I love The Chieftains and their music very much. They take a great approach to traditional Irish music and make it enjoyable for everyone. They delve into every element of Celtic music, going as far as Spain and China to perform. Two of their best albums came from these trips. One of them, Santiago, I own and I love it. The Spanish music is so Celtic it's amazing. Anyone who says that the guitars just aren't Irish and why would The Chieftains want them in their concerts if the Spanish guitarists don't ask them to be in their concerts is crazy. Celtic music is pretty flexible if you haven't noticed and The Chieftains know how to take it to whichever extreme they wish: the most traditional, extremely modern, or a little in-between. They're great musicians and you can't really criticize much of what they do. It's all great!
There's only one thing better than buying their albums and listening to them: seeing the performers in concert! On March 6, 1998, I had the privelege of attending their concert in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was a sold out show and I was lucky to even find out about the show coming here (thank God for the Internet!) Because I'm so thankful to the tour dates on the The Chieftains WWW Site I put the link to it right here. If there is anything about them you'd ever want to know, go there! There is so much information it's wild. But since I did get to go to the show I would like to share my experiences of what went on to show how much fun you will have if you go.
Here goes what I playfully call Jessica's Narrative:
fter 36 years, The Chieftains haven't lost their touch in performing old music with a new and vibrant feel. Paddy Moloney is a great songwriter (and one helluva tin whistler and piper!) and really brings the show alive with his silly quips at the other guys on stage. The Celtic music scene is lucky to have somebody like him among them. Put him with the other Chieftains and you've got an Irish music storm! By the time the night was over The Chieftains have people dancing in the aisles, and it was no exception in their performace in Cincinnati.
At the show they began with an O'Carolan piece as one member after the other came out by himself and joined the song. Soon followed wonderful traditional music at it's best. The audience members were very pleased! I can say I was. Before the intermission they performed songs from their new soundtrack Long Journey Home. Even though the "stars" from the CD (like Van Morrison and Mary Black) weren't there to perform I think it sounded better with The Chieftains singing (except Shenandoah. Van Morrison isn't my favorite person but the choir that was singing wasn't the best either). Kevin Conneff did a fantastic rendition of Paddy's Lamentation. They played a few more songs off the CD and then there was a long break.
Their second half was one of the more interesting parts with everyone really getting worked up. It included people like a guitarist named Jesse Cook I believe he was from Canada and his friend playing Spanish guitars to the songs from Santiago, one of the best CDs The Chieftains have put out. They performed a Spanish number and then they launched into Maneo from the CD. A Spanish singer, whose name I don't remember, performed Guadalupe and did some funny little Spanish "dancing" if you could even call little steps in circles and swining hips dancing. It was kind of like she was mock flamenco dancing. And later on they performed a Van Morrison number, and Derek Bell cracked the whole audience up by coming on the keyboard with the electric guitar. They're full of humor and that makes the show exciting.
Through many parts of the show Kara Butler and Donny Golden danced. They were pretty good but the costumes were sad. The first dress she had on was rather nice (it was the one she wore in Gael Force) and Donny looked alright too. Then she was donning shiny green and purple stuff that was not very nice. For a long time I was wondering why they couldn't have just put her in a traditional solo dress like her sister Jean wore in An Irish Evening. The dancing was still good though even though the costumes were not to love. And the dancing itself is what matters anyway. Right?
In the last 3 songs of the show The Chieftains had two local guys, one on bodhran and one on harmonica, playing with them. The 3 songs were reels and everyone was going wild clapping with the beat. At one point Paddy Moloney shouted "everybody dance!" Someone on the right side of the theater jumped out of his seat and was doing just that, up and down the aisle. Eventually the music was way too much for me and after clambering over the legs of the other people in my row I got myself out into the aisle and danced a lively reel there. It was great fun listening to the magic of The Chieftains and dancing along to it. I never thought I would get to do that but I did!
After the show: I had mentioned to my dad about getting backstage and meeting the guys and we didn't know where to go so we asked. Some usher who knew told us how to get to the stage door so we did what she said and there we were! We followed a bunch of people in (after passing up the harpist who was coming out) and were waiting in this little hall. After a couple minutes (picture of them from the program book, which wasn't really a program just showed other upcoming shows, in hand and armed with a pen) we finally were allowed to walk into this huge room kind of like a cargo bay. Who else did we see walking around drinking a coke in there but Kevin Conneff, the great bodhran player of The Chieftains, much adored by me! Well I was thinking "God if I could just get him to sign this I will be happy and go home". Well after a little bit we were just kind of wandering. I had seen a couple of people go over and shake Kevin's hand and talk to him (he was the best one. The others were rushing to get in the van, this one guy was shouting at us to make everything quick because they were leaving early in the morning). Anyways after conquering a little apprehension I went over to him and shook his hand and said "you're great. I really love your singing" and he said thanks and I said "can you sign this?" and he said "sure!" So you can guess what happened from there!:) On the way out I spoke to Paddy Moloney for about 2 seconds (to my disappointment his hands were full and he was trying to get out in the van so I couldn't get his signature) but I told him I thought that they were great and he said thanks.
Does that sound like an exicting evening to you people or what? It was a fine time for me. As for the picture signed by Mr. Conneff, well that's going to be hanging in a green frame on my wall as soon as I get one!
Now that you've heard about what they're like live, why not find out about what their albums are like? Here are the few CDs by The Chieftains I possess and love a lot. Check out the pages and find out about the albums and if you're interested, I suggest you buy them! They're all very worth the money you'll pay for them I assure you.
A Limited Discogrophy
The Chieftains - An Irish Evening (page coming soon)