|
Since live performances are an historically important part of Celtic music, We’ve decided to add live band reviews to the Web site. Our first review is of the Trinity River Whalers, a well-known band in the Dallas Metroplex that is working on releasing a CD this spring.
They have been an active part of the Celtic/Americana scene in Dallas for several years. Kathleen Jackson plays upright bass, in a bluegrass/polka alternating bass style. Marj Troyer plays lead guitar and mandolin. It’s unusual to see a woman playing lead guitar. Randy Christian plays harmonica, accordion and percussion. Micheal Price, an ex-standup comic, plays rhythm guitar and writes songs with Troyer. The men of the group used to play together in the now-defunct Blarney Brothers.
The songs they do are mostly upbeat songs. If the crowd had been drunker, and the band encouraged it, the Celtic songs would have been great sing-a-longs. The ones I recognized were often pub songs and drinking songs. They also played Bluegrass and the occasional Blues tune. The bluegrass tunes gave a nice variety from the vocals, often played as a bridge in a vocal song. Their vocals were excellent, with tight three part harmonies. They didn’t use any vibrato, sticking to traditional folk-style singing.
Their instrumental playing was in tune, and in time. Rhythmically they were very tight, and they had a good dynamic balance between the instruments and the vocals. Their set list was also balanced, with enough instrumental tunes to break up the bar songs.
What I didn’t like about their sets is there wasn’t enough variation in tempo and feel. Granted being the dinner band at a bar doesn’t lend to playing gloomy ballads – but all the up beat, mostly major key songs got a little wearing after several hours of listening.
They’re good to listen to for a while, but not for hours and hours. What they play is good, so I’ll give them another shot at the North Texas Irish Festival March 6 through 8. And who knows, maybe the recorded medium will allow them to branch out musically.
Rating system:
 | Don’t waste your money on this. |
| Has some cool elements, not my cup of tea. |
|
| Good middle of the road, will occasionally appear on my iPod. |
|
| Wonderful album with something for almost everybody. |
|
| Buy it. Trust us on this one. |
About the Author
Liz Patton is the founder of Celtic Music Nations, an avid Celtic musician and fan. She has played guitar and bass for over a decade, and occasionally dabbles in other
Celtic instruments like mandolin, bodhran, fiddle and tin whistle. She wrote and edited for the University of Texas at Arlington's student paper for two years.
She has an Associate's in Commercial Music from South Plains College, and a Bachelor's of Music from UT Arlington.
|
