Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Leahy

Last night my friend Judy and I went to the local Mt. Baker Theater to hear Leahy perform. This Canadian group is comprised of a family of siblings, eight out of 11 of them.  The leader of the band, Donnell, is obviously Canadian as soon as he opens his mouth to speak. The family is made up of all self-taught musicians, with almost every one of them playing multiple instruments, but mostly the fiddle, guitars, piano, and step dancing.

Their mother was a champion step dancer (and they ALL step dance, as we saw in the finale) and their father played the fiddle. From the liner notes:
Growing up together on the farm [in Lakefield, Ontario], they would work outside by day, play, dance and sing by night. Erin [she mostly played piano last night] recalls that their fiddle-playing father and their step-dancing mother "encouraged us to listen to and play a wide variety of styles. I see that coming across in our writing today." ... Their compelling career voyage has proven that a musical style defying easy definition can still find a large and wide audience.
No kidding! The large Mt. Baker Theater was almost sold out, and the rocking show we were treated to was amazing in its variety. I was especially mesmerized by Erin, listening to her piano playing, and then I found out she also an accomplished fiddle player AND a great step dancer! Here is a link to their profiles, listing what each one performs on stage. Irish step dancing is like what they did, except that they didn't hold their upper bodies completely still.

Tonight, St. Patrick's Day, they will be in Seattle at Benaroya Hall, and if you happen to be looking for something exciting to do, check out this show. The last number they played before the encore was exciting in its rocking and foot-stomping action, and then, one by one, they laid down an instrument and joined the original two step dancers, until all of them (and a 15-year-old talented daughter Emily) were step dancing in amazing unison, bringing down the house!

I guess you can tell I loved it.
:-)

14 comments:

  1. They sound amazing. I would love to see something like that. It's great that they can all two step! You and Judy sure do go to a lot of fun things:)

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  2. I love when someone turns me on to new music! This group is awesome. I went to their site link and listened to a few tunes and feel inspired to get their CD. Borrowed Time from their Lakefield CD came up first...this one moved me to tears.
    Glad you enjoyed the show.

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  3. Wow, I bet that was a wonderful performance!

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  4. I can never get enough of live performances. Valdy is coming to a local theater and I'm thinking of getting tickets. A blast from our youth! At least Leahy is current!

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  5. Yes, we can tell. Sounds like a great show!

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  6. It sounds like an amazing performance. I know I would like it. I watched River Dance which is more traditional Irish stepping and was mesmerized the whole time.

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  7. Hi Djan. I have come over from Linda's Letters. Do you mind if I visit more regularly as I like your blog? Thanks for the information about the Ides of March. At U3A here in New Zealand we are studying Roman History at present. - Dave

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  8. wish they'd come around here! I'm desperate for a fun concert, it's been ages since I went to one!!! and I've never seen step dancing... :o(

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  9. i am recovering from last night which would have been better spent in a theatre watching dancing and a show than drinking with girls half my age! Oi!

    Have I commented on the fact I have two very old & cherished friends in Bellingham? One has been there since 1967 when his mother moved he & his 4 siblings up there to get out of LA. I visited in 1969 but have never been back altho' may visit this year to see him and his best friend. My cousin now lives in Sequim and the guys are in Bellingham and it's time to pay a visit and rekindle our closeness. I hear Sequim is lovely.

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  10. Omigosh, I had not heard of them. I'm going to find them on YouTube and have a listen. Thanks!

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  11. This is a group I haven't heard of until now. I will have to check them out.

    Hope you are having a great hike, the weather here is a little cool but beautiful.

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  12. That sounds like great fun!
    Blessings, Star

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