Kevin Patrick

Bill Patrick was an orphan. In 1924 he moved from Salyersville, Kentucky to Cincinnati, Ohio and got a job in an Ice factory to support his young wife, Virginia, his 2 (eventually 4) children, and his 5 brothers and sisters. No problem. His only question to his boss upon receiving a job was: "Is there a place where I can store my gun?" Son, we need to talk.........

Hard working people all over the world work for the weekend (to quote a funny little Canadian band) and Bill was no exception. On Saturday nights he would congregate with the other Appalachian workers at different dance halls in the Elmwood Place section of Cincinnati.

Now Bill had a little something extra to offer these hoedowns. Back around 1914 while helping a farmer back in the hills around Salyersville, he found an old banjo up against the wall inside the barn. In lieu of pay, he accepted the banjo and started learning how to play. When the chance came to play for his fellow workers, he'd jump up on whatever stage was handy and play the real life story songs of the Appalachian mountains. It was like being home among family and friends and a way to pass their history from one generation to the next.

You see, hard work and putting food on the table were at a premium in this pre-depression world and "book learnin" was just gonna have wait for another generation. (If we're in generation X now, and the one before that is the "Baby Boomers", preceded by the generation that saved the world, then I think Bill's generation was the "Toil till you tumble generation.") So many of those good people couldn't read or write, and singing songs was how they told their stories.

In 1932, James was born to Bill and Virginia. He eventually went off to the Korean conflict and made his way back to marry a beautiful young dancer named Beverly. They soon began doing their part to contribute to the "baby boom" and on a stormy summer day in September of 1957 Kevin Patrick was born.

Kevin became the recipient of the long and colorful history passed down by Bill Patrick, only the 1960s brought a little twist (literally). "I would learn all those good old songs that my grandfather would play, but I'd also sneak off to my room and listen to the Beatles."

In July of 1970 a cousin who played guitar showed Kevin his first chord (it was a G fifth) He snuck into his sister Vanessa's room and stole her guitar and never gave it back. "I bought her a new one when she was in college and she promptly sold it to pay her rent."

1970 marked the beginning of a new folk boom in American music with new performers like James and Livingston Taylor, The Band, CSN&Y, Arlo Guthrie and many other musicians who's impact is still felt today. A lot of budding musicians were learning the rock side of Woodstock in those days. Performers like Hendrix, Cream, and Santana, but some, like Kevin leaned more towards their folk roots. "I learned all those cool rock guitar licks and songs but I always felt more of a kinship with the acoustic side of things."

After 20 years of playing a lot of things that didn't quite fit in all sorts of bands on 3 continents, Kevin formed the Orphans in 1991. A unique band that had at it's core those songs that had started him playing all those years ago. "At last I could put on a pair of jeans and pick up my Martin and go be myself." (We do have a recording of Kevin doing "Let's Go Crazy" by Prince........it's pretty humorous.)

Gould and Patrick is a very special project to Kevin because it brings him full circle with his heritage, while continuing to create, perform and record the influential music that will take them into the future.

Mo's Irish Pub

Gould & Patrick, in conjunction with McMahon Entertainment, are proud to announce that you will be able to experience the best in Irish/American acoustic music every Tuesday through Thursday and most Fridays at the best, most authentic Irish pub in Milwaukee (or anywhere for that matter...) MO'S IRISH PUB at the corner of Plankinton and Wisconsin in Downtown Milwaukee. There will be two shows daily. First, the best Happy Hour anywhere with live music from 5:30-7:00, and then have some dinner at the Pub or go over to MO'S A PLACE FOR STEAK across the street and get ready for the big show from 8-11. Fridays will be from 8:00-12:30. We'd like to thank Johnny V for the opportunity to play at the best new hot spot in southeastern Wisconsin. For more info, check out the venue listing page on this website. or click on the link below for MO'S homepage.

Mo's Irish Pub
142 W. Wisconsin Ave in Downtown Milwaukee.
(414)272-0721