On Wednesday, Rocky Guttman is going to be busy. Really busy.
The area musician is scheduled to play two separate gigs this St. Patrick’s Day. In the morning, he’s set to perform at Kate’s Irish Pub in Springfield for approximately four hours. Later in the day, he’ll be in Old Town Alexandria for a seven-hour stint at Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub.
“It’s easy to go from one to the other,” Guttman said during a recent phone conversation. “When you do this long enough, you find the energy to do it.”
The reason Guttman is playing two sets, and musicians across the region will be busily employed on Wednesday, is just an example that St. Patrick’s Day has grown into one of the biggest party days of the year, complete with drink, food and live music.
“It’s a great reason to go out and have a few pints,” Guttman, who has performed in the area for 24 years, said. Last year, he did a more than 15 hours at Murphy’s, one of his preferred places to play. He believes that well-run bars are key to a good time.
Pete Papageorge is another area musician that will be busy Wednesday. He’s scheduled to perform from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Kelly’s Irish Times in D.C., estimating that two-thirds of that time will be spent performing,
“It’s become a tradition,” Papageorge said of St. Patrick’s Day. “It’s a reason for an all-day party. People like to let go out and not have to worry so much one day a year. It’s a celebration of spring. A new year for spring.”
Papageorge got his start as a solo artist in 1982, playing a barbecue joint in Bethesda. On St. Patrick’s Day, the owner asked him to play some Irish music to fit the holiday.
“I didn’t know that many Irish tunes and played as many English folks sons as I knew,” Papageorge recalled. A friend called him out on the transgression, and he’s since learned plenty of Irish songs in the last 28 years. Favorite’s he’ll play this year include:
“By and large, there’s some wonderful songs in the Irish catalog,” said Papageorge, who lives in Maryland. “I’ve been astounded by the tunes.”
Papageorge claims that enthusiasm on the part of audience and performer is key to a fun evening. With green beer and Guinness flowing this Wednesday, that shouldn’t be an issue.
“If they’re into it and you can rise to the occasion,” Papageorge said. “It’s a lot of fun.”
