Just wondering who you people consider the finest Trad band, my options would be - The Bothy Band, The Cheiftains, Dervish and Back in the day - Solas, before they lost the plot from a traditional point.
All said and done the Bothies do it for me -- sorry Mr Maloney!
Disclaimer,
This is purely opinion, I don't like comparing musicianship from one to another, its a matter of taste.
Think I've gone off bands entirely now - liked them in the old days of Planxty and Bothy band, but I'm so over it. I really prefer solo or duo these days.
I'm not off them completely but I'm inclined to agree with Kris and Goosey. However, many "solo" albums and/or performers will often have backing musicians too. So, it's not always strictly solo.
Anyway, to answer your question. The Bothy Band... historically.
Well, im only 25 and haven't turned into an old curmudgeon yet, and so still like bands and what not.
And i have to agree with our Kess, the bothy band just do it for me. They have that cool rock n roll vibe, but yet with '5th beatle' paddy keenan, the O/Ni Dhomhaills et al, they still held steadfastly to the tradition.
Would love to see them reunite like planxty.
In modern times, i like the world new agey style of kila
Speaking of bands I really like Danu for their tremendous energy and ease of playing, but De Danann is my earliest inspiration which I am really fond of and recognise them everywhere.
However, a true fest for my ears are nearly-solo ventures of Matt Molloy, especially the ones on "Shadows on Stone". This album is something really close and personal to me, something more than just lovely music.
Planxty was my first exposure to trad music and still my fav. Girlfriend at the time played me tape of the first album, and we learnt to play a few of the sets and songs together.
There have been some great bands for sure, and my top currnet choices are Danu and Bohola, but I like nothing better than when you team up some great musicians who don't ordinarily play together as a band, throw them together and let the tunes fly unplanned, un-rehearsed, the real thing.... seen some pretty powerful music happen that way.... up in E.Durham in July you see a lot of that take your breath away music at the evening sessions. Nothing like it, you all ought to go!!!
My favorite band right now is probably Teada. I'm anxiously waiting for their new CD release. However, I just got a copy of the new CD from The Doon Ceili Band, "around the world for sport" and it's awesome tight! Great work Jode!
I'm with Gooso and Kris, bands don't really do it for me, no matter if they're old or contemporary...... BUT i've a weakness for early Clannad, say the first 4 albums...
Anyone else?
Yes, Diamondo. "Clannad 2" and "Crann Ull" by Clannad were arguably one of the first albums available in Poland, that gave us a gist of how the Irish music and language sounds.
I'm still very fond of it, as it reminds me my "early days" of ITM fascination, around 14 years ago. Those were the days when you couldn't get anything close to traditional, but well... these times were like this, you couldn't get much of anything then.
Sadly, we still don't get most of the best ITM performers in music shops even now. God bless e-shops and low cost airlines ;)
Yea Coolfin were amazing....pity they only did one album though. I like Dervish alot . From the 70's Sweeney's men, Planxty and The bothy band. 80's/90's Deiseal, Tamalin,Cian,Danu... Personally i am not a big fan of the relatively new bands as I think they are missing that nice arrangement that compliments melody with backing and backing with melody (If that makes since?)
I love four men and a dog...purely because there is loads of banjo.
The only one of those I would consider "real" trad would be Teada. Although, I actually have more solo stuff, but am not by any means and old curmudgeon.
I'm big on Danu, Teada, Dervish. I also love Great Big Sea, partly because they believe in singing in harmony. And, unlike, it would seem, 99% of The Session, I love Solas before, during and after their transition from trad. Anyone who thinks they suck now has never heard them play Gossip's or the Wiggly Jigs or the Bird in the Tree set.
- Lunasa.
- Flook!
- Moving Cloud.
- Teada.
- At first light.
- Danu
- Trouble in the Kitchen (home grown heroes!!!)
- Beoga (one of the more inventive and original sounds i've come accross in the trad scene)
- Sharon Shannon's recent outings with Dezi Donnely/Frankie Gavin, Mike McGoldrick and Jim Murray.
