CD-REVIEWS MARCH 2009
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
YOUNG DUBLINERS
Saints and Sinners
If you're looking for some rip-roaring Celtic rock music for your St. Patrick's party or just to listen to as you drive along and get into the spirit of the season, look no further than the new CD by The Young Dubliners, Saints and Sinners.
The band has the seamless ability to jump energetically from a ballad to a barn burner, documenting as they go the vibrant yet chaotic world they find themselves in. From edgy political tunes to the travails of life in an international touring band, Saints and Sinners chronicles and tackles it all with joy, wit, and enthusiasm, and a profound belief that things can get better.
The band consists of co-founder Keith Roberts on vocals and guitar; fellow Dubliner, Brendan Holmes on bass, and vocals; with American-born members, Bob Boulding on guitar and vocals; Chas Waltz on violin, keyboards, harp, mandolin and vocals; and Dave Ingraham on drums and percussion.
They are joined by uillean pipe and pennywhistle master Eric Rigler, famed for his work on the Titanic and Braveheart soundtracks, who has appeared on the band's last three albums and is a regular touring member.
The CD begins with the raucous title track, Saints and Sinners, into the free-wheeling party rockers like Howaya Girls, to the vocal harmony-laden jam Backseat Driver, to This Time which taps into the raw frustration of the past eight years.
The band saves its most biting commentary for the UN's inaction on giving aid to ravaged places like Darfur and not adequately addressing global poverty on the acoustic ballad In The End. The moody rocker Buy You A Life is a plea for people to look out for each other during difficult times.
The explosive instrumental rocker Saoirse, means freedom in Gaelic, says Roberts, "that means we have the liberty to take this style of music and push and pull it in every direction."
Actor Gabriel Byrne hired the band to write the theme song for his television show Madigan Men. In 2001 they toured Europe with Jethro Tull, and in 2002 they were picked to rev up crowds at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Speaking about the band's sound, Roberts said, "I like to think that our take on song writing and performance makes The Young Dubliners sound unique and original. Our band is made up of Irish and American natives who draw influences from just about everywhere. Our strength is in the sum parts. As a band, we play as one."
The Young Dubliners have a rigorous touring schedule in the U.S. leading up to St. Patrick's on March 17, unfortunately, they will not be anywhere near our neck of the woods, at least for now.
On March 17, they are in San Diego, California, to play the Shamrocker Festival. On March 15 they will appear on the CBS morning show The Early Show.
For more information about The Young Dubliners and their tour dates, or to order their CD, visit: www.youngdubliners.com
TOMMY SANDS
with Moya & Fionan
Let the Circle be Wide
When the new Tommy Sands CD Let The Circle Be Wide came across my desk for review it brought back a flood of memories.
I recall the first time I met The Sands Family when I was a booking agent for Irish entertainment for the Molly McGuire's Irish Pub, the first Irish pub in Ottawa.
I had booked The Sands Family from Mayobridge, County Down in Northern Ireland to entertain at the pub over the St. Patrick's period.
The pub owners were a bit concerned about a group they weren't yet familiar with, but they need not have worried. Not only were The Sands Family a huge hit on stage, but off stage as well. The owners wanted them back again and again.
I can still see the brothers standing on stage with their beautiful sister Anne wearing her knee high black boots and just charming everyone in the pub. The family were all so talented and versatile and able to play so many instruments.
We heard wonderful stories about their parents and in particular their father, a great fiddle player, whom the family always referred to as "The Chief."
I think their mother was always kept busy making tea for all the folk that came to visit the family from Canada, the United States and Europe - wherever The Sands played, they had a steady stream of fans wanting to visit them in Ireland.
While The Sands were in Ottawa, they had a few days off and a restaurant from Maniwaki, Quebec called to see if I could get them an Irish group to play at their establishment. I was a bit concerned since that particular area in Quebec is mostly French speaking, but in went The Sands to entertain.
Next thing, a whole busload of people arrived in from Maniwaki (some two hour drive from Ottawa) to the door of Molly McGuire's, all wanting to see and hear The Sands - they loved them!
I also recall, just like it was yesterday, when The Sands were all packed and ready to leave for the airport as their next gig was in Germany. They were sitting around in the pub, surrounded by fans who were reluctant to see them depart.
I was watching the clock and concerned they may not make the flight if they didn't leave soon. They barely made the flight. A few days later, their brother Hughie, who lived in Ottawa came in to the pub to give us the shocking news....his brother Dino had been killed in Germany in a vehicle accident. We all felt as though we had lost a member of the family.
The family didn't travel after that, but Tommy Sands wrote songs and became a peace activist during the troubled times in Northern Ireland. He also ran a radio show in Belfast (which he still does to this day). Tommy has become known as "The Bard of Peace."
Mick Moloney, Irish musician and folklorist said, "Tommy's role in our modern times transcends the traditional role of the bard. The Celtic bard of olden times praised only his own patrons and clan and fiercely castigated all enemies.
"Tommy on the other hand says and writes words that are more likely to bring people of diverse backgrounds together than keep them apart. 'Enlightened Bard' might be the most apt description of Tommy. Long may he fill this role."
On Let The Circle Be Wide, Tommy is joined by his son Fionan and beautiful daughter Moya, who has an uncanny resemblance to her aunt Anne. There are 15 tracks on the CD and each track has an accompanying story.
Thirty years, after Tommy's brother Dino died, Tommy has finally been able to write a song in his memory. He talks about how people in Ireland are still fortunate to have wakes, where neighbours come in streams to pay their respects, whispering, talking, offering condolences, drinking tea, eating sandwiches, and crying and laughing.
Tommy also wrote a song for his late father. When 'The Chief' was very ill and the family wanted to get the doctor, his father said, "It's too late to send for the doctor, send for Maguire!"
Maguire was a legendary fiddle champion and a great pal of his father's. Maguire played the fiddle all night at his father's bedside and the next day Tommy's father said, "I'm better than ever I was!"
Tommy Sands was also a great friend of the late Tommy Makem and he wrote a song in his memory entitled, The Song Sings On (Ballad of Tommy Makem).
Not only are the songs on Let The Circle Be Wide filled with stories, there is also a wealth of historical information packed into the liner notes of this CD.
For more information about Tommy Sands and to order his CDs, visit: www.appleseedmusic.com.
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