Solas in Tulsa - July 12

Whistle
1

Friday night, July 12, at 8PM

The Irish Society of Oklahoma Foundation (501c3 business entity of the Irish](http://sq.tdis.com/IrishClubhome.htm%22%3EIrish) American Club of Tulsa), Kilkenny’s Irish Pub and Eatery, and Guinness present an Irish concert featuring SOLAS</a](http://www.solasmusic.com/">SOLAS</a)>, acclaimed by many as the most exciting Irish traditional band in the world.

The concert is at the:

Avondale](http://yp.yahoo.com/py/ypMap.py?Pyt=Typ&tuid=18467748&ck=1732971768&tab=B2C&city=Tulsa&state=OK&country=us&slt=36.152988&sln=-95.992332&cs=4&stat=:pos:0:regular:regT:1:fbT:0%22%3EAvondale) Theater
1511 South Delaware
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tickets go on sale June 18, 2002

There will be a pre- concert party at the theater and a post-concert party at Kilkenny’s Restaurant that your ticket stub will get you into with various lures.

More details later as they become available.

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I’ve heard bad things about Solas latley. I guess they’re trying to go Indie or something weird like that and that their recent concerts have been very odd. Not many Irish songs done at all, only one set of reels and that’s it, and I guess if they don’t make the indie thing happen they’re going to break up.

3

[quote]
On 2002-06-15 12:37, chanse wrote:
I’ve heard bad things about Solas latley. I guess they’re trying to go Indie or something weird like that and that their recent concerts have been very odd. Not many Irish songs done at all, only one set of reels and that’s it, and I guess if they don’t make the indie thing happen they’re going to break up."[quote]


How Awful :confused:
Maybe I should just skip it and go see Dervish on July 24.

[ This Message was edited by: 24BRIX on 2002-06-15 13:47 ]

[ This Message was edited by: 24BRIX on 2002-06-15 13:48 ]

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I agree with chanse, Solas went from being my favorite irish music band to my least favorite band… Oh well, things are changing, but maybe they’re trying to reach a broader market and that at the end of the line they’re gonna be making more money…

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Well, I’m gonna be there, and I’ll post my reaction afterward.

Thanks for letting us know, John. I don’t know how I missed hearing about this. Probably because I don’t belong to the Irish American club.

–Jay

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On 2002-06-15 13:56, Azalin wrote:
I agree with chanse, Solas went from being my favorite irish music band to my least favorite band… Oh well, things are changing, but maybe they’re trying to reach a broader market and that at the end of the line they’re gonna be making more money…

Hmmm, I’m not a ‘strictly trad’ person (quite the opposite), and while I understand that people may loose personal interest in artists when they evolve their style I find it sad when it is assumed that they are ‘selling out’ or ‘doing it for the money’. I think that we should be able to give bands the credit that they might actually enjoy the direction they are moving in and feel that they are achieving something artistically. I love some of the newer Solas (and Shooglenifty, and AfroCelt, and the Pogues…). I also love the old Solas (and Karan Casey :sunglasses: ). Personally, I’m glad Bob Dylan picked up an electric guitar, despite the fact that he lost a load of his fans.
I’m not saying you should like it – if it is only trad that floats your boat then that’s fine. But don’t assume that they’re just in it for the money. Solas are hardly mainstream even with their evolution – I bet that those who go see them find that they are having an aweful lot of fun. I may try and catch the Portland show myself…

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I may have to see if I can make it! Hey, Seamus, try to sneak some of us in early, OK? :wink:

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It has surely been a change of sound for Solas on the last 2 CD’s.
One of the strengths of Solas I see, is that they operate as a band, a dynamic, as opposed to a solo artist with backup. So then it’s the combination of people which makes the music possible.
With Karan Casey, John W. and John D. leaving the band it has become a different mixture, making different music possible. Seamus Egan is also known for his versatility and experimentation.

the cd. ‘The Hour before dawn’ was too much of a mixture for me to listen to; it wasn’t Irish, it wasn’t rock.
I like the new CD ‘The Edge of Silence’ for what it is: a rock album. IMO the voice of their new singer is also much more suited for that.

here ends my ramble :slight_smile:

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For anyone who misses the old solas (with no disrespect to the new style they have) I just bought a videotape of them live in 1999. I was really impressed by the vitality that came bursting out of every song. There is a fair amount of low whistle playing on the tape including some double low whistle by the accordianist and the banjo player. A very inspiring performance.

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Yup, great video, a must have really. It’s available on DVD too, I believe.