- Tulca Mor (another great Aussie offering!)
beoga is also far from trad, y'all, as are about 3/4 of the citations here, imho. it always cracks me up how people foam at the mouth over the un-trad-ness of bands like pogues and flogging molly, who never even claimed to be trad, yet consider fusion-kitsch stuff like flook to qualify as trad. not referring to this forum, but i do find it hilarious.
hmmmm. let's see, favorite "trad" bands.....ok, charlie piggott-era de dannan. lonely stranded band. chulrua. actually...i guess i'm not much into bands either, when it comes to trad. oh, yeah....tulla ceili Band....
Jode.... I am enjoying the Doon Ceili Band CD in my car and have already given my first copy to a music partner friend and went and got another. I will give that one to our IAANJ center for when they dance without a live band. Looks like I will have to go get yet another!
Good old fashioned straight up trad music, I love it! Everyone who wants to hear the real thing should buy this! Its real pure heartedness and lack of glitz and gimmicks is what sold me! Along with great musicianship of course.
Ceemonster & Mark, strictly speaking guitar and zouk aren't traditional irish instruments at all, so i guess De Dannan are out, as are some of your projects Mark!! Or we might have to be reevaluate the definition of trad. I'm not actually arguing the case for Flook as trad, by the way,(they seem to occupy kind of a grey area on the fringes of trad), but where exactly do we draw the line of "trad-ness", how accurate are we being? Would be interested to know from anyone who's mentioned the validity of bands claiming to be trad, but could it be in a non-flaming-me kinda way
And yes, I play guitar and double bass, but I just thought I'd ask!!
Hi Iris! Thanks for the compliments and spreading the news. Hopefully we'll get into a few festivals and get to travel around and meet people. Have a few tunes. As far as the release party, Jack already posted the details (thanks again Jack):
Andy,
I was just pointing out that pseudo-jazz isn't trad. By your strict definition, you're right. Many of my projects don't qualify either as we've had a guitar player. I've even been known to play synthesizer on a few tunes. That being said, the tunes themselves and the settings in which they were presented were indeed trad. The backing may not have been. Going off on improvisational tangents and playing harmonies is not. That was my only point.
Hi Iris. We did record in a nice studio, located in the old office buildings of a defunct brewery. All the tune players were in the same room, individually mic-ed, no booths or barriers. The piano was in another room so that we could control the relative volume. No plan to be in E.Durham this year, but there was talk of possible going next year.
De Dannan (esp'lly when Mairtin O'Connor was with them) knocks all those others out of the water in my opinion. Unlike other bands, these guys were built the opposite way from most ie. a good part of the drive and rhythm came from the melody section with more laid back counter-melodic lines coming from the accompaniment (Alec Finn and the style he came up with STILL beats all hell out of playing more rhythmic chords on a bouzouki...play a frigging guitar if you're going to do that!). I can't think of any other band that is set up this way...well Teada to a certain extent but not completely-and of the "modern" bands, they're my fav's.
It's great because you can CLEARLY hear everything that Frankie and whoever the box player is are doing with variations on the tune etc. and nobody can touch Frankie Gavin when it comes to getting the most out of his instrument, whether it's flowing melodic stuff or more percussive things with the bow. With a heavier rhythm section, you can't hear half of that stuff so you can listen to De Dannan countless times and hear things you didn't notice the last time. I can't say the same thing about most of the others.
I didn't like the Gavin/Shannon/McGoldrick album 'cause of all the bass and stuff in the background. The whole thing seemed overproduced...did they have to wait till the LAST track on the album to sparse it down to just the guitar in the back?!!!! Again, Frankie does so much with the melody that to have that much going on behind him is a total waste imo. That's why him and Finn were so good.
The only real flaw De Dannan had was that the songs weren't that great (except when Dolores Keane was with them). But the tunes were so good that you hardly noticed anyway.
And I like Danu and Dervish as well (great bouzouki players in those bands) but again, having a guitar playing along as well kills it for me-one or the other is the way to go imho. This is why I wouldn't put those bands or anyone else in De Dannan's league. It's just a shame that they broke up before I got a chance to see them live
Bothy wins in my book - 25 years later & they still kick-ass.
