I didn't bother waiting around to see his act as he was talking endless sh!te.
I went for lunch in the cellar and after leaving 30 minutes later though the crowd was still around, I could be mistaken though.
Did he not perform his act at all?

thesandeman

The ones who use backing tracks and try to sell CDs really pee me off as well.
Seen one yesterday who toddled up the street to get a light for his cigarette but forgot to turn off his machine. It sounded the exact same as if he was there.

ben.schlomo

Pan Pipes, that is all.

galwaybabe

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

Why would anyone bother giving buskers money anyway?

Stupid question of the week!!!!

BhoscaCapall

This isn't mean as a slight on all these people, merely a description, but I find the Roma gypsies to often be the worst. Usually sat there with a miserable head on them dragging a bow across as a violin, not really sure if even they think they can play. In the west of Ireland as well. Be like me standing in the streets of Rio or Barcelona trying to string together 3 kick-ups with a football.

Mr Keek

Pan Pipes fellas get my vote too.

Terrible in every sense of the word, appauling tunes, way too loud and no consideration for anyone else or other buskers.

The funny thing is when you actually watch them playing...they are *really* into it.

I really do hope people get sick of them and the take the hint and move on for good. I've seen the same lads in Limerick too.

I love buskers, even the bad ones, they just add to a city's environment, and give a street a little character, but those lads just do my nut in.

mikom

Seaneh wrote: »

The ones who bother me most are the ****ers who use amps.
**** off, If I want to hear your whaling, I will stop and listen, you aren't exactly inconspicuous standing there with your guitar, you don't need a ****ing amp and microphone, bell end.

This whinge goes up to 11.
One louder.

Mrs OBumble

Mr Keek wrote: »

Pan Pipes fellas get my vote too.

.... I've seen the same lads in Limerick too.

I love buskers, even the bad ones, they just add to a city's environment, and give a street a little character, but those lads just do my nut in.

I've seen 'em, or guys who look and sound like 'em, on the other side of the world too. Suspect it's a franchise of sorts.

Back home we had a guy they called "Kenny Rogers" 'cos he looked like the original. Legal or not, the council took his amp off him 'cos of the complaints. So he stood there and "busked" by asking anyone who would listen to write to the mayor on his behalf. (He died last year, RIP.)

IMHO if someone's instrument needs an amp - they need to pick another instrument. Simples.


And is plinky-plonk man actually here this year? I haven't spotted him yet.

biko

Yup saw him last weekend.

Seaneh

JustMary wrote: »

I've seen 'em, or guys who look and sound like 'em, on the other side of the world too. Suspect it's a franchise of sorts.

Back home we had a guy they called "Kenny Rogers" 'cos he looked like the original. Legal or not, the council took his amp off him 'cos of the complaints. So he stood there and "busked" by asking anyone who would listen to write to the mayor on his behalf. (He died last year, RIP.)

IMHO if someone's instrument needs an amp - they need to pick another instrument. Simples.


And is plinky-plonk man actually here this year? I haven't spotted him yet.

It's not a franchise, it's just a ton of poor peruvians who figured out they could make a ton of money going city to city, country to country for a few months a year busking at festivles and busy periods and selling cd's.


They aren't even on the cd's themselves, it's just generic panpipe music.

Clever hoors really.

I've seen them all over europe too.

Jamey

Anyone know what happened to the Romanian busker who used to wear the Irish Rugby jacket?

He'd be sitting on a small seat outside River Island (usually) every day and night a few years ago but haven't seen him in ages. Just remembered him recently.

RINO87

Chap thats outside elverys corbett court every weekend and only ever plays wonderwall and folsom prison blues, badly. All day long, same two feckin tunes, all day long. Same two tunes.......all day long.


Best ones Ive seen in a long time are the guys that have a hand drum, bodhrán, diddgereedoo and a woman tap dancing. Top notch stuff!

Galwayguy35

galwaybabe wrote: »

Stupid question of the week!!!!

Well maybe you would like to enlighten me as to why you are calling me stupid for voicing my opinion.
It maybe an internet forum but politeness costs nothing.

galwayrush

Whatever happened to the guy who used to busk outside the old Claddagh Palace back in the day?

ErnieBert

galwayrush wrote: »

Whatever happened to the guy who used to busk outside the old Claddagh Palace back in the day?

Ahhh Terry Smith. He lives in Castle Park. What a legend.

Stench Blossoms

There were two shocking female singers on Shop St. today outside AIB.

Thought my ears might bleed.

drum!

Seaneh wrote: »

The ones who bother me most are the ****ers who use amps.
**** off, If I want to hear your whaling, I will stop and listen, you aren't exactly inconspicuous standing there with your guitar, you don't need a ****ing amp and microphone, bell end.

Totally agree with this.If you have to use an amp where you don't need one (Bass, Electric guitar etc) then you have failed as a busker. There's so many chancers that have come out the woodwork this year that have brought the quality down. I feel so bad for the people that play out there in the pouring rain all through the year only to have their spots taken by these fuc*ing chancers as soon as the weather (and the crowds) finally improves.

Backing track singers.....f*ck off!

Seaneh

Your man who stands outside Taffes shop singing the Sinatra type stuff is the absolute worst.

drum!

Edit

littleteapot

Seaneh wrote: »

Your man who stands outside Taffes shop singing the Sinatra type stuff is the absolute worst.

Is that the guy with the longish hair and the suit? He's a really sweet lad, not the full shillin' if ya get me. He's supposed to be quite a good artist though. He's in shopping where I work a lot.

