Téada
Concert Review by Carin Lyons
March madness kicked off with a little March tradfest thanks to the first rate performance of the Irish group Téada at the University of Portland last weekend. Founded in 2001 by All Ireland Champion fiddler Osian MacDairmada, Téada wasted no time in showing the audience why it was awarded the Best Young Irish Traditional Act for the 2009 inaugural Ireland’s Music Awards. One can only imagine what the sessions were like after that party!
Traditional is the key word here – this is a group of young men with an abiding and educated appreciation for the musicians and historians who laid the regional musical foundations upon which their very popularity is based. Drawing from such rich influences as Sligo fiddlers Michael Coleman, James Morrison and contemporary musicians Paddy O’Brien and Charlie Lennon to name just a few, Téada payed proper homage to tradition with skillfully nuanced performances. MacDairmada’s finesse with the fiddle was underscored with a lovely solo piece midway through the concert but on the whole this was a collective showcase where the talents of Paul Finn on button accordion, Daniel Stenson on flute (left handed at that), Sean McElwain on guitar and Tristan Rosenstock on bodhran all contributed to the creation of a rich and lively sound.
Highlights of the evening included the tunes Miss Cassidy’s, Sally Gally, Granuiaile Barndance, and a spirited set consisting of Poitín March, Devlin’s and Basket of Oysters, all of which are featured on their most recent CD release Ceol & Cuihmne (Music and Memory). Bodhran player Tristan Rosenstock provided much of the descriptive commentary for the group during the evening, in English and Irish (Go raibh maith agat!), and in true Irish fashion charmed the audience with equal parts humor and humility on stage.
Adding a nice touch of Northwest based talent throughout the evening was the performance by members of the Molly Malone Irish Dancers courtesy of the Portland, Oregon Yeates Academy of Irish Dance. The band graciously shared the stage and provided first class musical accompaniment for the girls to show off their championship footwork much to the delight of the audience.
In an age where accessibility and fusion easily breeds homogeneity, it is refreshing and quite a privilege to hear a young group of musicians who not only embrace the traditional regional style of Irish music but excel in the heartfelt delivery of that unique heritage to their audience.
Is maith an tuar é don am atá le teacht.
Live video of the show on the 67 Music Youtube site!
