You know, those Canadians who opened for Shania Twain. Does anyone here listen to them? Any good whistle or pipe playing? Or is it too much in the pop genre? (They are coming soon to a theater near me and I have to decide whether or not to go…)
Excellent playing and boggling showmanship. If I had to dance like that and play flute at the same time, I’d break my nose.
I found all the schtick a bit distracting, but the music’s very good.
I saw them when I took my nieces to see Shania a few years ago - I agree about the schtick but I enjoyed them more than I did Shania! They certainly are very talented, but I don’t remember much in the way of whistle or flute - very fiddle oriented.
Beth
The term schtick is very appropriate - as you say the music is great but they seem to be saying “look at me!” the whole time.
Leahy are a lot less formulaic than Shania Twain. At least they’re musicians. Steve Earle, when asked what he thought of Ms. Twain, said that she is the world’s highest paid lap dancer. Says it all for me. If you want to hear women sing country, go see Iris DeMent or Gillian Welch or Lucinda Williams.
Someone brought a Leahy CD in to work the other day (“Lakefield”?). Some of it was cool, but some of it was really pop. I probably wouldn’t buy it because of that. The pop tunes really turned me off and interrupted the groove of the CD.
Robin
I saw few minutes of a show they did for Public TV last year and it turned me off instantly. They cater to the civilians, er, non-musicians way too much.
I haven’t cared for any of their music to date honestly. Sounds like I’m lucky not to have seen them live either.
and no piper.
Ever since that chick with the blue eelectric violin and Boor of the Dance, that component is around but seems to be bigger in Canuckian groups. I guess the idea of normal looking folk in houndstooth caps and a pint glass nearby is passé. Too bad for everybody. Glitz doesn’t do it for me at all. Even tho’ he could beat me up (he was a boxer at one point) I could never get over Flatley’s froufy Irish mullet in Riverdance. I just thot it looked stoopid. Jean Butler managed to astound and amuse with a simple hairstyle and her talent.
Just say no to Celtoid Hair Bands as they presumably laugh their way to the bank.
I must be getting overly diplomatic as I become more superannuated by the day.
There are still plenty of great, non-glitzy Canadian trad bands out there – and mostly they’re a lot more traditional than the glitzy ones, and better musicians, too. A Crowd of Bold Shareman (Newfoundland, http://www.singsong.nfld.com/liners/cdcbs.html ) and Le Vent du Nord (Quebec, http://www.leventdunord.com/ ) pop to mind.
I still think Donnel Leahy is one of the most talented fiddle players alive today.
That aside, they’re definitely not traditional but if you can appriciate other types of music, they are worth seeing. I enjoyed the one time I saw them live quite a bit.
Take care,
A.J.
I, for one, am partial to Donnel Leahy’s wife. Very cute and very talented too…
Yes, it’s a test…
I’ll take Cape Breton fiddlers for $500, Alex.
“This Cape Breton fiddler is married to Donnel Leahy.”
Who is Natalie MacMaster, Alex?
As for Leahy the group – loved the CD ‘Leahy’ but didn’t care for ‘Lakefield.’
They’ve got a good track with the Chieftains on ‘Fire in the Kitchen’ – Devil’s Dream and Mason’s Apron.
Most of the really good Canadian bands are not glitzy…for a real dose of authentic Ontario style fiddling, which is what Leahy does, check out Pierre Schryer’s website (punch in his name) or Shane Cook (Canadian Grand Champion and U.S. Grand Champion fiddler).
Another great Canadian fiddler is Richard Wood from PEI. He plays a health mix of East Coast traditional and tunes he has composed himself. His CDs are hard to find, since he produces and distributes them himself, but he’s well worth a listen.
A.J.
Saw the PEI band Vishten at Wheatland Music Festival this year, and they’re beautiful and young but not glitzy. Wonderful music, and great stepping.
Janice wrote:
for a real dose of authentic Ontario style fiddling, which is what Leahy does, check out Pierre Schryer’s website
I met Pierre Schryer at the end of the summer in St. John’s, he and the folks in his band were in town to play at the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival. Janice is right, he’s an amazing fiddle player and a heck of a nice guy (and bears a striking resemblance to rum icon, Captain Morgan). I remember this one night there were about 25 of us squeezed into a small living room in a house in downtown St. John’s playing tunes until some ungodly hour. Here are a couple of links to photos of Pierre, the festival, etc…
http://www.sjfac.nf.net/fest2003/photos.html
http://shorock.com/nfld/2003/photos/801.html#nlff
All the best,
Wes