Solas tonight!

Subject: Solas tonight!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 12:21 PM

I came into work this morning feeling sad and mad about life in general and particular, and got a phone call from a friend inviting me to see Solas in Keene, NH tonight! She was given tickets for Xmas and her date is out of town. What a nice pick-me-up!

Allison

Subject: RE: Solas tonight!
From: Wesley S
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 02:24 PM

A wonderful band. We want a full report tomorrow.

Subject: RE: Solas tonight!
From: PeteBoom
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 02:28 PM

Iplayed a festival with them a few years ago. Quite fun they were.

Subject: RE: Solas tonight!
From: open mike
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 06:02 PM

what ever are we gonna do about these kids these days!?
seamus eagan was all irish champion for several years
i believe...although i see no mention in the bios...

Subject: RE: Solas tonight!
From: Miken
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 10:39 PM

One of my favorite bands, Alison,do enjoy! Can we have a review after?
Mike

Subject: RE: Solas tonight!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 20 Mar 04 - 07:08 AM

A fine evening. They started out more subdued than I'd expected- a song that was more gentle than most opening sets. They then launched into the "Wiggley Jigs" and gradually increased energy and excitement from there!

The audience in Keene tends to be well-behaved until they're certain what the performers want; after about 3 pieces Seamus chided them (in a friendly way)for not being as energetic as their last stop in Portsmouth. A good third of the audience woke up after that. My feeling was that if Solas had started with as much energy as they gave us halfway into the first part of the program, they would have gotten the energy they had asked for- you get what you give!

Anyway, after that the evening sparkled. I'm dazzled by Seamus Egan and his versatility with so many instruments- guitar, banjo, mando, flute, low D whistle, electric guitar. The singer, Deirdre Scanlon, has a lovely, haunting voice that has just enough emotion to convey the song without slipping into pathos.
When fiddler Win Horan opened her mouth I was surprised to hear the New Yawk accent- she plays like she's on fire and seems to be an anchor to the group.
But my "find" for the night was free-reeder Mick McAuley- melodeon and piano accordion, and wonderful, smooth vocals, with an occasional whistle. He bears watching!
I couldn't resist- blew all next week's coffee and "misc" money on 2 cds- the latest by Solas, Another Day which I'm listening to now (wow!), and Mick's first solo cd, Ocean Breath which I'm saving for a quiet moment to savor.

The group plays a mix of trad and more contemporary singer/songwriter, all good quality stuff. My own unstable mood was uplifted and soothed until the encore, which they started with Dougie McLean's "This love will carry.."- absolutely did me in, there in row 6; I hope I didn't make them worry to see me sobbing silently in my friend Nadine's arms, but it was one of the songs that had brought me into my life with my late, lamented SO and Solas rendered it exquisitely. They finished with their "Bird in the Tree" medley which lifted the audience off their feet, and brought me to a place where I could at least walk out of the theater wiht a few shreds of dignity!

In all, it was a beautful evening of fine music. I would gladly hear them again!

Allison