“I wish to thank everyone for a fantastic show last night! Very rarely does so much talent share one stage for such a great cause. The ever-popular Damian McGinty brought his best with some great songs, and we had many talents such as Niamh McGlinchy, Stephen Barr and Michael Doherty.

A last thank you must go out to our many American friends and supporters, particularly DianeS, whom I met long before the Facebook program began. Thank you all, there was as many people at the show in spirit as there were in the seats. Hopefully somewhere along the line, we can all meet in person, but From The Heart 2 has brought many people together. We did not foresee support from so far, but greatly appreciate it!”

—Cathal Lynch
—From The Heart 2

Cathal, the videos were wonderful. Those of us over here sure appreciate your middle of the night tenacity. Thank you back. DianeS

Here are some videos from the concert.

Mickey Coleman singing Miss You More than Words Can Say. He wrote this song for the first concert.

Damian McGinty singing Ronan Keating’s Hold On

Micheal Doherty doing Boy George’s Karma Chameleon

To read more about this concert click here. You can find more videos from the concert at Cathal’s YouTube Page

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This year Chicago changed both the time of year (from fall to spring) and the location of its CelticFest. Millennium Park, the crown jewel of Chicago’s downtown area, now hosts this annual gathering. Performing on Saturday night at the Pritzker Pavillion, a new state of the art stage, sound system and audience facility, were The Rogues at 4:00pm and followed at 7:30pm by the evenings main attraction, The Saw Doctors, the Irish rock group from Co. Galway, Ireland who had kicked of their U.S. tour the evening before at the Magic Bag in Detroit (See Fanrealm’s tour section for dates and locations for U.S. appearances.).                                                                                                            

I must admit to being a brand new Saw Doctors fan, six months ago I had no idea of whom or what Saw Doctors were. That was then, this is now…..  In these few short months I am transformed; a total convert to their music, to their fandom, to all things Saw Doctor.

Being a newbie in an audience of seasoned Saw Doctors concert goers is an experience unto itself. The fans are decked out in their maroon and white Galway GAA jerseys and waving the red and green flag of Mayo. Faces silently (and no so silently) mouthing song lyrics, couples with arms entwined, and swaying together to the music, others dancing alone in the aisles, all in high spirits and excited to be a part of the revelry happening in the audience. Both the young and not so young continually rush the stage to be a part of the animated mass pressed together and in unison signing, waving and swaying to familiar songs pounding from amps mounted above the stage. This is The Saw Doctors!!!  Big, bold, loud and loved unconditionally by every single person in the audience. These guys are fan favorites and it shows from the moment they take the stage until the final notes of their encore. They never took a break, segueing flawlessly from one song to another, singing, playing, laughing and interacting with each other and the audience as though every fan there was a long lost and dearly missed friend. Being a part of this love fest was an amazing experience for me. Having it in my home town, a part of CelticFest Chicago and free just added to my nights’ treasured memories.

The band shared two songs during the course of the concert, gifting the audience with You’ve Got To Be Yourself, a song never performed for a Chicago audience before and second, Takin’ The Train which will be included in their new album scheduled for release this Summer.

They performed straight through for the entire 1½ hours on stage, ending with I’ll Be On My Way and then returning to shouts of encore, encore to perform an additional three of the fans’ favorites. I missed the first encore, forgive me, I was on the way out. (Hey, give me a break, I’m new to the protocol.) I sure didn’t miss two and three, N17 and Hay Wrap.

Aside from the weatherman sending an arctic wind and almost freezing temperatures, the only flaw to a perfect evening that I could find was a report that the City of Chicago didn’t allow, or wouldn’t supply any alcohol in the backstage area, though they were selling it out front. I’m sure a few were had by those deprived as Leo later blogged “don’t worry, we went for a few afterwards, met loads of people and drove off to Ohio at 3am. ~Leo”

To any of you still wondering if seeing The Saw Doctors is something you want to do – YES, IT IS!!!  This is one of the best rock bands I’ve ever experienced and they truly do love their fans.

