WOW! To say I am thrilled is an understatement. The following is a review of our CD by the new music music reviewer for The Grand Rapids Press. I didn't even know they were doing this. Guess I owe this guy a jar of Guinness.


Grand Rapids Press, Wednesday, September 18, 2002

CONKLIN CEILI PLAYS IT TO THE HILT WITH HEART

The first strack on this CD perfectly sums up this outfit's rich Celtic catalogue: an a cappella Irish drinking song that leads into a wondrous instrumental, showing off this beloved local group's guitar, hammered dulcimer, mandolin, bass and banjo work.

Fortunately, for those fond of this acoustic folk music, there are 16 more tracks on "Over The Waterfall", telling tale after tale in the classic Celtic tradition of telling tales, from "Ballad of St. Anne's Reel" to "The Sligo Musketeers" to "The Ferryman".

Band members _ Mick Lane, Jon Koeze, Tom Verlin and Michael Scott, with performances on hammered dulcimer and guitar by founding member Jim Goldsmith and his daughter, Shelley Emelander - clearly play and sing like they adore playing and singing this stuff. That's really the only way to pull it off, especially when performing "Parting Glass", "Along The Famine Road", and other sentimental selections. The band will perform songs from the album at a CD-release party at Pete Brown's Office, 1535 Plainfield Ave. NE. The album, dedicated to the memory of the late Goldsmith and his wife, Darla, captures the spirit of the Conklin Ceili Band's live performances, making it all feel like you're sitting in an intimate pub with a cold one, shedding a tear and sharing a chuckle. And that's a fine place to be.

Three stars -- John Sinkevics