Mike Greenly From the Corporate World to the Billboard Charts, a Songwriter Moves on Up by Brad Balfour When a tune’s words and music merge into a signature song, it seems so natural that it’s like everyday conversation. That’s true for classic rock songs such as Queen’s “We Will Rock You” or “We Are the … Continue reading
James Frecheville Plays Hardened Fighter Feeney Getting Revenge in Black 47 by Brad Balfour In the Irish film Black 47, times are not good. Thanks to Draconian laws imposed on the Irish people by their genocidal British occupiers, the potato famine that had hit Ireland in the mid-1840s depleted the starving populace of their main … Continue reading
Donnie Kehr Brings “The Greatest Piano Men” to the Stage This August by Brad Balfour Multi-talented musician Donnie Kehr has not only created and promoted “Rockers on Broadway” but has been a rocker on Broadway when he appeared in such musicals as “Billy Elliot,” The Who’s “Tommy,” Elton John and Tim Rice’s “Aida,” “The Human … Continue reading
The Irish Repertory Theatre Thrives on a String of Hits as it Approaches Another Gala Year by Brad Balfour When Ciaran O’Reilly and Charlotte Moore founded the Irish Repertory Theatre, they opened in September 1988 with Sean O’Casey’s The Plough and the Stars. From that point on, it became a nexus for great play craft … Continue reading
Altan Irish Ensemble Makes for Thoroughly Modern Traditionalists by Brad Balfour When the Irish group Altan visited New York during St. Patrick’s week, it transformed the City Winery in lower Manhattan into a pastoral scene. It was rich with lilting melodies, harmonious voices and the engaging sonics of various traditional instruments such as violin, accordion, … Continue reading
Celtic Woman Quartet Brings Their Sounds for A Seasonal Celebration by Brad Balfour If any group has become synonymous with popular music from Ireland, it’s Celtic Woman. Though named in the singular, this quartet has been commanding stages internationally for nearly last two decades. Once again, they are coming to the tri-state area on the … Continue reading
A Great and Emotional Loss in The Death of Singer Dolores O’Riordan by Brad Balfour The late singer Dolores Mary Eileen O’Riordan was the kind of rock ‘n’ roll babe that we all were inspired by: one who was sensitive and yet powerful, compelling and compassionate, sexy but not frail. In the song “Zombie,” … Continue reading
