LIVE: Celtic Flame - Royal Albert Hall, London, UK

Howdy,

I just got back from the RAH "gig", clutching a copy of the live album (at last! oh, bad pun) and a digital camera brimming with 110 photos (!) of the evening.

Musically the evening was interesting but ultimately, not quite what the doctor ordered. Jack Lukeman was interesting (big voice, lots of prancing about - a Bono-influenced stage persona perhaps?) and I wouldn't mind hearing more of his stuff. Paul Brady sounded good to my ears but I'm sure he comes off better if you're a little familiar with his stuff (which I'm not). Sharon Shannon surprised in that she didn't sing at all - I had assumed she was one of those female Irish vocalists like Mary Black or sumpin'. Instead she's a pretty impressive...accordian?...player and she impressed me even further when she picked up the fiddle for one song. Geez, I can't even play one instrument...

And then the boys hit the stage. This was the 3-piece version without the rhythm section, with Peter on guitar/keyboard/drum machine, Fiachna on guitars (acoustic/electric) and Liam on keyboard/guitar/bodhran. I'm horrible at remembering setlists but I know the first song was a very nice new one (End of the Road?). Other highlights included Hallelujah Jordan, an acoustic harmony-driven "You Can Love Me Now" (!) and a lovely Gaelic tune (the first they've written themselves?).

The most touching moment of the evening came when Liam gave a long introduction to a song dedicated to Joe Higgs (sp?), the legendary reggae producer that the boys spent some time with a couple of years ago. Joe passed away last year so Liam introduced the song as something Joe had passed on to Fiachna earlier this year as some sort of final gift (yes, Liam's actual intro was better than my horribly abbreviated version). Oh, and if you're wondering, the song was quite good.

Unfortunately, just as the boys were starting to let their hair down, the silly London rules which state gigs must finish by 11pm meant they had to wrap it up. Liam explained they had to go, everyone called "don't go!" so of course they stayed for "Don't Go" (duh!). The finale featured Paul Brady on "I Got You" (was that the name of it? it didn't sound like the Sonny/Cher one to me) and then the whole gang (Sharon, Jack, Paul) on a tune I guess was called "Donegal".

Celtic Flame may be a good opportunity to showcase some Irish musicians but I got the impression that many there had turned up just to see HF play (or maybe HF fans are a little noisier?). And when they only get to play a 40 min set, it sorta makes it disappointing. Yeah, I know, I knew what to expect, but it's still frustrating to see them limited like this. I'm a little surprised they don't play smaller venues like the Embassy Rooms from time to time just to touch base with the folks in London. As far as I'm aware, this was their first London performance since sometime before the release of "Born" - maybe 1994? Since Born was released they've played Japan, USA, South Africa but not this little city that's just an hour from Dublin by plane. Weird. Anyway, no point me asking for more London gigs, I'm outta this town next Friday and heading home to Australia...

Oh, and Mr Dodd, you might be pleased to know your t-shirts did as they were supposed to do: list-lurker Carolyn came up to me to say g'day and stuff like that, all because I was wearing mine. Very cool.

later!
David

Jack Lukeman

Paul Brady

Paul Brady

unknown guitarist (Sharon Shannon band)

unknown violinist (Sharon Shannon band)

unknown violinist (Sharon Shannon band)

Sharon Shannon

Fiachna

Peter

Fiachna

Fiachna, Liam & Peter

Liam

Fiachna

Fiachna & Liam

Liam

Liam

Liam

Liam

Liam

Peter & Liam

Liam

Liam

Liam & Peter

Liam & Sharon Shannon

Paul Brady, Liam & Sharon Shannon