Early Clannad, Altan, Cherish the Ladies, Chieftains without question....... and I love Capercaillie from Scotland- jazzy keyboard and all. Anyone out there ever hear an album called Mouth Music from say, 15 years back?
Must agree with dtb here. De Dannan were for me the finest 'Irish Trad' outfit to ever grace a stage.
I was very fortunate to see all their line-ups live, & buying those concert tickets was the best money I ever spent on live trad.
My favourite concert by far was on the transition tour, which I saw in Dundee, which had the fab four - Frankie, Alec, Charlie & Ringo - plus Johnny Moynihan & Tim Lyons (on vocals & Melodeon).
I think that was in '77 or '78.
[ No doubt Kenny can correct me on the date! ]
Often imitated, NEVER equalled, the original and the best. The Bothy Band, no contest. Most of the other bands mentioned here have borrowed heavily from the Bothy Band and yet still don't get it.
The Bothy Band is the ONLY traditional act that I have BOUGHT all albums of.
I would love to be able to say that one of the modern crop has done better, but they haven't. Those that come close would include Lunasa, Solas and Dervish. But there are probably lots of bands around that I haven't heard, so who know?
PS For some reason I don't consider Planxty to be a "trad" band. And the Bothy Band is still the best.
Ptarmigan you are one lucky bastard!...pangs of jealousy kicking in as I write this Do you or does anyone else have any idea as to why on earth they decided to call it quits? This issue was especially perplexing for me since everything that Frankie's put out since, particularly that album with Shannon and McG., doesn't hold a candle to anything he did before with DD. As far as my fav. DD lineup...definitely the one with Frankie and Mairtin O'Connor but they were all great (once you programmed most of the damn songs out on your CD player )
And as for the Bothy Band, yeah I'd put them 2nd. As lysaghtm says they're often imitated...can't even count how many times I've heard ppl in sessions play set lists straight off their albums (this is both good and bad but more often bad from my exp).
but simply, on 'trad bands' the Bothy tops my list _followed by De Dannan, Planxty (certain bits), early Clannad, Sweeney's Men, and with original ''main-streaming'' drive, Flook
on global awareness, The Chieftions _but not my cup of tea . . .
I have to admit, I'm a great fan of mixing different music together, and so the bands that I truly enjoy are not what you'd call a trad band.
I love the Chieftains, of course, and the Bothy Band, but also enjoy Lunasa, Kila, Peatbog Faeries, Martyn Bennett, Enter the Haggis, and I love what Sinead O'Connor did on Sean-Nos Nua (I'm aware that's libel to have me hung drawn and quartered.)
The Bothy Band has not been bettered in Irish instrumental bands. They sorted the whole instrumental thing out: great sets of tunes; great accompaniment; unbelievably close playing at speed; great arrangements. The argument that has not come up is the Tommy Peoples v Kevin Burke one. Was the BB better with Peoples or with Burke ? I think it was better than all the rest with either of these fiddle players in the line up, but Peoples is very sparky. BUT I'd like to put in a plug for the Boys of the Lough, especially in their 4-piece line up when Titch Richardson was alive and playing guitar. Very direct, very musical, and a very wide variety of music. No other band was playing music from Shetland, Ireland, Northumberland and Scotland. They produced some beautiful music.
A bit more in the Scottish element; but Silly Wizard and the Cunninghams' later incarnation in Relativity match any of these. Fantastic wit and irreverance don't cover up the fact that chop for chop, the musicianship in both the groups matches or beats any of the groups above; and at their best there is no one that could touch the combination of inspiration, flair and sheer technique of both. Astounding stuff. And Johnny's sense of harmony and musicality played a very significant role in producing Solas, which is cited above, though he is not...
Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Just wondering who you people consider the finest Trad band, my options would be - The Bothy Band, The Cheiftains, Dervish and Back in the day - Solas, before they lost the plot from a traditional point.
All said and done the Bothies do it for me -- sorry Mr Maloney!
Disclaimer,
This is purely opinion, I don't like comparing musicianship from one to another, its a matter of taste.
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by Kess
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
I've never heard of Back In The Day. How many recordings did they release?