The Saw Doctors:

Davy Carton: Vocals, Guitar

Leo Moran: Guitars, Vocals

Anthony Thistlethwaite: Bass Guitar, Saxophone, Vocals

Kevin Duffy: Keyboards, Vocals

Eimhin Cradock: Drums, Vocals

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The Kirk Avenue Music Hall in Roanoke, VA is a wonderful intimate venue. It obviously started off life as a downtown storefront that lost business to malls and a more suburban lifestyle. But it has been reborn as a small theater that hosts live entertainment and helps breath life into the downtown area which is enjoying a rebirth.

Last night the little concert hall was rocking with the music of Celtrock band Coyote Run. Their show was set up as a voyage through the ancient Celtic year beginning in the spring. The songs performed reflected each season. There was a fabulous eclectic selection of music styles throughout the show. There are drum solos, trombone solos and naturally bagpipes. And if you are suffering under the delusion that a didgeridoo is not a Celtic instrument you desperately need to get to a Coyote Run show.

The show is narrated by founder and former professor David Doersch (on the right above) and there is plenty of banter among the band and with the audience involving everyone in the show and making for a wonderful evening. I highly recommend this band. David along with Doug, Mike, Paul and the driving beat of Catherine, the drummer, make the evening just fly by. My only complaints were that it ended way too soon and that the stage was too small for Doug to dance . Maybe next time.

Here is a sample of Coyote Run for you to enjoy.

They are currently working on their 8th CD. Their CDs may be purchased at shows, via their website www.coyoterun.com/ and through Amazon.

Friend them at facebook www.facebook.com/pages/Coyote-Run-Friends/43578213184 and myspace www.myspace.com/coyoterunband and follow them on twitter http://twitter.com/coyoterunband

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Made up of Pat Buckley (Rhythm & Lead Guitar & Vocals), Chris Miskow (Bass Guitar & Vocals) and Bob Soper (Fiddle, Guitar & Vocals), a combination that knows how to rock the house! I have to admit, while I was trying to take pictures and take in the whole experience of the group, I found it difficult to not abandon my “duties” and just enjoy the show. Songs like Ramblin’ Rover, Black Velvet Band keep you wanting to hear more. The crowd was also fun to watch during the performance. It was great to see people from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds sharing a common interest. Barriers seemed to no longer exsist during the show.. everyone was bound together by the love of the music being laid out before them. It was a wonder to behold.

The teasing and joking was also a big hit with the crowd (and yes, it was a huge crowd). The one that stood out for me was when they tried to get the “birthday boy” a dance. It sounded a lot like a singles ad and had me laughing. The great part was that it worked. What a way to get a date! It was great craic and everyone, including myself, were having the time of their lives. The band’s philosophy of “whip the audience into a frenzy” is a winner.

During the break, I did get a chance to talk to them a bit. And got a copy of their CD, titled Slainte, which is available at their gigs.  It is a definite must have in my book. I’ll go into more detail on the CD in another post….

You can see Grafton Street live at Kells, both in Portland and Seattle.

Kells (Seattle) Nov. 27 & 28, 9:15pm $5 cover

Kells (Portland) Dec. 4 & 5, 9:30pm $5 cover
Kells (Seattle) Dec. 9 & 10, (Pat Buckley Solo) 9pm
Kells (Seattle) Dec. 11 & 12, 9:15pm $5 cover

2010

Kells (Seattle) Jan. 20 & 21, (Pat Buckley Solo) 9pm
Kells (Seattle) Jan. 22 & 23, 9:15pm $5 cover

For a sample of their music, visit them on Myspace : http://www.myspace.com/graftonstreetmusic

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Written by Stacey Parker

Celtic Thunder rolled its way into Portland, and the Theater of the Clouds, and so did I. My friends and I went to the show, knowing what to expect, but we were looking for the unexpected too.

The weather forecast given at the beginning of the show always makes me laugh. I have seen Celtic Thunder 3 times now, and each time there is rain, snow, or freezing weather. But this is Portland. If it isn’t raining or misting, then you aren’t really there.

Heartland starts off the show, and I know that I am going to be hooting and hollering with my friends, just enjoying the experience.

After the first song, Keith Harkin missed handing his duster off to George, but he hands it to a prop guy, and grabs his guitar to start the next song, Castles In The Air. Not one of my favorites, but he improves on it over the original artist, Don MacLean.