Loren

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Yeah, I first saw the show on TV in '99 on St-Patrick’s day, it was broadcasted in Vermont. Very good stuff!

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The concert in question was last night, and was follows is my somewhat schizophrenic reaction.

The part of me that is currently intent on immersing myself in the traditional music of Ireland was disappointed. Real Irish trad it was not, particularly the first half which included a lot from their latest album. Later on the band’s roots became somewhat more apparent, and there were even a few sets of reels.

Another part of me has broader musical tastes, and loves to hear really, really good players doing their thing in almost any style. That part was pretty much blown away. Gosh, with musicians like Seamus Egan, Winifred Horan, and Mick McAuley, how could it be anything but great, unless they are just selling out? (Okay, purists may think they are, but I’m inclined to be more charitable.)

Unfortunately, Seamus Egan played guitar more than anything, but played flute on several numbers, and low whistle once. It was disappointing he didn’t play more flute and whistle. My goodness, he is just amazing. (Actually, the word “amazing” isn’t really adequate, but it’s the best I can do at the moment.)

Taken for what it was (rather than how traditional it was), it was a great concert. Too bad it wasn’t held at a larger venue, where more people could have heard them. Selfishly, though, I have to say that hearing them in the very small hall (300 seats, maybe?), was pretty special.

One sad side note. Kilkinny Road, a local Irish trad group which was supposed to play last night, did not appear because their fiddle player, Wayne Kahre, had a heart attack and is currently hospitalized and possibly awaiting surgery. Wayne is an excellent fiddler and a fine, fine fellow. For those of you inclined to offer thoughts and prayers, now would be a good time.

–Jay

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Jay, John,

Has there been any news on Mr. Kahre? I hope he is doing ok.

More things coming up in Tulsa at the John H. Williams Theatre…

*Isla St. Clair & her Ceilidh Band (9/13-14)
*Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill (10/11-12)
*Gaelic Storm (11/22-23)
*Danú (Feb. 7-8,'03)
*Dervish (Mar 7-8,'03)

I’d like to take my mom to see something on the more traditional side…Do any of these fit that bill?

Kim

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Wayne is in stable condition at the hospital. He will be having bypass surgery on Monday depending on how things go.

We would greatly appreciate all of your prayers.

Thanks,
John

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On 2002-07-13 18:22, Kim in Tulsa wrote:
More things coming up in Tulsa at the John H. Williams Theatre…

*Isla St. Clair & her Ceilidh Band (9/13-14)
*Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill (10/11-12)
*Gaelic Storm (11/22-23)
*Danú (Feb. 7-8,'03)
*Dervish (Mar 7-8,'03)

I’d like to take my mom to see something on the more traditional side…Do any of these fit that bill?

Kim

Gaelic Storm is the group shown in the movie Titanic, playing for the dancers down in steerage. And Dervish is an excellent group, one of my favorites. They have lots of CDs out. My two favorites are Midsummer’s Night and Live in Palma. I wish they’d come to California. The closest they are coming this year is Roseburg, Oregon.

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Where can I find that Solas 1999 live video/CD for sale?

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You can get the 1998](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6305188785/qid%3D1026613792/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/103-9019838-5100633%22%3E1998) Solas Live VHS from Amazon. I’m sure there are other retailers.

BTW - Amazon has a typo on the page. 1988 should be 1998. They also have a DVD format.

-John

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OH MY GOSH! Danu is coming! Kim, they’re awesome. They don’t use the whistle a great deal, more flute (and amazing flute at that – Tom Dooley is fabulous), but they’re wonderful. As an Irish trad newbie, I can only tell you that they sound pretty hard-core to me, but their latest album did sound folksier than the one before. I love ‘em, tho’ – take your mom; I’m taking mine. I’ll have to see if they’re coming to Austin, but we’re going, Lord willing. WOW! And the singer just makes me curl up in a ball and whimper. Can y’all tell that this is my favorite band?

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On 2002-07-14 16:17, Erin wrote:
Can y’all tell that this is my favorite band?

LOL! Slightly! I thought I might have to take the hose to you! :smiley:

I am leaning toward them…what do you know of this Isla St. Clair?

Kim

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Kim, I don’t know anything about her. But, golly, I had no idea Tulsa got all this great music! Austin always makes a big deal of being the cultural center of the world or something (which it isn’t), but all we get is Afro-Cuban fusion and Broadway musicals. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…Is it the Irish American Club or what? Man – I’m gonna have to move up here. And I used to try NOT to visit.