Swift

11/19/08

Irish Session welcoming, friendly, a good pint as well.

by sessionhound at Citysearch

After many years of visiting Irish music "sessions" around the city, I find that Swift is a welcoming session with good musicians(Eamon O'Leary and Chris Layer usually host) and a good pint to quench your thurst: be it for good Irish Music or good Irish stout! The Swift session on Tuesdays, like fiddler, Tony DeMarco's Thursday session at Paddy Reilly's has a few microphones and some sound, but generally all the musicians can be heard, and the session is piped to the front bar, so you are sure not to miss a note of the fine trad music. Take it from this "local", Swift is an excellent place to pass a Tuesday night or any night over an excellent pint of fresh stout!

• Pros: Good Music Good Beer
• Cons: music is only once or twice a week...

03/21/08

Tuesday session - what session? Go to Dempsey's

by fiddlerchick at Citysearch

Having been told about the 'session' on a Tuesday night by a New York Friend, I went along with him to the Swift with my fiddle to join in. That's what I think a session is.

I was wrong. I arrived - the sound engineer was really nice and welcoming. The guitarist was friendly, and the banjo player was too. The fiddler wasn't. But the general vibe was absolutely of a gig. One where outsiders were not welcome. The fiddle player would not even speak to me! She just carried on regardless.

This is fine - I have no problem at all with people doing a gig if that's what it is advertised as. I like going to them. I respect other musicians enough not to tread on toes and offend by trying to join in. But it's supposed to be a session. It's not - so please stop advertising it as one.

At one point a guy asked if his band who were over from Ireland for St Patrick's night could do a couple of numbers. The response was awesome in it's rudeness. He was basically told 'No' straight off. If he had been honestly and nicely told by the band that it wasn't a session it would have been OK. Instead he got non-responsive dismissal. Again - NOT what a session would have been like.

All in all - I finished my pint and went round the corner to Dempsey's where I was welcomed with open arms by a group of 15 or so real musicians who wanted to hear what I played, where I come from, told me what tunes they were going to play, were happy to join in with me, and welcomed my playing along with theirs. Now that's a REAL SESSION. I left at 2, had pints bought for me, bought pints back for new friends, and with several phone numbers for people who wanted me to come back again.

So thanks to Dempsey's for a GREAT night. Boo to Swift's. I left Swift's with barely a soul in the bar and people politely clapping at the end of each tune.

If you want a great session, leave Swift's immediately, go 5 minutes round the corner on to 2nd and have a good night.

• Pros: OK bar staff
• Cons: Pathetic session

02/07/08

Not the same anymore...

by Dan28 at Citysearch

This place has completely lost its luster. Before, when Sean and Bernadette were bartending, this place really rocked and they gave lots of buybacks because they appreciated big tippers. They also gave an effort to know everyone and to make sure that everyone had a good time.

Now, they have the same snobby bartender-types that work in upscale bars with the "I'm too good for you" attitude. Recently, my friend and I were tipping the bartender well (for about 2.5 hours) and we didn't even get 1 buyback!!! This has happened on more than one occasion. Also, the bartenders are closed and don't seek conversation with anyone.

Forget this place and head over to Puck Fair. The atmosphere there is more of what Swift's was about 5 years ago - friendly bartenders, cool crowd, and lots of giant-screen tv's.

Right now, Swift's is just a shell of its former self. Don't bother.

• Pros: great beer selection
• Cons: it's just a regular bar. Nothing special