PEACE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
GREENVILLE, SC
SEPTEMBER 25, 2005
When I moved to northeast Tennessee, I was pretty sure I’d seen my last Irish Tenors Concert unless I happened to be in California or Detroit at just the right moment. Imagine my surprise when I found the concert date for Greenville, SC and then discovered that it was less than three hours away! It takes almost that long to go from my former home in Ann Arbor across metro Detroit to the Freedom Hill venue. No problem!
On our way back from Texas this spring, I introduced my friend, Sandy, to the “boyos” but it didn’t quite take. She liked them – they were OK, especially some of John’s songs. She even bought a couple of his albums. After the concert in Greenville, she was a complete goner on all three.
They were all in great voice and great good humor. It was obvious they were having a good time and as a result, so was the audience. Their choice of songs was just the right mix of traditional Irish music and favorites for those of us who are long-time Tenor fans. The selections from the new CD, “Sacred”, were way past excellent. The songs were obviously chosen with care and each of the solos truly showcased the individual strengths. Collectively, they were heart-stopping, especially “My Forever Friend”. I’ve loved “Lord of the Dance” since the first time I heard it and their interpretation of it beats anybody else’s. Singing the second verse as a round is particularly engaging. Other singers might sing “The Old Man”, but John absolutely owns it. Nobody does it better.
The relatively small orchestra was actually a bonus because it supported the singing rather than competed with it. Arnie Roth does a terrific job of getting the very best out of a group of local musicians. It was obvious that they were well-prepared for the concert and certainly did themselves proud.
I’ve seen the Tenors at least once a year since my first concert in 2001 and I have never seen Finbar so relaxed as he is with John and Anthony. He wears that confident relaxation well. On Sunday, if John and Anthony had been school boys, they would have been serving detention for weeks! John is clearly the instigator but Anthony seems to have no trouble following him down the path of mischief. What fun!!!
Now, I’m off to find other possibilities within driving distance of east Tennessee or northern Virginia – all for the formerly doubting Sandy. Well, a little bit for me, too.
Judy Carroll
Jonesborough, TN