Celtic Thunder - Legacy Volume One
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Filmed in 2015 at Casino Rama about 100-miles outside of Toronto, Ontario, this film presents Celtic Thunder's latest stage show, "Legacy." The show opens with the rousing "Heartland," a composition that features the entire 16-person ensemble (six singers and 10 musicians) but it doesn't take the show long to hit an emotional note as singer Emmett O'Hanlon follows with a solo rendition of traditional folk song "Danny Boy." "The Galway Girl" has a title that indicates that it too might be a tune from way back but it actually was written by Americana artist Steve Earle and Celtic Thunder perform it here with a bit of hillbilly zeal, demonstrating that American hill music is in fact derived from Celtic music. Solo vocal turns are taken by each of the six singers; Keith Harkin is the only group member to get two solos, performing "The Dutchman" and the understated "Mountains of Mourne," a cut written by band keyboards player David Munro and which Harkin explains is the first song he ever performed with Celtic Thunder. A show highlight comes about mid-concert as the singers arrive on stage one at a time to take a verse each of the lively "Raggle Taggle Gypsy," only to give way to a stunning (and humorous) three-way percussion battle where pipes player John O'Brien shines on the bodhran (Irish drum.) A good mix of raucous and reflective songs, the 15-song performance ends with the quiet instrumental "Cal/Local Hero" followed by set closer "Ireland's Call," a patriotic song so sneakily catchy that you can count on it being a delightful earworm for at least a few hours after your viewing ends. "Legacy" is also available in CD form with a slightly different track listing.
Celtic Thunder - Legacy Volume One
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