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| Johnny Fean |
I heard on the grapevine that Horslips guitar legend Johnny Fean has a regular gig in Shannon and and although Monday night in Clare might not seem the most likely time and place for a lively blues gig, we enjoyed a terrific night at the Rineanna Bar at ShannonKnights with a six piece! band no less. Fronted by Stoney Walls on vocals and sax and featuring ex Horslips guitarist Fean .
The engine of the band are bass player Mike Quinn and drummer, Darragh O Connor who sustain the driving rhythms throughout the course of the set. Johnny is supported by Limerick based guitarist Dave Keary already mentioned on these pages and a youthful Cathal Jones adds keyboard skills and occasional vocals to the mix.
The Rineanna Bar has a pleasant clubby sort of decor with dark wood panelling ands leather seats. The flocked wallpaper lends a retro tone which chimes nicely with the music vibe The lighting is restfully subdued and there is a sense of many old friends meeting and greeting after some time. The audience are mostly mid forties to fifties and there for the gig which I believe has been running with this line up for six months or so on first Monday of the month at this venue.
The set, mixing old blues standards with Van Morrison and sixties rock hits incorporates each instrumentalist in generous solo interludes . There is an homage to the late Gary Moore and I am struck by what a good decade the 70s were for Irish guitar players. What makes the gig so enjoyable is the obvious pleasure each band member takes in the the music making, Fean himself seems to be transported during his solo turns and there is an easy rapport with the audience, several of whom are greeted from the stage .
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| Stoney Walls |
Although it is early in the year yet, I suspect that this evening will be a strong contender for my Musical Highlights of 2011.
You can see Johnny and the House Shakers Blues Band on the first Monday of the month at Shannon Knights .
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