Harkin performs another cover, Homes Of Donegal, by Paul Brady. If Harkin has to do covers, Mr. Brady’s songs seem to fit him to a tee.

Mr. Harkin is in his element when he is singing along with playing his guitar. He also has one of his own compositions in this show. Lauren &I. The only way this song could be better, is if he were playing his guitar with it. This artist really needs to do more of his own songs, instead of a bunch of cover songs. He is good enough. It is time to let him soar.

George Donaldson has several serious ballads, and while I like them, especially Working Man, I really prefer the fun of his performance in 500 Miles. The audience participates with Mr. Donaldson, and I can’t help but love it.

Ryan Kelly sings Ride On, a Christy Moore song. He has made this song very memorable for me. You see, I saw him performing this song 2 weeks previously. I had seats near the front, and there was a little girl there that made a poster for him. She was worried he wouldn’t see it, so somebody gave her a glow stick to light it up. Ryan saw the poster and acknowledged the little girl with a grin, and a bit of a wave. This little girl could have gone to Miley Cyrus, on a trip to Disney, or see Celtic Thunder. After the show, she told us it was the best show ever. It is this memory that comes to mind every time I hear this song, and see Ryan perform it. From the bottom of my heart, Mr. Kelly, THANK YOU for treating your fans so well.

The other songs in Mr. Kelly’s repertoire are also tops in my book. Desperado, Heartbreaker, and Every Breath you take, to name some.

Damian McGinty’s serious songs are my favorites of his. Come By the Hills, and Bird Without Wings have always moved me, but now that his voice has deepened, they are even better. His cute songs are great because of his clowning with the band.

Paul Byrom, the classically trained tenor sings heartfelt love songs, and shakes the house with his strong voice. Because We Believe, by Andrea Bocelli, is my newest favorite of his offerings in Celtic Thunder.

That’s a Woman, Mr. Byrom’s duet with Mr. Kelly is also a highlight for me. The dueling pair both describe what a woman is, and Zara Curtis, dancer, is great with the both of them.

The group songs are all my favorites. I can’t pick just one, whether it is Danny Boy, Ireland’s Call, Raggle Taggle Gypsy, or one of the others. Most are wonderful. Take Me Home is a bit too reflective for the age of the group. They are way too young for this song. Give them 20 years or so before they sing this.

I absolutely can not forget about the band members. Musical Director/pianist, Dave Cooke, Ruth O’Leary and Joyce O’Leary, on violins and Nicole Hudson on the viola. Cellist, Megan Sherwood, Neil Byrne on guitar, and backing vocals, (a bit of drum playing as well) Connor McCreanor on bass and backing vocals and Declan O’Donoghue, percussionist. On whistle, pipes, guitar and bodhran, Mr. Brendan Monahan. They have interplay on stage with each other and the main attractions, not to mention communicating with the audience. I have become a fan of all of them.

The only real drawbacks to this show were the sound not being quite right, and glitches with the visual screen behind the band. None of this was the fault of the people on stage. They had a way of making you forget there was something that was supposed to be on the screen, and they kept going no matter what the sound system did.

After the show, my friends and I decided to go to the stage door to see what we could see. We did see the buses, all five of the main performers and some of the band members. We weren’t allowed to see them up close, which is somewhat understandable. But they weren’t allowed to do any real kind of communication with us. This was the policy of the venue, Theater of the Clouds.

The recap? Performers were tops. Sound system needed some work, and stage doors sucked. But for me, the Portland Experience was the tops because of my friends.

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I had been trying to get to a Gaelic Storm show for months but every time they came to my area some sort of conflict arose. Luckily for me this band tours a lot. The next time they came close happened to coincide with the weekend of my 25th wedding anniversary so I insisted we go this time. My wonderful daughter got us tickets to the show in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on October 9 as a gift. They played the Stevens Center which is a lovely theater decorated with a lot of gilding and art deco flourishes. It looked very formal like we should be there for an opera or symphony. A few people in the crowd were dressed up but mostly it was casual.

The show was scheduled to start at 7:30 but they were still seating people so it started a little late. When the band stepped onto the stage the excitement began. Patrick Murphy, originally from the Dublin area, did most of the talking. He and Steve Twigger, originally from England are the founding members and they told tales of their adventures and misadventures on the current tour and stories of how each of the songs came to be written giving even more context to our favorite songs. The rest of the band is made up of Ryan Lacey on drums, Jessie Burns on Fiddle and Pete Purvis on pipes of every description and a few that defy description all together.

