Dennis O’Rourke knows a few things about playing Irish pubs. He did some significant research by living in Ireland for a few months and, upon returning home to America, he ditched a job as an EKG technician to play music full time. That was more than 30 years ago.

Since then, O’Rourke has gained a reputation as a great Irish and folk musician. He has written a hit song for Randy Travis and even published a book about his experiences in Irish pubs. Despite the many facets to O’Rourke’s career, he is still primarily a traveling musician. He claims his performances encompass everything a solo acoustic show should be.

“There’s going to be good music, a bit of laughter, some ballads and some sad moments,” O’Rourke said, “It’s good to have a variety of the familiar and the original.”

The travelling balladeer will play McGee’s Irish Pub and Restaurant at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and Jax New Orleans Bistro at 8 p.m. on Thursday and Sunday.

O’Rourke likes to focus on the relationship between the musician and the crowd, although he says the banter between the entertainer and the entertained has changed since he started. He said that when he started in the business live music was still a novelty.

However, O’Rourke feels the live entertainer has become commonplace and often fades into the background amidst the chatter and revelry of a crowd. He doesn’t like to compete with television screens, so he often throws the audience “curve balls” just to keep them interested.

“I’m not trying to be a smart (aleck), I just say strange things to see who’s paying attention,” O’Rourke said, “I do it to gauge the crowd and tickle people; it’s my way of interjecting.”

Despite O’Rourke’s reflections on the changing face of live music, he does not come off as bitter. One look at entries in his book, “Clean Cabbage in the Bucket,” will show readers he happily revels in the stories he has accumulated over the years.

O’Rourke edited the book and co-wrote it along with other prominent, traveling Irish musicians. He said the book was therapeutic in many ways and mainly served as a way for all of the authors to unburden themselves of emotions that have built up over the years.

Newly unburdened, O’Rourke is now spending his time working on original material and trying new songs out on unsuspecting audiences. He said his originals depend on the venue he is playing. He likes to explain the original song and set it up properly, but if the crowd is murmuring amongst themselves, O’Rourke takes it as a sign that they want the familiar. O’Rourke doesn’t mind playing Creedence Clearwater Revival or Johnny Cash.

However, if the crowd wants something new, all they have to do is ask O’Rourke for an original and he will happily oblige. One of his favorites is “When You Grow Up You’re Gonna Break Hearts,” a song about the relationship between a father and daughter.

“That song was informally distributed among fans and I’ve heard it’s even been played at some weddings,” O’Rourke said, “I’ve played it before and had fathers in tears; it’s that good.”