It isn’t hard to find a fine Irish song in Western New York. Plenty of bars, social halls and neighborhoods cater to those among us who, whether by blood, marriage or camaraderie, have owned the pride of those green hills.
Buffalo’s infectious Irish pride helped give the Celtic Woman tour, which came through Shea’s Saturday night, an eager, genuine, homegrown welcome. The theatrical concert tour, which has been wowing PBS audiences and easy listeners for nearly 10 years, did not disappoint their anticipation.
While Celtic Woman is an anomaly in the long-standing tradition of Irish music, it is as standard as any pop group gets. The act’s schticky formula is what christened us with the likes of ’NSync, Backstreet Boys and Destiny’s Child – popular, hummable music; a handpicked, personality-defined ensemble; teasing, demure sex appeal; light choreographic movement; and a producer at the helm of it all, crafting the perfect proportions of the above to sell tickets, albums and merchandise.
And more power to them. The group’s concert specials might have landed on public television, and their albums on Barnes & Noble overhead play, with no small thanks to that proven pop engine, but their product is no less impressive. What producers Sharon Browne and David Downes – Downes, a former musical director for Celtic Woman’s dance predecessor, Riverdance – have assembled is a tribute to a nation’s legacy, a celebration of a people’s pride; and yes, a big, shiny, beautiful product.
Saturday night’s show spread its wings over all of these territories, giving each of the three female leads their own spotlights – along with energetic fiddler Máiréad Nesbitt, a four-person choir and a six-man band. The three vocalists – Chloe Agnew, Lisa Lambe and Susan McFadden – have beautiful voices, each suitable for center stage but capable of proper ensemble work too.
Blending, especially in this genre, is elemental to that harmonious sheen heard in so many of its songs. This particular Celtic Woman lineup – members have changed over the last nine years; no original members remain – is strong and tight, as is their fine band.
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http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130331/CITYANDREGION/130339887Also a very nice picture @ the link.