This Bluesbunny is not one to miss out on live music. Not even the repercussions of a lost weekend in a hotel in Birmingham could keep this tireless thoroughbred from remarking on The Wakes, who took a well-rehearsed aim at proprietors of fascism and racism, as well as paying respect to long-fallen revolutionaries. Here's how it went.
The select group of performers from the St Roch's Ceilidh Band, Garngad, delivered a set of traditional jigs and reels that ought to have kicked off an orgy of dancing and drinking. Too early in the night, perhaps. What really made their set was a wonderful ability to merge jigs, leaving the key change the only distinguishing factor. It was a reassuringly mature set from the gang of young upstarts. Better still, the penultimate offering came in the form of a bohdran solo from youngster Adam. The idea could have made a fool of the entire set, but Adam's masterful tapping of the sheep skin drum was captivating. The band signed of with yet another reel, and departed to cries of applause.
The shy looking Kathleen MacInnes followed. Performing a set of heartfelt Gaelic folk songs, Kathleen's triple-distilled voice was accompanied by the gentle strings of a guitar, and the shrill cry of uilleann pipes. However, an uncomfortable looking Kathleen was perhaps not at her best. Of course, it helps to have an audience that listen, rather than having a flock of nellies talk over her. Poor Kathleen's set never really got going, and to make matters worse, the set ended with a tepid instrumental offering from the two musicians on the side. This woman has a really pure voice, but the live show is perhaps in need of some work.
I wish I had started a band called the Horseneck Riots. Leaving the historical meaning behind, this band kicked off with a stormy rendition of "The Star of the County Down". It was clear from the off that this band had as much in common with The Men They Couldn't Hang as with The Dubliners. While a comparison to either band is a compliment of the highest order, it has to be said that this band need more to their game than renditions of "Broad Majestic Shannon" and Christy Moore's "Biko Drum". The band's delivery of Jimmy Webb's "Highwayman" stood without doubt as the highlight of their performance. At least to this Bluesbunny's ears! This band will be limited in their progress only by their lack of original material and from a commercial viewpoint, that's certainly worth considering.
Now, the band most people were waiting for - The Wakes. "Cinderella Story" sang the praises of Inverclyde's Irish community, in a passionate, yet blunt way. What is immediately striking about The Wakes is their limited appeal on account of their politics. No matter how good this band's live show, their appeal still won't stretch far beyond those of Irish heritage, in Britain at least. Still, that should take nothing from the plain fact that The Wakes are a cracking live band. Their take on "Back Home in Derry" was brimming with energy, while avoiding the punk rock incomprehensibility that the Dropkick Murphys might give to the same song.
A few self-penned tracks - good in their own right - were sandwiched in between further rambunctious renditions of Irish folk songs. Eventually, the band signed off a job well done, This was, by and large, a recurring theme through the night. Undoubtedly, the winning performance of the night came from The Wakes, but each band had their purpose on the bill, and will surely be seen again by those in attendance.