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by Dow
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Think I've gone off bands entirely now - liked them in the old days of Planxty and Bothy band, but I'm so over it. I really prefer solo or duo these days.
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by kris
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Im wit kris
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by Hugo Chavez
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
I'm not off them completely but I'm inclined to agree with Kris and Goosey. However, many "solo" albums and/or performers will often have backing musicians too. So, it's not always strictly solo.
Anyway, to answer your question. The Bothy Band... historically.
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by Johannes J
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Well, im only 25 and haven't turned into an old curmudgeon yet, and so still like bands and what not.
And i have to agree with our Kess, the bothy band just do it for me. They have that cool rock n roll vibe, but yet with '5th beatle' paddy keenan, the O/Ni Dhomhaills et al, they still held steadfastly to the tradition.
Would love to see them reunite like planxty.
In modern times, i like the world new agey style of kila
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by copo24
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Speaking of bands I really like Danu for their tremendous energy and ease of playing, but De Danann is my earliest inspiration which I am really fond of and recognise them everywhere.
However, a true fest for my ears are nearly-solo ventures of Matt Molloy, especially the ones on "Shadows on Stone". This album is something really close and personal to me, something more than just lovely music.
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by Barfly
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Sorry, "feast" of course
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by Barfly
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Pre- my time - Planxty
Present day - Dervish
That's my two cents.
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by jfiddlerh
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Bothy Band but 'Dochas' and 'The Vatersay Boys' for a modern take on trad
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by domnull
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Planxty was my first exposure to trad music and still my fav. Girlfriend at the time played me tape of the first album, and we learnt to play a few of the sets and songs together.
Lunasa are current fav's
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by stripthewillow
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
There have been some great bands for sure, and my top currnet choices are Danu and Bohola, but I like nothing better than when you team up some great musicians who don't ordinarily play together as a band, throw them together and let the tunes fly unplanned, un-rehearsed, the real thing.... seen some pretty powerful music happen that way.... up in E.Durham in July you see a lot of that take your breath away music at the evening sessions. Nothing like it, you all ought to go!!!
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by irisnevins
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
My favorite band right now is probably Teada. I'm anxiously waiting for their new CD release. However, I just got a copy of the new CD from The Doon Ceili Band, "around the world for sport" and it's awesome tight! Great work Jode!
Ken
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by FiddleMeThis
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Cheers people, mentioned a few names there I an't heard off, must check out.
True though about unplanned, unrehearsed, and often un-recorded sessions.
Chill
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by Kess
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
I'm with Gooso and Kris, bands don't really do it for me, no matter if they're old or contemporary...... BUT i've a weakness for early Clannad, say the first 4 albums...
Anyone else?
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by diamondo
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Old favourites Bothy Band and Planxty!!!
I also loved Coolfin when they were together - awesome!
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by Shtrum
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Yes, Diamondo. "Clannad 2" and "Crann Ull" by Clannad were arguably one of the first albums available in Poland, that gave us a gist of how the Irish music and language sounds.
I'm still very fond of it, as it reminds me my "early days" of ITM fascination, around 14 years ago. Those were the days when you couldn't get anything close to traditional, but well... these times were like this, you couldn't get much of anything then.
Sadly, we still don't get most of the best ITM performers in music shops even now. God bless e-shops and low cost airlines ;)
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by Barfly
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Tipsy House are great, so there!
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by Cammy
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Yea Coolfin were amazing....pity they only did one album though. I like Dervish alot . From the 70's Sweeney's men, Planxty and The bothy band. 80's/90's Deiseal, Tamalin,Cian,Danu... Personally i am not a big fan of the relatively new bands as I think they are missing that nice arrangement that compliments melody with backing and backing with melody (If that makes since?)
I love four men and a dog...purely because there is loads of banjo.
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by eurbanjo
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
I'm not much of a fan of bands, but I do like Moher and Arcady better than most. The Ceili Bandits are fun, too.
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by GaryAMartin
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Has to be Planxty - a revelation to me when I heard them the first time, and I still love them to bits.
I also love Cran, one of the most underated groups of all. Listen to their album "Music from the Edge of the World' and you'll never be the same!
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
DANU the best band ever in my opinion! They are a mixture of moderny traditional music. But more trad, i dont really like flook!
