February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Instead of their usual home base at Connolly?s on 47th Street (to which they?ll return in October) Larry Kirwan and Co. headlined the triple bill at the plush, well-appointed 42nd Street venue.
B.B. King doubles as a restaurant and many unwitting patrons were treated to the show as part of their meal. The thoughtful layout includes a wide stage with no columns or other visual distractions and seating for diners around the edges. The floor in front of the stage was cleared of tables and chairs in anticipation for the concert, which was fitting, as it was not a sit-down kind of show. Throughout all three sets, audience members were urged to clap, jump and dance to the music.
The crowd was a mix of Irish American and Irish, with both young and old represented. An attentive staff hovered around anyone who needed a drink and the club policy allowed smokers (and anyone else who might need a break) to come and go. This did not prove to be an issue for Andrew Goodsight, Black 47?s bassist, as he played most of the set with a lit cigarette dangling from his mouth.
Brothers Robert and Glenn Dingee, of Yonkers and Wappinger Falls, respectively, came out for the headliners. Having never seen Black 47 during their Connolly?s home stands, Glenn pointed out the venue ?is the best of both worlds, since we like the blues and wanted to check out B.B. King?s as well.?
The pints were lined up at the bar in the back before the first band took the stage. The opening act, Seven Nations, came on to meager applause, but the reception grew louder as they continued into their set.
A sort of college-aged Celtic rock band, Seven Nations moved some of the crowd to what was only the first of many impromptu step dances on the floor that night.
Their drummer, one-name wonder Crisco, and a crowd favorite, swung his bleach-blond dreadlocks around as he stepped from behind his kit to play a bongo drum in accompaniment to the fiddle and bagpipes. Though Seven Nations could be branded modern rockers, the crowd responded best to their take on traditional Irish music.
Scott Long was another favorite with his bagpipes and the crowd was often warmed up on his skills alone.
The crowd had grown considerably by the time the Young Dubliners took the stage and they were met with excited applause. They had a very L.A.-meets-Black 47 sound, and the older band?s influence was easily detectible.
Clad in leather pants, lead singer Keith Roberts led a rousing, rollicking set that was heavy on rock elements and had the crowd clapping along.
Also popular were the Young Dubliners? forays into traditional music, primarily led by a fiddler/keyboardist and a guitarist who managed to manipulate his guitar into pipes when necessary.
Highlights of their set included a cover of the Waterboys? ?Fisherman?s Song,? which got the biggest response, and ?Knickers,? which may sound familiar because Killian?s Irish Red has recently used it in a commercial. True to pitchman form, the band faithfully swigged the stuff throughout their set.
When it was Black 47?s time, they did not fail to disappoint the diehard fans who were there for their arrival onstage at 11 p.m. The popular six-piece band was happy to be home, with lead singer Larry Kirwan taking every chance to welcome their NYC supporters to the alternative venue.
Using the crowd as an instrument, Kirwan got their hands clapping and feet stomping. Working off their whistles and hoots, the band began strong to the delight of the crowd with ?Big Fella.?
They debuted with a new song paying tribute to former Fire Department Chaplain Fr. Mychal F. Judge, who was the first official victim of Sept. 11; it was classic Black 47, with wailing horns and lyrics that told a story.
Kirwan mentioned that a new Black 47 album would be out in January, titled ?New York Town,? and dealing with their hometown both pre- and post-Sept. 11. The band had to be pleased with the response to the new material they tried out.
The band thanked the crowd for braving a concert on a Sunday night and treated them to a rendition of their song ?40 Deuce,? telling a story of what went on in the street outside B.B. King before Times Square became tourist-friendly.
By the time they closed with ?Funky Ceili,? it was clear the fans got what they came for. A smart grouping of three rock bands with a Celtic twist gave Times Square a welcome kick.