Best Irish Trad in the world
by fiddlerk on 3/15/10Southern Theatre - ColumbusAltan has always taken Irish Traditional music - and especially Donegal tunes - to new heights, while retaining it's authenticity. This concert was no exception. The small-to-medium sized venue worked perfectly for their straightforward presentation: Just five musicians onstage in front of a simple lighted backdrop. No lasers, no smoke, no overproduction, just "the pure drop." Wonderful! Actually, the evening began with only four of the five on stage. Ciaran Curran's bouzouki had not arrived at the airport in time, along with Daithai Sproule's guitar and much of the band's equipment! Ciaran's seat was empty for most of the first half, until a bouzouki could be borrowed! (Guitars are easier to find.) Fortunately, at half time the genuine articles arrived, and all five were at home on familiar instruments. But for the empty seat, you'd never know there was a problem. As Mairead said, when they started their career, the crisis would have stressed them terribly; but after 25 years, they take everything in stride. Nothing kept them from amazing the crowd with ripping high-energy reels and jigs, alternating with Mairead's sweet soprano. By the end, all the audience members were on their feet, clapping and stomping, perfectly in tune with the band.