Fenian Bards :
THE WOLFE TONES:
Came to New York City to Rouse the Rebels
Friday, June 30th, 2006, Connolly's Pub, East 47th, NY, NY
To see the glorious Wolfe Tones, was inspirational, and not only because it was the first time that I was blessed to see this legendary Irish Rebel band, but also because it was a great and rousing gig ! The audience participation was phenonemal, with people of all ages singing and dancing along, and a strong camaraderie between the band and the crowd, Noel Nagle, lead banjo player and vocalist is a great seanachaí -- he's a storyteller, with a very theatrical stage charisma, and using that old Irish charm generously between each tune, to introduce each song with a short joke or story. Noel Nagle rouses the audience with cheers, laughter and brotherly camaraderie between each song that really creates an atmosphere that ensures that the night will be a great time for all....
Flutist and vocalist Tommy Byrne also sings some of the most powerful and storming Irish rebel tunes in tribute to the Irish heroes, heroines and martyrs --- And it must be said that any review of the mighty Wolfe Tones playing live would not be complete without mentioning one of the longest standing members of the band --- Brian Warfield, lead guitarist and vocalist, whose contribution to the band is impossible to forget. He really has a remarkable singing voice that is unrivalled in the world of Irish Rebel music, and he really commands an impressive stage presence that reminds me of the booming Gaelic voices of Brendan Behan, Christy Moore, Tommy Makem, Luke Kelly, the legendary Amergin, and any of the wandering bards of Gaelic lore....
Additionally, a new bass player whom I had never seen or heard of before was playing with the band....My praise to this new bassist for playing a thundering bass that would even please Ronnie Drew or Terry Woods .....
THE WOLFE TONES:
Came to New York City to Rouse the Rebels
Friday, June 30th, 2006, Connolly's Pub, East 47th, NY, NY
To see the glorious Wolfe Tones, was inspirational, and not only because it was the first time that I was blessed to see this legendary Irish Rebel band, but also because it was a great and rousing gig ! The audience participation was phenonemal, with people of all ages singing and dancing along, and a strong camaraderie between the band and the crowd, Noel Nagle, lead banjo player and vocalist is a great seanachaí -- he's a storyteller, with a very theatrical stage charisma, and using that old Irish charm generously between each tune, to introduce each song with a short joke or story. Noel Nagle rouses the audience with cheers, laughter and brotherly camaraderie between each song that really creates an atmosphere that ensures that the night will be a great time for all....
Flutist and vocalist Tommy Byrne also sings some of the most powerful and storming Irish rebel tunes in tribute to the Irish heroes, heroines and martyrs --- And it must be said that any review of the mighty Wolfe Tones playing live would not be complete without mentioning one of the longest standing members of the band --- Brian Warfield, lead guitarist and vocalist, whose contribution to the band is impossible to forget. He really has a remarkable singing voice that is unrivalled in the world of Irish Rebel music, and he really commands an impressive stage presence that reminds me of the booming Gaelic voices of Brendan Behan, Christy Moore, Tommy Makem, Luke Kelly, the legendary Amergin, and any of the wandering bards of Gaelic lore....
Additionally, a new bass player whom I had never seen or heard of before was playing with the band....My praise to this new bassist for playing a thundering bass that would even please Ronnie Drew or Terry Woods .....
The Wolfe Tones began their musical maelstrom with "Bloody Sunday", a stirring and powerful tune of remembrance of that fateful Sunday in the Bogside of Derry on January 30th, 1972...
Inspirational songs that they also played that caused the crowd to dance, sing-a-long and shout in jubilation include "The Big Strong Man (My Brother Sylveste)" about a famed Irish boxer of the early 1900's who is to fight Jack Dempsey, "A Nation Once Again", "You'll Never Beat The Irish", "Kevin Barry" about the Irish Republican martyr --- tortured by the Brits and hung at Mountjoy Prison on November 1st, 1920, "The United Men", traditional tunes "The Devil is Dead", "God Save Ireland", and Irish Rebel anthems "Get out ye Black and Tans","Padraic Pearse", "The Foggy Dew", "Boys of the Old Brigade", "Down by the Glenside", "Merry Ploughboy", "Grace", "James Connolly", "Sean South of Garryowen", "Black Broad Brimmer", "Joe McDonnell" ; a tribute to the fifth Republican to die in the 1981 Hunger Strikes at the H Block, "Rock on Rockall" (always a big crowd pleaser!), "The Helicopter Song" (about the daring prison escape from Mountjoy in October 1973, via helicopter, wherein Volunteers Seamus Twomey, J.B. O'Hagan and Kevin Mallon were airlifted from the prison yard one autumn afternoon), and other sterling tunes to compliment an enlivening and spirited concert such as "In Belfast", "On the One Road", "Boston Rose", "The Streets of New York", "Botany Bay", "Ireland, My Ireland", of course the legendary Glasgow Celtic anthem, "Celtic Symphony" and many other classics...
It goes without saying that the very dynamic audience was inspirational proof that the Wolfe Tones are indeed an all ages Irish Rebel band --- as I watched grandparents, grandkids, a mother and her adolescent daughter dance and sing together to Wolfe Tones anthems, as well as a large throng of Irishmen up near the band stage, ranging from the ages of teenager to early 20s to 30s, sing along in unison to their favorite songs, and even some foxy college lasses dancing like wild Banshees in the back.....
Rebels and Heroes, tis truly who the Wolfe Tones are to me:
Warrior-Bards of the Modern Age !