Gaelic Storm did allow photographs to be taken as long as flash wasn’t used. Flash is pretty useless at that distance and can make it very difficult to see on stage with blinding flashes going off so turn off your flash when trying to get show pictures. We were in the front row balcony so my husband was able to get some pretty good photos. I took some too but mine were not so good, as usual.

The show itself is great. There is lots of audience participation which just makes it much more fun. Even more reserved members of the group loosened up toward the end and if the show had lasted one more hour I think even my stick in the mud hubby and daughter would have become Irish. I thoroughly enjoyed the show and even my more reserved family wants to see them again. I highly recommend this band. An evening with them will make you forget your troubles and remember what it is to just have fun. Ticket prices are a lot lower than other bands and shows I have attended recently so just about everyone can afford to see them. If you are not familiar with them check out their music on youtube or at their my space page www.myspace.com/gaelicstorm

Gaelic Storm is very fan friendly and planned to be available at the merchandise table after the show but we had an 84 mile drive home and the rest of the family wanted to get some great frozen custard at Wolfies across the street so we didn’t wait.

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By CelticFawn

You could feel the excitement mounting in the theater as we all heard the weather report! Celtic Thunder was on its way! The lovely Palace Theater, complete with ornate trim and a cozy balcony area, was the perfect place to enjoy the show. As you walked in and espied the shipwreck and rocks on the stage, you knew you were in for a treat. When the lights dimmed and the thunder started to roll, it was proof you were right all along! After the monks chant their way across the stage, and you take in the haunting voice of Ryan Kelly singing the opening of the song, you see the wonder of all of Celtic Thunder on the stage. Ryan Kelly, Keith Harkin, Paul Byrom, Damian McGinty, and George Donaldson.

Celtic Thunder is 5 male solo artists, each with a different style and personality, who prove that when you put your differences aside, beautiful music can be made. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the show in Albany. The above picture was taken from my seat, 5th row floor and found I didn’t miss anything from where I was sitting. There was enough of an incline that the person in front of me didn’t block my view. The seats were set more in a semi circle, so even being on the side of the theater didn’t keep me from being able to enjoy the show.

The men of Celtic Thunder were a wonder to behold. Ryan, the bad boy “Dark Destroyer” captures your heart and breaks it all in one evening. Keith, the blonde surfer, dazzles you with his skillful guitar playing and songwriting skills, as well as his playful nature. Paul, the romantic Tenor, sweeps you off your feet and takes your breathe away with his powerful voice. Damian, the boy wonder, the youngest of the group, takes you back to a time of innocence and reminds you of what it was like to be a teen. And last, but surely not least, is George, the stable, settled one, reminds you how important it is to have family, love and security in your life.

This entire journey takes place through the gift of music, ranging from pop classics such as Happy Birthday Sweet 16 and Desperado, traditional Irish songs, including Danny Boy, and original music written by legendary Phil Coulter.

My personal journey was a wonderful one. The guys like to reach out to the audience and interact in small ways, or just have fun with each other on stage. Good examples are best seen during Caledonia where Damian has to hold his kilt down to protect it from the rest of the guys, Paul lifting his to show the women his leg (be prepared to hear screams), Keith bending over to pull up his falling socks, or Ryan waving to various people in the audience. Caledonia is not the only place this type of thing happens, so watch carefully, you never know what you are going to see. After the show, I went out back to the stage door and waited with a good number of people in hopes of seeing the guys. I did get to see them all, but not all of them were able to stop and visit. It is understandable, since they did have either family there, or fighting off a cold. Ryan always seems to find the time to stop and say hello, and treat the fans to his special attention. I must say here that I am a Ryan fan and was thrilled when he stopped to sign for me. (unfortunately, I have no picture of us in Albany, but I do have one from Portland, Oregon when they were there last year). All in all, I would recommend seeing them for a wonderful experience! I will go back again.

Ryan and I in Portland, Oregon December 6, 2008

This is one of him signing autographs at the stage door in Albany.

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