It was hard not to notice all the traffic pouring into the Choate campus on Saturday, April 12, as upwards of five hundred people flocked to the PMAC to watch one of the best shows featured at the Arts Center.
Gaelic Storm, an Irish music group that started in 1994 and started touring in 1998, is composed of five members, each of whom has been a member of the band for a different amount of time—ranging from several months to over fifteen years. In the band as it played at Choate, Steve Twigger played the bouzouki, guitar, and some vocals. Jessie Burns played the violin. Ryan Lacey played three different African hand drums along with two cymbals. Patrick Murphy was in charge of the accordion, harmonica, and most of the vocals. Pete Purvis took the all-important role of playing the Highland, Uilleann, and Degar bagpipes as well as the tin whistle. All of the members obviously love what they do, as was clearly evident in the way they interacted with the music and the audience. Their soundman, Pete Wildermuth, confirmed the group’s love of music, saying, “[What they do] doesn’t feel like work.” Evidently, their love for Irish music is contagious, for Gaelic Storm, although unknown to many high school students, was #2 on the Billboard World Chart for their sixth and most recent album Bring Yer Wellies.
At the very beginning of the show, a girl who looked to be about five or six years old got up on stage. To everyone’s surprise, the girl suddenly began Irish Step dancing. Although perhaps the most impressive, she was not the last of the Irish step dancers. Not even the audience could stay in their seats, and participation was far from lacking. The show was full of energy and involved the entire crowd. Mr. George Hall, Choate’s resident Sound Designer, says that he has seen more than three of Gaelic Storm’s shows in the PMAC and that “this was the best show they’ve done [here] so far.” The pit on the stage was lowered so that any who just couldn’t stay in their seats could go out and dance. More than a few hoofers were out there by the end, all evidently having a good time.
After the show, all five performers were available for autographs, and merchandise was available as well. Most of the crowd was not from Choate, but the reaction to the show was the same from all. “I love it—my hands are raw,” exclaimed one man from the audience. “Great concert.” Indeed, Gaelic Storm is a band with a large following. One man referred to himself as “a stormchaser” and says he has seen them more than ten times and in six different states.
Gaelic Storm’s seventh CD will be released this coming July.
Gaelic Storm returns to Choate for another successful performance. PHOTO/Alex Hanini ’10
