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 Paddy
Glackin and Paddy Keenan have a lot in common (besides the name!)
- both grew up in Dublin City; Paddy Glackin on the North side of
the Liffey, in Clontarf and Paddy Keenan on the South side, in Ballyfermot.
They were each strongly influenced by their fathers, both of whom
play the same instruments as their sons - John Keenan the uilleann
pipes and Tom Glackin the fiddle. They first played together in
a band call 'Seachtar'. Paddy Glackin left the band when they decided
to turn professional and rename as 'The Bothy Band' he did however
reunite with Paddy Keenan to record the classic album 'Doublin'.
"1979 was the year when Doublin' first unleashed itself
on a world of traditional music still recovering from the demise
of The Bothy Band. The fact that here was a past and original member
of the smae band making their own duet album didn't escape the audiences.
Now both parties are established in their own right and Doublin'
makes its way to CD, a wild and powerful collection of fiddle and
pipes duets, solos and occasional guest slot from Donal Lunny and
Noel Kenny adding spice and variety. The Mountain Road and
The Boyne Hunt almost take off such is their ferocity while
The Plains of Boyle and Castkekelly add athoughtful
side. Paddy Glackin's handling of Jenny's Welcome To Charlie
with Lunny's forceful blarge accompaniment takes no prisoners while
Paddy Keenan's solo on Roisin Dubh literally kills. Doublin'
is raw, wild, tasteful and marvellous all ar once."
Buy CD online
"I have a tape, jealously guarded, of one
of the first gigs the Bothy Band ever played. Electirifying stuff
it is; a major revelation when I first heard it, not least for the
astonishing compatibility and explosion between the fiddle player
and The piper.
It was short-lived. The fiddle player left before the Bothy Band
ever recorded or played outside Ireland; and he remained incomparitive
obscurity while the piper went on to fame, if not fortune. But the
recent lull in Bothy Band activity has allowed the amazing Paddy
Keenan to indulge once more in the crack of his fancy; and an immediate
priority has been for him to resume (on an occasional basis) his
partnership with Paddy Glackin.
Undoubtedly, both players are not just the finest, but the most
exciting young musicians in Ireland.
Hearinfg Keenan playing hear you get some measure of the discipline
that working in a band context has imposed on him; without any restrictions
he really lets rip on his two solos, The Bunch of Keys and Roisin
Dubh. And Glackin's playing is gloriously sympathetic, though he
too shows he can be equally dramatic when the time is right.
Such is the fervour stirred between them that it transends the normal
limitations in appeal of instrumental albums, and the tasteful occasional
additions of Donal Lunny and Noel Kenny support them without distracting.
It grips you from the first note of The Mountain Road and remains
epic throughout."
Melody Maker
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