The Michael McGoldrick Band - Celtic Connections

Outstanding.

I could just leave it at that and allow you to discover just what it is about this band for yourself, but in case you need more.

The Fruitmarket is exactly that. Originally Glasgow's fruit market, it existed as a venue for a while, and has just reopened, in time for the Celtic Connections festival. It's been done well, a blend of old and new. A large hall, with a balcony running along three sides, accessed by spiral staircases. The balconies were festooned in fairy lights, with signs displaying grocers past suspended underneath. Downstairs half the floor space was given over to small tables and chairs, with a large area left free in front of the stage. Always a good sign!

Johnny Kalsi and the Dohl Foundation were the support, although that may be a misnomer. Surely traditionally the support band is the one to which a few people are listening politely, while everyone else is at the bar, or talking to their mates. I'd been listening to their latest cd 'Drum-believable' on the train on the way up to Scotland, but nothing prepared me for the experience to come. Four guys in matching outfits, wearing drums the size of dustbins, with Johnny Kalsi as master drummer in the middle of them, and tablas, bass, drums and percussion behind. From the moment they started playing something happened. The noise, the sheer pounding beauty of all those drums, charged the very air with a vibrant rhythm that became harder to resist with each and every breath., the beat making itself felt from tapping fingers to jumping feet, until the whole place seemed alive. Stand out tune was 'After the Rain' which had a real Celtic feel to it.

It was such a disappointment when The Dohl Foundation left the stage that for a moment I forgot the main band was still to come. TDF are a tough act to follow, and it threw down a challenge The Michael McGoldrick Band were more than happy to pick up and accept!

Every time I see the Michael McGoldrick Band it's different, either in sound, set or line-up, but tonight's line up has to be my favourite. Dezi Donnelly on fiddle, John Joe Kelly and Ed Boyd from Flook, playing bodhran and guitar respectively, Ewan Vernal from Capercaillie, this time on double bass as well as bass guitar, Parvinder Bharat on tablas, Neil Yates on trumpet, James Macintosh from Shooglenifty on drums, and last but by no means least Donald 'Genius' Shaw on keyboards. The best in the business, all together on one stage!

The band played songs from 'Wired', including 'Honesty Bar' and 'Wired to the moon', with some songs being tried live for the first time. Dezi was on top form, as his solo on Fused's Ridee proved, with the applause drowning out Michael as he picked up seamlessly as Dezi finished, and lead the tune to its conclusion. The Dub reel was superb as always, and that alone made my journey from London worthwhile! Halfway through the band leave the stage to allow John Joe's outrageous talent to shine through on his bodhran solo, while Parvinder sits and waits for his moment to come. This is inspiring to watch as they sit on opposite sides of the stage, in the semi gloom, Parvinder taking up the beat as surely as if John Joe had thrown it to him, passing it back as neatly as the band return to the stage and pick up the tune as if they'd never been away. Huge whoops, whistles and cries of appreciation from the audience at this.

Two hours passed like this went in a flash, and it seemed they'd hardly begun when they were back on for a well deserved two song encore, joined by as many of The Dohl Foundation as stage room would allow!

I love this band's unity. Band is the operative word in 'The Michael McGoldrick Band', not Michael McGoldrick. The boys look to him as an orchestra would to its conductor, but it's a much less formal affair than that. Michael is such a generous leader that it seems effortless, and each person is allowed to show their full potential. Everyone seems equal. United.

The first time you see this band you just want to stand and stare, they're all such good musicians that they're eminently watch able, from John Joe whooping and joking with the crowd, Dezi, eyes closed and rocking as he plays, to Ed, hunched over, ear to his guitar, and Michael, seemingly carried away to some other place, oblivious to the audience, sweating with the intensity. The whole band just moves with the music, entirely unaware they're doing so.

And yet tonight was different. I stopped watching the band. The music took over and I just had to dance, to stand still seemed wrong. I've danced before, of course, but I've never felt compelled as I did tonight. The fact that the band were playing became irrelevant to the music, and the need to dance, and that was the magic of this performance. And Michael's skill was that of a good DJ, who kept the whole thing going by instinctively knowing just what to play.

Tonight going to see the Michael McGoldrick Band changed from being passive admiration of skilled musicians to active acceptance of brilliant dance music. And the best bit? They went on to do it all again at the Festival Club!

© CP 2006