Celtic Thunder is performing at the Sprint Center tonight here in K.C. Tickets are to be had here, if you're into this sort of thing.
Me? Not so much.
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Your Guide to the 17th Annual Kansas City Irish Fest at Crown Center. www.KCIrishFest.com
About Me
- Danny Regan
- Danny is a founder, past president, and creative director of the Kansas City Irish Fest. He lives in Kansas City, Missouri, the greatest city in America. He's authored Tir na Blog since 2006.
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24 comments:
I ACTUAKKY ENJOYED HEARTBREAKER, IT MADE IT ON TO MY ITUNES LIBRARY. WHAT ABOUT PUPPY LOVE, I BET ALLTHOSE ANONYMOUS WOMEN HAD TEARS IN THERE EYES.
Excuse me while I go kak.
Dreadful shite altogether.
Let me get this straight - folks in Kansas City go absolutely nuts for a second-rate cover band mimicking an Irishman singing rock and roll songs but seem to be averse to enjoying what is admittedly an expensive and popular Broadway revue with vaguely Celtic overtones?
While I absolutely agree that "Celtic Thunder" is no treatise on Irish or even Celtic culture, audiences in Kansas City have applauded far worse and called it "Irish."
Sincerely,
Pete Maher
Midwest Irish Focus
Nobody here but you, Pete, said anything about the relative "Irishness" or lack thereof of this show. I don't care if they're called Lithuanian Thunder. This kind of over the top, melodramatic, over-produced schmaltz isn't something I'd cross the street to see, let alone buy a ticket for. I wouldn't go see Celine Dion, but that doesn't mean I'm making a judgment about the authenticity of her French-Canadianness.
In spite of what some folks seem to think, everything Irish isn't necessarily good and everything good isn't necessarily Irish.
Huh?
" ... everything Irish isn't necessarily good and everything good isn't necessarily Irish."
I sure hope you're not on the Irish Fest Board of Directors.
Because, and please correct me if I'm wrong on this, isn't KCIF in the business of promoting Irish culture?
On that same note, when the spokesperson for the Kansas City Irish Fest gives such a limp, some might even say negative, endorsement to an arguably "Celtic" event, isn't it logical to get the impression it somehow doesn't measure up in some Irish context?
Or do you choose to rave about Raglan Road Irish Pub because you like fish and chips so much?
Sincerely,
Pete Maher
Midwest Irish Focus
My job here on the blog is to promote and inform interested readers about the Kansas City Irish Fest, our friends and partners...like Raglan Road, Boulevard Beer, our bands, etc. I have no obligation to love or promote Celtic Thunder just because it has the word "Celtic" in the title. I mentioned it here only because I happen to notice it was going on tonight.
I'm not at all sure what the big deal here is. If you like this kind of entertainment, go. If you don't, stay away. You'll be no less Irish...or no more for that matter, either way.
Irish Music per se comes in all forms. I can tell you that the word 'Celtic' was a marketing term created by 'new age' music labels to help sell the CD's they were producing. Since then it has stuck and now anything Irish, Scottish, Breton etc is considered Celtic music. While professionally done, Celtic Thunder is just another continuing effort in that marketing plan. I amn't interested but I don't begrudge their efforts to make a living.
DEMOCRACY, ISN'T IT GREAT! I LUV IT.
"My job here on the blog is to promote and inform interested readers about the Kansas City Irish Fest, our friends and partners ..."
As a "partner" who has promoted your festival relentlessly since before it even was the Kansas City Irish Fest, I'll have to keep that in mind the next time I decide to advertise an event for six months and then feature it as my cover story.
Because, if "If you like this kind of entertainment, go. If you don't, stay away" is your idea of helping me help my clients, please stop helping me.
Sincerely,
Pete Maher
Publisher & Editor
Midwest Irish Focus
Dan Regan, you are WRONG. I have a brother (a cattle rancher / breeder) named Dan Regan, and you need to go out to his 294 acre ranch with him and sing Irish ballads to his cows.
Once you hear these GENUINE CELTIC guys sing YOUR song (Danny Boy) acapella, or experience the explosion of the competing (and 'specially built for Celtic Thunder) and thunderous drumsets, each drum with its own mike, mixed in with a digital recording of genuine Celtic Thunder (recorded in IRELAND, of course), THEN you too will become a genuine THUNDERHEAD.
This show did not become NUMBER ONE in the WORLD (According to the Billboard World Music chart) for the past half year, through singing ballads in smoky American bars to drunk cowboys with Irish or Scottish heritage.
The Music Director of this show, Phil Coulter has over a hundred silver, gold, and platinum discs on his wall because he is obviously a better judge of Irish music than YOU are, with all due respect to you, Dan.
Since my name is Regan also, I won't accuse you of betraying your heritage. Let's just say that I regret your lack of musical taste.
Celtic Thunder synergistically combines the harmonies of GENUINE Celtic men with the glitz of a Las Vegas show, the glamor of a Broadway musical, the emotions of an Italian opera, the orchestration of a philharmonic symphony, and the acting of a Shakespearian play, then throws in GENUINE Gaelic lyrics, sung by genuine Celtic vocalists, will most lyrics written or orchestrated by a genuine Irishman.
I respectfully submit that you experience the real Celtic deal before you belittle this fine bunch of men (and one boy) who traveled 4000 miles to HERE to let us know what genuine Celtic music sounds like.
You can go to Belfast or Dublin and bring your guitar and play them some good old American cowboy songs and pretend you ride Trigger under the name Roy Rogers, but they won't buy it. While you are in Ireland see if the majority of Irishmen love wearing kilts while they strut around town playing bagpipes.
