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Friday, October 17, 2008
‘An Irish Homecoming’
DAYTON — The “Irish Homecoming” concert Friday night, Oct. 17, at Victoria Theatre was everything you might think an Irish homecoming would be.
The multiple act showcase, hosted by the all-female Irish-American band Cherish the Ladies, featured lots of laughter, a few tears, a variety of stories, plenty of dancing, some group sing-alongs and several moments of pure musical magic.
“This is just the second time we’ve done this show,” Cherish the Ladies’ leader and spokeswoman Joanie Madden told the audience near the end of the more than 2½-hour performance.
“Can you tell?” she asked, knowing full well that the answer was likely, “Well, yes, we can.”
But did it matter? Not really.
The evening had a certain slap-dash quality of not having yet fully jelled, but the spontaneous, unpredictable aspect offered its own rewards.
The effect was like a family reunion where certain family members could be counted on to stir things up.
Veteran vocalist Maura O’Connell was one of the main stirrer-uppers Friday, with a mischievous wit and a forceful personality that matched Madden’s own powerful presence.
The six women of Cherish the Ladies stayed on stage most of the evening, welcoming to their midst not only O’Connell, but also the Chicago-based accordion and guitar duo bohola, singer-songwriter Dermot Henry, fiddler and step-dancer Dan Stacey and a six-person ensemble of Irish step-dancers that included the area’s own John and Heather Timm.
The performance, the opening concert of Cityfolk’s 2008-09 Celtic Series, had the audience on its feet by evening’s end.
Hugs all around seemed the appropriate response.
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