Hunks and Harmony Invade the Benedum

Hunks and Harmony Invade the Benedum

by Good News Reporter, Joanne Quinn-Smith

The Celtic Thunder Show, MYTHOLOGY, follows the incredible success of Voyage and presents the perfect blend of entertainment, ideology and Gaelic spirituality, providing a modern twist on the old Celtic storytelling tradition.Timeless Celtic classics like Danny Boy and The Rocky Road to Dublin are part of what makes MYTHOLOGY a must-see. Modern ballads Scarlet Ribbons and Now We Are Free give the production a contemporary flair. MYTHOLOGY also features a wide variety of instruments in the eight-piece Celtic Thunder Band. 

What an ecclectic mix of insturments.  For the bulk of the show you should know that you need an affinity or appreciation for classic Irish music, the fiddle and the reel. 

The very look of this group belies description.  It is much more than five "beautiful men"  who sing like the seraphim and cherubim with one hulking hunk of manhood, George Donaldson who not fills up his portion of the stage but presents a boulder in a rock solid landscape and he is a lightning bolt of an entertainer.

 

George Donaldson is a self-taught and accomplished musician. George's love of Celtic music stems from his childhood in Glasgow, where his main influence was his late father Bernard, who had a love and appreciation of all kinds of live music played from the heart. In the Mythology show his solos are gripping and touchingly romantic.  He delivers the classic "The Grand Affaire" like a Hollywood matinee star.  And his love song "Scarlet Ribbons" left no hearts untouched.  But the real crowd pleaser was the Proclaimer's hit song, "Life with You."  Everytime he made an endaring gesture or sweep of those massive construction worker arms, the crowd roared.

Baritone  Emmet Cahill,  performs the inspirational love song "Always There," the haunting Irish ballad "Isle of Inisfree" and a uniquely beautiful version of the all-time favorite "Danny Boy."

Ryan Kelly's "Carrickfergus," is superb.  "Carrickfergus" is an Irish folk song , named after the town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.  He also brings new dimension to "House of the Rising Sun" and "Danny Boy."

Surfer looking Keith Harkin with his longish blonde hair is another crowd favorite.  What a powerful performance of "Now We are Free" (the theme from Gladiator.) We were also touched by his performance of "Lauren & I," a ballad he composed about his niece.

Named Top World Music Artist twice by industry bible Billboard, Celtic Thunder’s six male soloists perform both solo and ensemble numbers. They are known for performing an eclectic mix of songs, ranging from traditional Irish fare to international hits such as "The Boys are Back in Town" and "Still Haven't Found", as well as original compositions.

Mythology was characterized by Celtic Thunder's use of dramatic effects via lighting and choreography as well as a stage set resembling an ancient stone pathway like those from Celtic lore, with real Irish Instruments.

An interesting side note is the multi-generational family attendance in the audience from granddaughters to great grandmothers.  Also surprising are their repertoire of covers from, Garth Brooks, Billy Joel and even The Police.

Celtic Thunder at Benedum on October 6 was amazing. What talent! But I am sure for most of the ladies, the hi-light of the evening was when all the Celtic Thunder singers came out in kilts. From Celtic standards to Danny Boy and House of the Rising Sun, the performance was pure masterpiece.

Joanne Quinn-Smith, Award winning internet radio broadcaster, blogger, author and internet radio and TV network editor and publisher. Joanne is the owner and CEO, Creative Energy Officer, of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates, a successful Pittsburgh-based marketing company. She is a grandmother and great grandmother, an unlikely trendsetter for online journalism and broadcasting. Joanne is internationally known as the “Get Your Google On” Gal. But better known as Techno Granny™ to over one million accumulated online listeners worldwide. Joanne has created a revolutionary online NEW MEDIA platform in Internet broadcasting, blogging and other social media participation that represents the new second generation of World Wide Web interactions, known in technology circles as Web 2.0. JQS is the online publisher of PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com, an online community magazine to disseminate the Positive News for Positive Pittsburghers. PPL Mag is Pittsburgh’s First Internet radio and TV network with syndicated channels and online radio and TV capabilities.