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by fluter
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
(Cammy, your check's in the mail)
Aren't bands like Coolfin and Deiseal fusion bands rather than trad?
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Danu
Lunasa
Dervish
Teada
Flook!
The only one of those I would consider "real" trad would be Teada. Although, I actually have more solo stuff, but am not by any means and old curmudgeon.
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by Unseen122
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
I'm big on Danu, Teada, Dervish. I also love Great Big Sea, partly because they believe in singing in harmony. And, unlike, it would seem, 99% of The Session, I love Solas before, during and after their transition from trad. Anyone who thinks they suck now has never heard them play Gossip's or the Wiggly Jigs or the Bird in the Tree set.
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by Zazzaliss
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Thanks for the shoutout Ken!! We are gearing up for the CD release this weekend. It should be fun.
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by Jode
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Spailpein are my favourite, absolutely great, especially the bodhran player.
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by bodhran bliss
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Ok here goes (spot the indecisive one!!)
- Lunasa.
- Flook!
- Moving Cloud.
- Teada.
- At first light.
- Danu
- Trouble in the Kitchen (home grown heroes!!!)
- Beoga (one of the more inventive and original sounds i've come accross in the trad scene)
- Sharon Shannon's recent outings with Dezi Donnely/Frankie Gavin, Mike McGoldrick and Jim Murray.
- Tulca Mor (another great Aussie offering!)
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by late in the evening
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Flook is FAR from trad, folks.
# Posted on May 11th 2006 by Mark Stone
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
beoga is also far from trad, y'all, as are about 3/4 of the citations here, imho. it always cracks me up how people foam at the mouth over the un-trad-ness of bands like pogues and flogging molly, who never even claimed to be trad, yet consider fusion-kitsch stuff like flook to qualify as trad. not referring to this forum, but i do find it hilarious.
hmmmm. let's see, favorite "trad" bands.....ok, charlie piggott-era de dannan. lonely stranded band. chulrua. actually...i guess i'm not much into bands either, when it comes to trad. oh, yeah....tulla ceili Band....
# Posted on May 11th 2006 by ceemonster
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Fav bands have to include the following:
Flook! (may not be 100% trad but they r damn good!)
Grada
Dervish
At First Light
Four men and a dog
# Posted on May 11th 2006 by garyfitz123
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Jode.... I am enjoying the Doon Ceili Band CD in my car and have already given my first copy to a music partner friend and went and got another. I will give that one to our IAANJ center for when they dance without a live band. Looks like I will have to go get yet another!
Good old fashioned straight up trad music, I love it! Everyone who wants to hear the real thing should buy this! Its real pure heartedness and lack of glitz and gimmicks is what sold me! Along with great musicianship of course.
Good luck on the release party! Where is it?
# Posted on May 11th 2006 by irisnevins
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
My List...
Modern:
Dervish
Flook
Kila
Ealú
Old-Skool!
Planxty
Sweeney's Men
Bothy Band
# Posted on May 11th 2006 by mantekka
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Danú and Lúnasa!! They are great!
# Posted on May 11th 2006 by Matt_Celta
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Ceemonster & Mark, strictly speaking guitar and zouk aren't traditional irish instruments at all, so i guess De Dannan are out, as are some of your projects Mark!! Or we might have to be reevaluate the definition of trad. I'm not actually arguing the case for Flook as trad, by the way,(they seem to occupy kind of a grey area on the fringes of trad), but where exactly do we draw the line of "trad-ness", how accurate are we being? Would be interested to know from anyone who's mentioned the validity of bands claiming to be trad, but could it be in a non-flaming-me kinda way
And yes, I play guitar and double bass, but I just thought I'd ask!!
# Posted on May 11th 2006 by Andy V
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Hi Iris! Thanks for the compliments and spreading the news. Hopefully we'll get into a few festivals and get to travel around and meet people. Have a few tunes. As far as the release party, Jack already posted the details (thanks again Jack):
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/9896/comments
# Posted on May 11th 2006 by Jode
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Andy,
I was just pointing out that pseudo-jazz isn't trad. By your strict definition, you're right. Many of my projects don't qualify either as we've had a guitar player. I've even been known to play synthesizer on a few tunes. That being said, the tunes themselves and the settings in which they were presented were indeed trad. The backing may not have been. Going off on improvisational tangents and playing harmonies is not. That was my only point.
