By Tara Lynn Johnson
Correspondent
It’s a rollicking politicking party when Black 47’s in the house. The Celtic
rock band brings its rambunctious melodies and thoughtful lyrics to the 23 East
in Ardmore Oct. 8. The show is part of the 23 East Friday Night Concerts series
that began last week (the venue aims to celebrate the historic venue’s roots
while continuing the legacy of introducing new and upcoming acts to all
generations of music fans).
Black 47 isn’t new to music, but may be new
to some audiences. In 20 years, the group has released 13 albums on major and
indie labels. Its provocative album “Iraq” was hailed by Rolling Stone as “an
important document, more a prayer than a protest.” Its 14th and latest release
is “Bankers and Gangsters.” The band melds rock, reggae, hip-hop, folk, Irish
traditional, jazz and blues with politics, commentary and storytelling, covering
topics from the Northern Ireland conflict to civil rights and urban unrest in
contemporary New York and more.
The “Iraq” album was serious, and though
their latest has deep roots, it’s more fun.
“This time it was more about
creating a balance between the joyous and the thoughtful,” said founder Larry
Kirwan.
The song “Bankers & Gangsters” laments the current economic
situation: “Bankers and gangsters, soldiers and dancers, all locked together in
default harmony, with the financial chancers, and all manner of high rolling
romancers livin’ out this American tragedy.”
And in “The Islands,” Kirwan
talks of loss and things left behind: “I am a tourist in my hometown, an
acquaintance once a friend, since I turned my back on you and the
islands.”
“Without even knowing it, you take people for granted and feel
they’ll always be there,” he said, “and then one day they’re not and you come
face to face with the worst three words in the world — ‘it’s too late.’ And, of
course, it is.”
Even with the heavy topics and lyrics, there are melodic
and uplifting sounds to make people want to move. That’s the band’s Celtic sSoul
colliding with rock ’n’ rRoll, said lead singer/guitarist Kirwan, who’s
originally from Ireland.
The band, named for the worst year of the Irish
potato famine, also features Geoff Blythe (saxophones) from the U.K., Fred
Parcells (trombone and pennywhistle) from Detroit, Thomas Hamlin
(drums/percussion) from Queens, Joseph Mulvanerty (uilleann pipes and various
flutes) from the Bronx, and Joe “Bearclaw” Burcaw (bass) from
Connecticut.
When they formed, they wanted to play music with an edge.
They wanted “specifically to take a body of songs that might reference history,
politics, human rights, real life and put soul and excitement into those
topics,” Kirwan said.
And though the songs can focus on political and
other possibly controversial topics, Kirwan wants people to enjoy it. If the
band can get them to think about some things, too, that’s a bonus.
“I
can’t say I really want people to get anything out of the music except to enjoy
it and perhaps to think a little,” he said. “In a culture that prides itself on
dumbing down, the latter aspiration is almost subversive and
revolutionary.”
In addition to being a musician, Kirwan most recently
published the book “Rockin’ the Bronx,” an immigrant tough-love story set in
1980-1982, around the time of the deaths of John Lennon and Bobby Sands. He has
written 11 plays and musicals, and his novel, “Liverpool Fantasy,” an alternate
history of the Beatles, received critical acclaim and has been translated into
Spanish, Greek and Japanese.
His memoir, “Green Suede Shoes,” was
published in the U.S. and U.K. He has recorded two solo albums, “Kilroy Was
Here” and “Keltic Kids.” He also hosts “Celtic Crush” for SiriusXM Satellite
Radio, and writes a weekly column for the nationally distributed Irish Echo
newspaper.
He’s forever on the lookout for the next
experience.
“I’m always excited about the next word, note, thought,
drink,” he said.
Anyone who’s seen the band before won’t see the same
show again. They’ve never repeated a set in the more than 2,200 gigs they’ve
played. When in Ardmore, anything’s possible.
“We hope to bring some
excitement, joy and value for money,” Kirwan said. “Hopefully, everyone will
leave with a smile on their faces and hopefully a new thought in their
heads.”
Black 47 will perform at 23 East, 23 E. Lancaster
Ave., Ardmore, PA 19003, Friday, Oct. 8, 9 p.m. Tickets:
$15 in advance, $18 at the door. For ages 21 and
older.
Info: 866-468-7619 or
http://www.ticketweb.com/.