How many pub balladeers (whether in Dublin or Georgetown) draw tens of millions of fans to their "concerts" and TV specials? I respectfully submit there is a reason for the disparity. If you actually attend a Celtic Thunder performance, you will learn about REAL Celtic music, and I expect you will change your mind.
Sincerely,
Mark Regan
Cousin Mark, you're 100% right. I shouldn't call out this particular show because I haven't seen it. But in my defense, if you read what I said it was that it was "this sort of thing" I didn't like, not Celtic Thunder specifically. Meaning the big, slick, choreographed, over-produced extravaganza shows that Celtic Thunder (at least on the video I posted) appears to be. And my criticism of "that kind of thing" has NOTHING to do with a show's Irishness or Celticness. I'm not saying they're not talented singers. Clearly they are. Phil Coulter is a genius and a legend. There are great songs in their set list. I never said a negative one word about the music or talent in this show. It wasn't me that was going to "go kak." I'm not even sure what that means. I just like my entertainment a little looser, a little more spontaneous, a little more raw, a little smaller. More Gaelic Storm than Celtic Thunder. That's just me. As I said in my initial comment: "Me? Not so much." This is and was simply a comment about my personal distaste for big Vegas/Broadway style shows, Irish or not. I don't like them. You do. Pete really does. Wonderful. We all don't have to like the same thing just because it's Irish. We can still have a beer together at the Regan family reunion, Mark.
Having said all that Mark, I will gladly come sing Irish songs to your brother Dan's cows, if he doesn't mind the curdled milk that will result. Because I'd be willing to bet those cows are better singers than I am.
I don't think that "knights in white satin" is either Irish or Celtic even if you try to make it that way by having a pretty Irish girl floating through the stage.
Pete,
I am confused.....do you mean the Irish Fest when you say "advertise an event for six months and then feature it as my cover story."? Because if I recall, your review of Irish Fest this year was not front page, nor in color for that matter. It was a one page black and white photo montage made up of about 5 photos. And no, I am not on the board or on the staff for that matter, just a dedicated volunteer who is always eager to read about Irish Fest in your publication. I was baffled this year and past year for that matter by the lack of exposure you gave the biggest festival in your newspapers region. You did a multi part series on the new Gaelic Storm CD but barely covered Irish Fest. Seems kinda random to me. I am just baffled over the attack on Dan Regan about his personal opinion. He doesn't have to LOVE everything Irish and has the right to express that. Heck I don't even know him personally but I think your attack is a little unfair.
Sincerely,
Peggy McBride
Sounds like Pete just wants to be mad at you Uncle Bloggy. Tell him not to get his kilt all wadded up.
Anonymous, Pete's passionate about what he likes. Nothing wrong with that.
Mark, I just had a thought...beginner's luck, I know. Do you think we could teach one of your brother's cows to stand on hind legs and play the fiddle? Oh, and paint shamrocks on 'er?
I see my point has completely sailed over the heads of the sage intellects assembled here. I suggest you go back and read my comments. Then come back and tell me when it became a conversation about what a big "Celtic Thunder" fan I am.
Oh, and by the way, just because you punched the "anonymous" button doesn't mean you can't sign your name.
But maybe that's asking a bit too much as well.
Sincerely,
Pete Maher
Midwest Irish Focus
Irish_Focus@att.net
Dugger...I agree.
Mark Regan...Try this CD. This is the closest thing to true Irish music I've heard. http://www.irishmusicreview.com/mamm.htm
Phil Coulter sold out, as did Bill Whelan
Pete...You're shooting yourself in the foot with your comments. A quick retraction should be in order or you may lose a client.
You can't lose an anonymous client.
Maybe if you included your name I could take you seriously.
By the way, who I do business with does not dictate my point of view. It's my point of view that dictates who I do business with.
Sincerely,
Pete Maher
Midwest Irish Focus
I could be wrong here, Pete, but what I think the previous comment was saying is that you may be jeopardizing your relationship with KCIF over something that has been way blown out of proportion.
Blogs are a place for people to write what they think. Uncle Bloggy stated his opinion only. He was not speaking for anyone else, or trying to influence anyone else's opinion. No harm, no foul. OJ
CELTIC THUNDER HAS A NEW CD COMING OUT SOON.
For the record I did attend the Celtic Thunder Concert on Tuesday with my wife and two of my grandchildren (ages 8 & 10). The kids really enjoyed themselves. The wife enjoyed the show. I enjoyed my grandkids having a wonderful time. I attended Celtic Women and I must say that they were more pleasing to the eye for sure. My grandson's comment after the first song seemed to sum it up "That guy can really sing!" Yes they could. It was music. Irish music? Puppy Love? Not really but they are talented.
Also for the record to protect Pete from a run on his office for six months of free advertising. As Pete said " I'll have to keep that in mind the next time I decide to advertise an event for six months". Kansas City Irish Fest does pay for the ads in the Focus. Kansas City Irish Festival chooses to advertise in the Focus the same as it chooses to advertise in the Star, Pitch and various radio stations.
Ed Scanlon
President Kansas City Irish Fest
Ed,
Thanks you for your comments on the show as well as your mention of advertising relationships. Because I have enjoyed the advertising arrangement this newspaper has had with KCIF which I believe has always been mutually beneficial.
And thanks as well for taking the time to sign your name. It's always so much easier to converse when you know exactly who it is you are conversing with.
All the best,
Pete
Midwest Irish Focus
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