May 11th, was Black 47's last show at Connolly's before embarking on a national summer tour. Connolly's is about as crowded as it usually is on Saturdays; I see some faces from previous shows as well as some newcomers to the scene. My friend and I immediately rush to the front to get a good view of the performance.
You can find Black 47 most Saturday nights in the back of Connolly's Pub on 45th street in New York City. A short redheaded man strums his guitar and sings, his voice reverberating throughout the entire room. Several men are behind him, playing different instruments - some familiar and some alien to an average rock concert.
The name Black 47 was chosen to mark the year 1847, the darkest year of the Irish Famine. From 1845 to 1849, England forced a brutal famine on the people of Ireland. More than half the population died or fled to the United States and Canada.
The band consists of five men of varying age. They started playing around midnight to a crowd of both regulars and newcomers, young and old. Larry Kierwan, the founding member and backbone of the band, plays lead guitar and vocals. Behind him is Geoffrey Blythe on saxophone, Andrew Goodsight on bass, Thomas Hamlin on drums, Fred Parcells on trombone, and Joseph Mulvanerty, the band's newest addition, on the pipes. Their style is described as a combination of rock, folk, reggae, and traditional Irish music, consisting mostly of songs written by Kierwan.
I saw my first show last St. Patrick's Day when they recorded a live performance at the Knitting Factory, a club in downtown New York. I've seen them many times since. One thing that has always amazed me about this group is their multigenerational appeal. For a band that was founded nearly twenty years ago, it is incredible to see such a following of young people, and those who have been fans since day one. Black 47 has deep roots in Marxism, and their understanding of politics and music appeal to a wide variety of fans. From advocating Irish Independence to the just struggle of the Zapatistas in Mexico, Black 47 is a band whose politics are in the right place.
Tonight, they're playing their own rendition of Three Little Birds, a standard Bob Marley song, fused with their Irish style. After a few more songs, Larry stops to introduce their next piece by providing a brief history of James Connolly, a socialist, and the hero of Irish Independence. Connolly is also the namesake of one of Black 47's most well known songs.
After a narrative on the Irish great, the band performs the song, which is perhaps their most popular, dramatic, and touching piece. It tells the tale of Connolly's struggle for workers rights, which ultimately led to his death, his definitive sacrifice for this most important cause. During the moving song, Kirerwan pauses and raises his fist high in the air in homage to the slain leader. A chilling silence crosses the room as the audience follows suit. A few moments later, the song resumes, yet the spirit of James Connolly seems to linger in the air.
The show continues to rock out with several more Black 47 classics including Vinegar Hill, Fire of Freedom, Red Hugh O'Donnell and Funky Ceili. The show finally finishes, after an hour and a half set, with my personal request, Czechoslovakia. The show proved to be a memorable one, as always.
It would be great if we could get a touring schedule.
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Julia. (Black47)
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