bands

Here’s Blarvuster For You!

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Photo by Michael Weintrob

Sneak preview of  Matthew Welch’s project band…

“The ensemble’s border-busting music is original and catchy. . . Blarvuster is worth sticking around for.” – The New York Times

The first reaction is ‘Whaaatttt!?” You’re probably trying to say blockbuster? is that’s it? Or your mouth is just full.

No guys I am serious. It’s another band. And they are not making typos. They are even making music enough for you to create typos. The polyrhythm is just awesome. The instruments are delectable that will make your ears water had they been place in a wrong part of your face.

Matthew Welch ( bagpipes, voice, soprano saxophone) lead this 9-piece band in a tight rein that displays undeniable virtuoso. I love the way the bagpipes ride the crispy drums. A loud wind instrument needs loud percussions. But the production is slick. this is a kind of record you can play over and over to let your siblings know that there’s still hope after Lady Gaga or Justin Beiber.

Matthew Welch – bagpipes, voice, soprano saxophone
Leah Paul – piccolo, flute, alto flute
Karen Waltuch – viola
Mary Halvorson – electric guitar (High Street and Bottoms Up)
Ian Riggs – bass guitar
Ches Smith – drums, glockenspiel (High Street and Bottoms Up)
Emily Manzo – piano (Canntaireachd Masolah)
Matthew Hough – electric guitar (Canntaireachd Masolah)
Mike Pride – drums, vibraphone (Canntaireachd Masolah)

Listen to the tracks through this link: http://blarvuster.com/listen/

“Eluveitie – New Wave Of Folk Metal”..

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They don’t have any Celtic bands in their collection but musically they are OK.

Ok, this thing fell on my hands . It’s Metal but it is also using Celtic styles. I hear pipes and whistles, a little bit of the fiddle jig there and yes the wonderful melodies. However I am a bit hesitant here…I checked up the band’s site and I don’t see anyone from the band giving reference to any Celtic bands that I know of. They all listen to typical metal music. So it makes you ask…are they or are they not?

Here’s one interesting info I got from Wiki: The lyrics are often in the extinct language Gaulish. Eluveitie is Helvetic Gaulish for “I am the Helvetian”, referring to an inscription dating to the earliest record of the Celtic Helvetii tribe from what is now Switzerland.

So is it really Celtic music plus Metal or are they just using Celtic music as a way to gain more acceptance from a number of people who might follow both styles of music. Either way this song really impressed me.

Fiach Moriarty On The Radar

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The hardest working artist in Ireland is finally getting his due….

Some of you might ask who Fiach Moriarty is. But for those who are acquainted to the Dublin music scene, Fiach has been known as the hardest working artist in Ireland. He has been in a lot of TV shows and live performances. Also one thing to note is that last year he came first in the annual Celtic Language Contest in Inverness Scotland. So how’s that for a 27-year -old used to be under- the- radar singer? The Irish Times calls his album So I a debut album of depth and courage, guile and wit. I stumbled upon him the first time in YouTube and that’s it. His charisma is undeniably powerful and there is so much positivity in his songs that you can’t help but be uplifted.

This is an interesting performance of a song sang in Gaelic, a love song called Sea Taim at minority language song contest Liet International 2009. Sea Taim is about a young lad who is down and out – and drunk – after his girlfriend left him.

http://www.myspace.com/fiachmusic

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Caladh Nua 2nd Album Launch

What a terrific, young band. We are going to play a lot of them. We suspect they are going to be around a long time”

–American Public Radio

Yes, this wonderful band is making an early announcement for the February 2011 launch of their second album. Be sure to be there. More info here:

http://caladh.net/

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YAOUANK 2010

YAOUANK 2010: Here’s a video featuring my pal Dom Duff from Brittany!

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Sacred Art

Courtney Davis inspires Celtic Spirituality

Have you visited his website lately? I think there’s a lot of things there for everyone. I just love the wonderful pieces he created. I have been a fan of Celtic art for years and when I stumble upon something as beautiful as this I like to tweet it out.

http://www.courtneydavisart.com/


On a Weekend Over Leo’s Tavern

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Hi folks, these are the pics from what happened in Leo’s Tavern over a weekend. We spot Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh with Moya Brennan onstage. Guess who are the other famous faces!

View the complete album here.

I realized that Moya Brennan of Clannad is named after her mom Moya ‘Baba” Brennan.

Naheba, Emerging from the Spanish Folk Scene

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There is a band in Cantabria Spain  that has been making passionate Celto-Spanish music .They credit Tannahill Weavers, Llan de Cubel, Corquieu, The Bothy Band as the main sources of influence while adding their own flavour to the mix. Naheba has emerged from the Spanish folk scene, and they sound really beautiful.

From the first dfew bars of  La Molinera reel, you know you will like them.

http://www.myspace.com/naheba