My least favourite buskers are as follows:
1. Clodagh whatsername with the backing track and the moooooaaaning. Every feckin day lately. And who do you think you aaaare running round leavin scaaaaars collectin your jar of hearts.... ugh FML
2. The black bongo drummer. He's so rude and it's relentless.
3. Saxophone guy who sits on the bollards.
4. That big band, with the brass section, who were there during the week. I think they only came for the arts fest though.
5. Panpipes.
6. Anyone with a didgeridoo or any other relentlessy noisy "instrument".
That's all I can think of for now.

Anyone know where I work yet?

BhoscaCapall

The bongos can be awful crap, I remember sitting outside Taaffes with a pint once while a load of them sat outside Easons or whatever and just played the exact same 'tune' for an hour.

Generally though I'm usually just walking along Shop St so none of it really bothers me much. Your man with the banjo who sings Raglan Road etc is exceptional.

Vodkat

My least favourite is a guy in his twenties, always wears shorts and has a guitar and a mini one. Bad singer, and theres just something about him that irritates me.

Oh and I also hate the statue guy thats painted silver, umbrellas made to look like crows etc.

littleteapot

Vodkat wrote: »

My least favourite is a guy in his twenties, always wears shorts and has a guitar and a mini one. Bad singer, and theres just something about him that irritates me.

Ah yes, we call him Boardshorts. He's annoying but at least he has no amp or backing track. I always think he sings too quickly, because he's trying his best to keep warm. He wears shorts no matter the weather or time of year.

Paddyfield

littleteapot wrote: »

Anyone know where I work yet?

Do you sell amplifiers?

Mrs OBumble

Vodkat wrote: »

My least favourite is a guy in his twenties, always wears shorts and has a guitar and a mini one. Bad singer, and theres just something about him that irritates me.

Ahh, I think in polite circles it's called a ukulele


He's far from the worse.

TobyZiegler

Saw that guy on Saturday - was there for the part where he said that Australia has no recession cos they have so much energy there and no wonder we are in a recession with our lack of energy / passion. Then he looked like he was giving up and walking off. Part of his act or was he actually annoyed I wonder? Either way he was a pain and I kept on walking.

wp_rathead

Think we all got a bit spoilt with the days of Rodrigo Y Gabriela busking on Shop St

*reminiscences*

ahhh

drum!

The average age of buskers today was about 8 years old. It's shockin bad this year.

Did ye see the two beours singing to backing tracks outside Lynchs Castle at the weekend?I've been to better drunk Karaoke's. They were there ALL day. Even had the feckin kids with them.

Das Kitty

littleteapot wrote: »

3. Saxophone guy who sits on the bollards.

Him!

All he ever plays is the first two lines of Moondance, badly, over and over.

It's like he comes from some Van Morrison-themed circle of hell.

drum!

He's like the Mariah Carey of Sax players. Playing 8 notes where one is fine.

ErnieBert

Johnny Massacre RIP 2003

Squeeonline

Didnt see Wonderwall guy today.

He drives me nuts, he's crap and only has those two songs. Now if he could even play them well....


Must be making a fair bit though otherwise he'd stop.

drum!

Is that the guy that can't sing AT ALL?Even the Sinatra lad is better than him.

John_Rambo

Seaneh wrote: »

It's not a franchise, it's just a ton of poor peruvians who figured out they could make a ton of money going city to city, country to country for a few months a year busking at festivles and busy periods and selling cd's

Is that the story there? We have them in Dublin too, more synthesizers, backing tracks and amps than a small Pink Floyd gig, all decked out in native American gear. They sometimes have Irish women groupies too, they look ridiculous.

Seaneh

John_Rambo wrote: »

Is that the story there? We have them in Dublin too, more synthesizers, backing tracks and amps than a small Pink Floyd gig, all decked out in native American gear. They sometimes have Irish women groupies too, they look ridiculous.

Not native american, they are either Quechua or Aymara, probably Quechua, I've chatted to a few of them, all of them have been peruanos.

Nice lads really.

apoeiguq3094y

The quality of buskers seems to have gone down over the years. There was one guy on high st on saturday who was ok, but other than that it was awful.

The only good regulars in galway these days seem to be the two dudes who sing and play the guitar while balancing on top of the bollards. They are usually opposite Easons or so. They are fairly good musically and the balancing thing adds a bit of novelty.

littleteapot

apoeiguq3094y wrote: »

The quality of buskers seems to have gone down over the years. There was one guy on high st on saturday who was ok, but other than that it was awful.

The only good regulars in galway these days seem to be the two dudes who sing and play the guitar while balancing on top of the bollards. They are usually opposite Easons or so. They are fairly good musically and the balancing thing adds a bit of novelty.

Mikey and the scallywags? I've always hated them, don't know why really.

I also despise the Atlantic Pirates. Do not need hours and hours of rebel/dublinerish songs TYVM

drum!

littleteapot wrote: »

I also despise the Atlantic Pirates. TYVM

Edit

littleteapot

drum! wrote: »

The shtate of that banjo player....

Is that the one with the really deep voice? I don't pay enough attention to them to know which one is playing the banjo really... My workmate fancies the ginger one. She wants to have ginger babies with him. Freak

drum!

Yeah the ginger one, with the world's most open button down shirt.

littleteapot

Ah yeah, the ginger guy doesn't have the deep voice, it's the short dark haired guy. I don't like Ginjo at all at all, but that half open shirt thing seems to be working for him, considering he has more than one admirer.

D1stant

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

Why would anyone bother giving buskers money anyway?

Dead right Sir. Sure feck all that artsy farty stuff and people bursting their bollic to entertain people with no obligation and all that. I've got my Chris Rea tapes and a slab'o'beer Txt me. x