Today as I write this, it is St. Patrick's Day 2020, and America (like much of the world) is on a coronavirus lockdown. Usually on St. Patrick's Day I would be out performing with my Irish band, Fire in the Glen, but the three gigs we had scheduled today have all been cancelled because of, you know, sick. So I'm making do at home: Irish whiskey, a bit of fiddling in the back yard to entertain/annoy the neighbors, and some music on the speakers while I'm doing other things.

Today I'm starting with Burning Bridget Cleary, a band that, sadly, no longer exists. That's no reason to ignore some fine, fine music! Totes for Goats is their 2011 recording, one of three I've picked up over the years.

The band is Genevieve Gillespie on fiddle, vocals and banjo, Rose Baldino on fiddle, vocals and banjo (also!), Lou Baldino on guitar, vocals and bass, and Peter Trezzi on djembe and drums.

The set is a mix of instrumentals and songs, most traditional plus a few by band members or other sources. One of the most enjoyable tracks is "The King & the Fair Maid," which spotlights the band's vocal and instrumental talents to best effect. Particularly nice is the interplay between Genevieve's and Rose's voices on this light, airy song. So, too, does "Nead Na Lachan Sa Mhuta."

But heck, this is a good, fun album all around. I'm glad I have a few BBC discs lying around, and I'm glad I had the chance to see them perform live while they were still on the circuit. If you need a lift to your day, this will provide one!