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THE CELTIC CONNECTION • MAY 1992
Now I Know What He's All About
MUSIC
Photo by Tania Conley
LUKA BLOOM, A SHADOWY FIGURE LUNGES JOKINGLY
Just after emerging from a blue glow at Commodore Ballroom
By TANIA CONLEY
Prior to April 1,1 had only snippets of what the guy called Luka Bloom was all about. "His music is hard to describe, he's Christy Moore's younger brother and rather good-looking". (Yeah, OK, but can he play?).
When Publisher, Maura McCay asked me if I wanted to review him, I said "OK," I said, I'd like to see him." So, I'm at the Commodore, it's 10:45 PM, it's packed (obvious Luka Bloom fans and the regulars) and I'm awaiting his entrance. The house music has switched to a modern Celtic style, and then a shadowy figure emerges, walks over to the guitar, picks it up and begins to pace around the stage, tuning up.
There is no big intro but a step to the microphone (house music goes out in a quick two- second non-fade) and a modest "Give us a warm welcome". Lights come up to a blue glow, the still shadowy figures jumps right into the first chords of "Mary Watches Everything" (I find out later it's the first song on Acoustic Motorbike,his second release). When he finishes, it's a simple, tongue-in-cheek "thanks".
He continues his unique style, a blend of folk-rock and Celtic traditional, for over two hours. He moves around the stage as he plays, lunges at me jokingly while I'm photographing him just when he knows I'll be the most surprised and tells security to chill out when some
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people begin to dance. He wants everybody to have fun.
The guitar, whose name I did not catch when Luka introduced us to the band (his two guitars) seems to be a part of him, and with the lighting and everything combined, contributes to the image of his guitar and him being one. Reluctantly, he leaves after his third encore.
Now that I've been introduced to Luka Bloom's music, I've managed to scrape up some cash and buy Acoustic Motorbike, which seems to get better with every listen. I look forward to his next "gig" (wherever) as an informed listener.
The Stunning
A Galway group, The Stunning, have released their second album. Entitled "Once Around the World," it contains 12 new songs and is expected to go straight to the top of the album charts. —L.F.
'Four Men and a Dog' Enjoy Their Work
GALWAY — On its nightly traditional music program, Clare FM frequently plays music by a group calling itself "Four Men and a Dog." As I tend to listen to the music more than the talk, I don't know too much about the group. I believe they are from Newry but, whatever their origins, they certainly enjoy their music. Some of it would delight any company, while other tracks would not meet with the approval of the purists, being distinctly country and western. I can offer no indication of the role played by the dog. — Liam Ferrie
Altan a Big Hit
DUBLIN — Altan, the Donegal traditional group, has released a new CD. "Harvest Storm" is available on the Green Linnet label, which should make it readily available in the U.S. It is getting so many plays on the radio here that I assume it is also widely distributed at home.
— Liam Ferrie
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