Black 47

LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY

Gadfly 248
available on Amazon

This is a celebration of all that is involved in being Irish, being in a Rock n' Roll band that plays Rock that is based on Irish music influences, and loving New York City.  This band has grown and stretched over the years from being a struggling band that initially attracted only a few rabid young Irish Rock n' Rollers to their shows, to a group that has proved their stance is valid and deserving and is now pulling in standing room only crowds.  You used to be able to just walk in and see them, now it's a whole other story.  Listen to the rabid way the crowd reacts to, and sings along with their songs.  OK, they stacked the deck for this recording by doing it on the craziest day of the year in NYC, St. Patrick's Day, but any live recording is done before a friendly crowd.  This band takes their music, their politics, and their partying very seriously and manages to combine all into some exceedingly wild and daring shows.  Fuzzed, distorted guitar coming after a beautiful Uilleann Pipes solo, and back again and onward to a Blue Cheer distorted finish, this on THE REELS!   It sounds a tad odd on paper, but it works particularly well.  They follow it up with a stunning song of gut wrenching beauty about a love that has gone wrong, that mirrors in execution the title, FANATIC HEART.  This band is not afraid to combine widely disparate  elements in their attempt to make the song "right".  Give a quick look at some of the instruments used on the disc to get their sound, Uilleann pipes, tin whistle, trombone, saxophones, fuzzed guitar.   They play with an intensity and passion that borders on the fanatical which is getting exceedingly rare in music these days.  You have no doubt that they love and live their music with their whole beings.  If you want to feel the way this group combines their politics, music, and lives listen to what they do with the song Larry Kirwan, the guitar player wrote called JAMES CONNOLLY.  As exciting and alive as they are on this disc try to catch a live show and be honestly blown away by their dynamism and raucous combination of rock and politics and partying.

 


Black 47 Live NYC

Produced by Stewart Lerman & Larry Kirwan

Songs, times and writers - All written by Larry Kirwan except where noted

  1. THREE LITTLE BIRDS - 3:55 - Marley
  2. DESPERATE - 4:55
  3. FUNKY CEILI - 5:52
  4. GREEN SUEDE SHOES - 3:56
  5. WALK ALL THE DAYS - 5:27 - Byrne
  6. THE REELS - 5:28 - Black 47
  7. FANATIC HEART - 7:07
  8. JAMES CONNOLLY - 6:41
  9. DIFFERENT DRUMMER - 3:48
  10. 40 SHADES OF BLUE - 7:21
  11. MARIA'S WEDDING - 6:35
  12. LIKE A ROLLING STONE - 6:07 - Dylan

Musicians
Chris Byrne - Uilleann pipes, tin whistle, bodhran, lead vocals
Geoffrey Blythe - tenor, soprano, & baritone saxophones
Andrew Goodsight - bass, vocals
Thomas Hamlin - drums, percussion
Larry Kirwan - guitar, lead vocals

Fred Parcells - trombone, tin whistle, vocals


Produced by Mike Napolitano and Andrew Bird