I friend of mine just gave me a recording of Teada, an irish band I’ve never heard of. I’m listening to the CD now, and it seems pretty good. I’m just wondering, has anyone else heard of Teada?
Yeah, they played in the Twin Cities a couple of years back, I think it was. Didn’t catch the act, but I consistently heard two things: they were impressive, and too young to be legal. Last I heard, they’d broken up, then maybe re-formed, then broken up, then…
When in Ireland at the end of April, I read that there was a new live DVD about to be released, but haven’t heard anything about it since. Best Irish band I’ve heard in years. They have 2 CDs out, and I’d recommend both.
They certainly still have a very full touring schedule for the rest of this year…
They played here last year and I enjoyed them very much, even the singing.
I have one of their albums. I rather like it.
I have both of their old albums and I like them a lot. They just released another and I expect it to be pretty good. Listening to the clips of the new album it sounds very Dervish like, even more Dervish like than the other albums.
They never broke up, but the old Guitar and Flute player (John Blake) quit and they were joined by Paul Finn on Button Accordion on the second album. They now have Damien Stenson on Flute and the Zouk player, Sean McElwain, doing double duty.
I was going to see them in December, but there was some pretty bad freezing rain that night.
I’ve seen them a couple of times and they are very good (and one of my personal favorite bands). Lots of energy and Oisin is a fantastic fiddle player, though they’re all good musicians. I haven’t seen them since they got a new flutist. Don’t miss them if they play near you.
We saw them several years ago as well. Great show.
I saw them a few months ago and thought they were terrific. Very respectful of the tradition, as far as I could tell. I was very impressed–and yes, the fiddler is wonderful, and I am enjoying the album I bought.
Carol
Damien Stenson is a great flute player and teaches as Swannanoa Gathering. I took a beginner’s class from him last year and was impressed by his play. (Even if mine wasn’t all that good).
I saw them last fall and liked them a lot. Great playing; it’ll be fun to see if they start pushing the arrangements out a little farther – what I heard was dished up well, but fairly straight-ahead traditional (nothing wrong with that, of course, but you always wonder what’s next). And they do look like babies … Finally, yup. Damien Stenson packs a real wallop!
They opened for bohola when I saw them, and during bohola’s act they came into the auditorium and stood right behind us (we had back row seats), and they were silly–I almost felt I should shush them, as I would my daughter and her teenage friends, but their music had just really transported me, so…yes, they are really young.
Carol
Hey, how’s bohola doing? I was lucky to sit at Jimmy & Pat’s feet at a session in East Durham this year, but was too shy to ask what was up with the band lately. Pat was in St. Louis this year and there was talk of he and Ged Foley and a couple of other folks getting together; they played wonderfully at the tutors’ concert. I know Sean Cleland is out teaching now … Anyway, I’ve really enjoyed bohola’s music over the years, and hope they’ll keep at it.
I heard the Fiddler left the band (Bohola). I have their “4” album and really enjoy it. I like the Zouk chordal backing, a nice change from the usual Zouk counter melody that is more often heard.
Hello
On TG4 (the Irsh Language Television Station) they have a take on the Blind Date scenario where the parents ‘vet’ the suitors before they get a date with their daughter. Oisin MacDiarmada was an unsuccessful suitor on that program. Ruined his street cred I can tell you, and the slaggin!!
Regards
John Moran
Yes, fiddler Sean Cleland officially left the band in December. However,
Looking at their performances page, I see they have marked the Dublin (Ohio) Irish Festival as “Sean’s Farewell”.
Yeah, Sean Cleland was with them when I saw them a few months ago, which was a wild, exuberant show. They are a rough and ready bunch, quite a contrast to the somewhat prim Teada (at least onstage) who preceded them. And I have bohola 5, which includes a number of tribute songs–to Frank Harte, to Gwen Sale, Pat Broaders’ father…It also has some of their Christmas stuff on it. I don’t love this album as much as I do the others, but Jimmy Keane makes me want to give up my life as I know it and do nothing but play the piano accordion (not that I have one or know how).
Carol
I so know what you mean. I’ve sat in a couple of sessions with him and it’s like being pulled along by a great big freight train – it’s an absolute delight.
BTW, I have a recording called “Hidden Treasures of Chicago”, and it’s got a bong-o version of The Foxhunters on the pipes, played by … a guy named Pat Broaders. I’d heard something about him piping, too … if it is him, I wonder why doesn’t he play more?
Oh well, just idle thinking.
And it’s funny – “prim” is a good description for the Teada performance I saw. They all looked really hip, but had such good posture and such.
That’s hilarious about Oisin MacDiarmada, seanie. And I bet he deserved every last slag! 
Thanks for the info, Sol. Hmmm. Might have to make the trip to the Dublin OH Fest. I bet they’ll pull out all the stops.