MANCHESTER, NH – In every city, there’s at least one place the music community calls home. It’s a place where the locals hang out at, and sometimes perform, while a good amount of touring acts from all over grace its stage. In Manchester, that place is The Shaskeen, and for the past two decades it has been a hub for live music while maintaining the classic atmosphere that only an Irish pub can have.
From September 26 – 28, the establishment is going to be celebrating its 20th anniversary with a party that’s going to be happening all weekend long. The likes of Amigo The Devil, The Rebel Collective and others will be providing the tunes, and for all the information, people can log onto shaskeenirishpub.com.
I had a talk with both Miketon Graton and Neal Brown, who are two of the four co-owners of The Shaskeen, about the history of the place, their favorite shows they’ve had there, what people can expect from the upcoming festivities, and their goals looking towards the future.
Rob Duguay: The Shaskeen has an interesting origin story that ties into Irish music with musician Tommy McCarthy and the former flautist of The Chieftains, Matt Malloy, being the co-owners of the place when it opened in 2005. Did either of you go to The Shaskeen during that time? What was the venue like back then and what initially inspired you guys to take it over?
Miketon Graton: I was 21 when The Shaskeen opened, and I remember going right after the doors first opened. It was packed, so crowded that it was hard to get to the bar. The pub still looks much the same today, so I can picture it pretty clearly. I walked up and tried to order a Killian’s. The Irishman behind the bar, who I now believe may have been Matt Molloy’s son, quickly informed me, with no lack of conviction, that they didn’t serve Killian’s because it wasn’t an Irish beer and, more importantly, it wasn’t on the board. He pointed, walked away, and left me feeling a little embarrassed as a young guy in a new situation, so I quickly ordered a Guinness to fix my faux pas.
Josh [Ames] had worked for the original owners for some time in Manchester, and I believe he was the only American in the pub at that point. Eventually, they wanted to make him a manager, so they sent him to work at their pub Matt Molloy’s in Westport, County Mayo, Ireland. When they decided to sell The Shaskeen, they offered it to Josh. Running a pub is always easier with friends, so Josh reached out to Nathan Sheridan and James Pliakos, guys he had bartended with in the nightclub scene for years, and the three of them teamed up to open the pub.
I didn’t personally go to shows back then, so I can’t speak to the booking at that time, but Josh has told me that even early on, the music scene was diverse.
If you ever listen to The Chieftains, of which Matt Molloy was a member, you’ll hear collaborations across genres ranging from Madonna, The Decemberists, Ziggy Marley, and Willie Nelson, to name just a few. I think The Shaskeen has kept that same spirit of diversity alive to this day.
Neal Brown: One of my earliest memories of visiting The Shaskeen in the early years was for a surprise party for me when I got my United States citizenship, and when I started working at Republic Cafe, I would venture down to The Shaskeen after work in search for some Magner’s cider, a proper taste of home. I started working there as the Irish guy, and worked my way through the ranks, alongside some other ownership groups, some legendary staff and personalities and many anniversaries. It was quite an honour to be offered the chance to become a part owner of an establishment that had been good to me.
RD: In terms of operation, how have you gone about delegating responsibilities amongst the both of you, James and Josh? Is it all about knowing your strengths and having them align with your duties when it comes to running the pub?
NB: We all came equipped with the skills, experiences, and contacts to run different aspects of the business. The rest, we just made up as we went along. Every day, there is always something different. Remember back when COVID caused us to close shop for a while!?!? There was no training or experience for that.
RD: Oh yeah, I do remember. The Shaskeen has had a ton of big shows happen on its stage over the course of its existence, so what are each of your favorite shows to take place there and why?
MG: It’s nearly impossible to pick just one show, we’ve had so many unforgettable nights. Josh has outdone himself with the acts he’s booked, multiple members of the Wu-Tang Clan, KRS-One, Eyehategod, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Amigo the Devil, the list goes on. For me, the one that always sticks with me is Tim Barry. Tim was the singer of the hardcore punk band Avail before going solo. I got their record “Over the James” when I was about 13, and it was hugely important to my music journey.
Tim’s solo music is raw, honest, and accessible, anyone can listen and take something away from it. His shows are unique because you don’t just watch them, you become part of them. He often comes off stage and plays right on the floor with the crowd. Whatever is happening outside the pub doesn’t matter at that moment. You’re part of something special, led by a guy who isn’t trying to be a rockstar.
He’s just a hell of a genuine person, the kind of guy you can sit and have a Miller Lite with, who also happens to have shared stages across the world with bands like The Gaslight Anthem.
He still comes back once a year, and so does the crowd. The shows always sell out, with familiar faces mixing with new ones. It blows my mind that it all happens in a pub in New Hampshire.
NB: As a wee lad back in Belfast, I had to share a room with my older brother, and as any rebellious teenager did, he was personified with the punk rock movement, so my nights were spent trying to fall asleep while he listened to his music. So the chance to host a live show headlined by Glen Matlock, the original bassist of the Sex Pistols, was a personal Shaskeen favourite experience for me. When I told him this anecdote, his response was fairly punk and not fit for printing. Outside of that time, there is nothing like New Year’s Eve at The Shaskeen, it’s really one of my favorite nights to work, and don’t get me started on the St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans. If you’ve been here for them, you’ll know what I mean.
RD: Speaking of shenanigans, What can people expect when they attend either or both nights of the 20th anniversary party?
MG: On Friday, we’re kicking off with Amigo the Devil performing out back. Unfortunately, for those reading this who don’t have tickets, it’s sold out! This is another example of an artist who now plays much larger venues but still chooses to return to The Shaskeen. That continuity is part of our story. I still remember when Amigo once played in the back room during a snowstorm to maybe eight people, two of whom were Josh and me, and now he’s touring with Dropkick Murphys.
If you don’t have a ticket, you can still come down and hang out out front, you’ll likely still hear it, and sometimes his shows even spill from the back to the front. Saturday kicks off at 3 p.m. with a live Irish session led by David Levine running until 6 p.m. Later that evening, The Rebel Collective keeps the Irish tradition going. They’re a high-energy, sing-along, drink-along type of band that always delivers. On Sunday, we’ll close out the weekend with local legend Marty Quirk, performing classic traditional tunes everyone loves. Throughout the weekend, we’ll also have promotions from Jameson, Tito’s, Casamigos, and Bushmills.
NB: Craic of the finest quality, sprinkled with a dollop of nostalgia, glee and a brief escape from the realities beyond our doors. Live music is on hand all weekend, probably some whiskey and Guinness too.
RD: It sounds like it’s going to be a blast. Going forward, what would you both say is the primary goal for The Shaskeen? Is it being consistent with the shows, vibe and atmosphere, or is it something else?
NB: Hopefully, we’ll all be here for the 30th, and until then, we can continue to host the best live entertainment that we can, to pour the best Guinness pints, welcome in new guests and old friends, and be the Irish neighborhood bar that every city wishes they had.
MG: The Shaskeen has been, and always will be, a traditional Irish pub. A place where people can gather casually and comfortably, share food, and enjoy the best pints around. At the same time, we’re committed to continuing to bring in diverse, top-quality acts year after year, and having one hell of a good time while doing it.