Do You Know The Glengarry Bhoys?

Subject: Do You Know The Glengarry Bhoys?
From: JedMarum
Date: 15 Dec 02 - 11:43 AM

I played a festival with these guys and really enjoyed them. The Glengarry Bhoys are a Canadian Celtic Rock group and really put on a great show. I have to admit I am not exactly a Celtic Rock fan. In fact I usually ask WHY - about Celtic Rock - what's the point, but these guys answer that question.

Great musicians all - great selection of music - BIG sound (I guess that's what rock is, eh?) - and nice easy presentation.

Anybody know these guys? I'm curious about what y'all think.

Subject: RE: Do You Know The Glengarry Bhoys?
From: Willie-O
Date: 15 Dec 02 - 12:08 PM

Oddly enough, don't know them, haven't heard them, just know of them. But they're from Glengarry County which lies in Ontario halfway between Ottawa and Montreal. It's flat and un-Scotlandish, but it's where the smarter or luckier Scots that wanted to farm settled in Ontario. (The others came here to Lanark County, home of rocks and trees, trees and rocks.)

Willie-O

Subject: RE: Do You Know The Glengarry Bhoys?
From: Cluin
Date: 15 Dec 02 - 07:02 PM

They used to play the same Ontario pub circuit (Prime Pubs, Inc.... chain pubs, go figger) we (Stewart & Deevey) did a couple of years ago. Seems like they were always there the week before us, whether we were in Kingston, T.O., Ottawa, Hamilton, etc.

Don't know if they evere made it to the more northern pubs in the chain in Timmins and Thunder Bay though. We got those bookings a lot because a lot of the acts wouldn't travel that far. But we were based in the Sault so it was no sweat for us.

Never got to see the Glengarry Bhoys myself but people seemed to enjoy them as far as we heard. But then they also liked us a lot too so there's no accounting for taste. ;)

Subject: RE: Do You Know The Glengarry Bhoys?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 15 Dec 02 - 08:01 PM

Saw them at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire some years ago. With the best will in the world, I wouldn't say I was overwhelmed.

They attempt to emulate Shooglenifty, Wolfstone et al, but I think they have some way to go.

I think their name pisses me off as well. I mean, "Bhoys", what's that about?

Murray

Subject: RE: Do You Know The Glengarry Bhoys?
From: TheMuse
Date: 15 Dec 02 - 11:02 PM

Subject: RE: Do You Know The Glengarry Bhoys?
From: TheMuse
Date: 15 Dec 02 - 11:05 PM

Oops! What I wanted to say was . . .

Saw them at the Irish fest in Altamont, NY last September. Pretty decent, but LOUD, the "rock" influence I'm sure. Worth a listen, besides they have an excellent fiddle player and I'm a sucker for the fiddle.

Subject: RE: Do You Know The Glengarry Bhoys?
From: UB Ed
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 10:39 AM

They were in Richmond at the Highlands Games this past October; very personable, lively and played the traditional songs in a modern manner with just a touch of rock to heavy it up. We had the privilege of opening for them on Sunday. They all seemed nice.

Go hear 'em if you get the chance!

Ed

Subject: RE: Do You Know The Glengarry Bhoys?
From: PeteBoom
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 11:00 AM

I've seen them four or five times - usually at festivals I was playing at as well. They're not bad.

Pete

Subject: RE: Do You Know The Glengarry Bhoys?
From: Wesley S
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 11:17 AM

Jed - Aren't they supposed to be at the North Texas Irish Festival this year ? I'll have to check the website again.

Subject: RE: Do You Know The Glengarry Bhoys?
From: JedMarum
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 12:52 PM

Don't know about their NTIF sched. I use the same US agent they use, so we'll be ending up at some of the same places, I'm sure. I really did enjoy 'em. Love their fiddle player, and not just because she's cute, either!

Subject: RE: Do You Know The Glengarry Bhoys?
From: Wesley S
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 01:10 PM

I did check and it looks like they're on the bill. It's a great line up this year.

Subject: RE: Do You Know The Glengarry Bhoys?
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 01:10 PM

Guys yelling with drums.

Then they added a pretty girl who fiddles most excellently and dances to boot. Now they are guys yelling with drums and a pretty girl who fiddles most excellently. I have heard the Bhoys in several venues and with several different personal configurations. I have tried them out all ways possible and I just don't like the shows they do with the exception of the fiddle driven instrumental work.

I have to admit I am not a celtic rock fan. In most cases the melody suffers to allow for a driving beat that is marketable to drunks in bars. That being said I am a big fan of The Great Big Sea and I like the Killbranan stuff I have heard but I can't say anything about their live shows.

About 5 years ago the Bhoys blew through central New Yorkand booked heavily all over. It was apretty lean time for a lot of local trad bands, mine included, until they moved from saloon gigs to bigger venues and festivals.

I am concerned that a lot of young people will grow up with their only idea of Celtic Folk music being Black 47, The Glengarry Bhoys, or Hadrian's Wall. But thats the nature of the market place I guess.

By all means give them a listen. They are skilled tho' not my cup of tea.

Search back aways and revisit the threads I started about this group a few years ago. I had hoped that would all be forgotten by now but It may be worth the visit to better understand my apathy to the Bhoys.

Don Meixner

Subject: RE: Do You Know The Glengarry Bhoys?
From: UB Ed
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 01:48 PM

Quite possible, Don, a valid concern, yet we can't guide them all can we?

My view is such a presentation provides yet another opportunity for folks never before exposed to the genre to listen from a more familiar perspective and, hopefully, be interested enough to dig down a bit deeper for the root music. I guess my best analogy would be what the British invasion did for bluesmen in the US south. It may have taken a while, but a number of us dug deeper, thanks to the initial exposure.

I think there is something positive about presenting traditional music in a modern style.

(Was there a band behind that fiddle player?)

(By the way, old son, just finished listening to "Photograph" coming back from lunch. MOST EXCELLENT.)

Ed

Subject: RE: Do You Know The Glengarry Bhoys?
From: JedMarum
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 02:42 PM

well I have to admit, I went into their show thinking I'd not be interested - I have to say I never understood the reason for Celtic Rock - and have always thought (perhaps cynically) it was just an excuse for bad rock bands to get bookings - and I have no idea what these guys sounded like before - but they are good now, and they do a great job on stage. There is strong trad celtic roots in their music, they are a good rock band - and they really have something to offer.

Subject: RE: Do You Know The Glengarry Bhoys?
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 08:39 AM

Thanks Ed.

Don