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Black 47

Live In Chicago, 2002

Review by Gary Hill

Black 47 are without a doubt one of the coolest Celtically oriented rock bands on the face of the planet. The elements that make them so are a great sense of humor and irony, influences that reach far from the areas of Celtic music and a wonderful sense of fun. When you put those together in the musical stew that is Black 47, they become an obvious choice for a St. Patrick's day excursion. The band certainly did not disappoint, bringing their mix of Celtic music, blue collar rock, reggae and even hip hop textures to life on stage for this Chicago audience.

All members of the band showed themselves to be considerably strong musicians, and the overall energy of the show was one of fun and vitality. It would have been very hard to stand still or not enjoy this one.


Gary Hill
 
Gary Hill
   
The choice of material spanned their career and various styles. Some of the more poignant pieces were tracks from their Fire of Freedom album, but the slightly more somber mood of the lyrics to some of that material did not pervail. Instead, this was a show of celebration. It focused on getting out, getting up and having fun. It sure seemed like everyone in attendance did just that. There were a few guest appearances, too. Several young girls dressed in traditional Irish gear made their way onto the stage to dance with the band as did several beauty contest contestants.

Gary Hill
 
Gary Hill
   
In the way of final words, let me say that if you enjoy a good rocking show, and music with fun lyrics, a good sense of humor and Celtic leanings, do yourself a favor and see this band any chance you can. They delivered up a great time on March 15th, 2002, and you can count on similar results in your home town.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2002 Year Book Volume 3 at  garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2001-and-2002.

Eric Meli
     
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