Cheers,
Mark
www.markstonemusic.com
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by Mark Stone
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Wish I could go Jode, but it's a long trek from NJ.
Did you record that in a studio.... did you all play together at once, no booths etc. Just curious. I love the Portuguese Waltz!
Will you be in E.Durham? I know Paddy O'Brien is supposed to do a master class. Maybe we can meet up for a few tunes.
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by irisnevins
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Hi Iris. We did record in a nice studio, located in the old office buildings of a defunct brewery. All the tune players were in the same room, individually mic-ed, no booths or barriers. The piano was in another room so that we could control the relative volume. No plan to be in E.Durham this year, but there was talk of possible going next year.
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by Jode
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Altan
Bothy Band
Dervish
Danu
# Posted on May 12th 2006 by pbassnote
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
The Chieftains, The Bothy Band, Planxty, Altan and The Tulla Ceilidh Band. But mostly The Chieftains.
# Posted on May 14th 2006 by flossie
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
De Dannan (esp'lly when Mairtin O'Connor was with them) knocks all those others out of the water in my opinion. Unlike other bands, these guys were built the opposite way from most ie. a good part of the drive and rhythm came from the melody section with more laid back counter-melodic lines coming from the accompaniment (Alec Finn and the style he came up with STILL beats all hell out of playing more rhythmic chords on a bouzouki...play a frigging guitar if you're going to do that!). I can't think of any other band that is set up this way...well Teada to a certain extent but not completely-and of the "modern" bands, they're my fav's.
It's great because you can CLEARLY hear everything that Frankie and whoever the box player is are doing with variations on the tune etc. and nobody can touch Frankie Gavin when it comes to getting the most out of his instrument, whether it's flowing melodic stuff or more percussive things with the bow. With a heavier rhythm section, you can't hear half of that stuff so you can listen to De Dannan countless times and hear things you didn't notice the last time. I can't say the same thing about most of the others.
I didn't like the Gavin/Shannon/McGoldrick album 'cause of all the bass and stuff in the background. The whole thing seemed overproduced...did they have to wait till the LAST track on the album to sparse it down to just the guitar in the back?!!!! Again, Frankie does so much with the melody that to have that much going on behind him is a total waste imo. That's why him and Finn were so good.
The only real flaw De Dannan had was that the songs weren't that great (except when Dolores Keane was with them). But the tunes were so good that you hardly noticed anyway.
And I like Danu and Dervish as well (great bouzouki players in those bands) but again, having a guitar playing along as well kills it for me-one or the other is the way to go imho. This is why I wouldn't put those bands or anyone else in De Dannan's league. It's just a shame that they broke up before I got a chance to see them live
# Posted on May 14th 2006 by dtb
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Bothy wins in my book - 25 years later & they still kick-ass.
Early Clannad, Altan, Cherish the Ladies, Chieftains without question....... and I love Capercaillie from Scotland- jazzy keyboard and all. Anyone out there ever hear an album called Mouth Music from say, 15 years back?
# Posted on May 15th 2006 by nonesuch
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Must agree with dtb here. De Dannan were for me the finest 'Irish Trad' outfit to ever grace a stage.
I was very fortunate to see all their line-ups live, & buying those concert tickets was the best money I ever spent on live trad.
My favourite concert by far was on the transition tour, which I saw in Dundee, which had the fab four - Frankie, Alec, Charlie & Ringo - plus Johnny Moynihan & Tim Lyons (on vocals & Melodeon).
I think that was in '77 or '78.
[ No doubt Kenny can correct me on the date! ]
# Posted on May 15th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Often imitated, NEVER equalled, the original and the best. The Bothy Band, no contest. Most of the other bands mentioned here have borrowed heavily from the Bothy Band and yet still don't get it.
The Bothy Band is the ONLY traditional act that I have BOUGHT all albums of.
I would love to be able to say that one of the modern crop has done better, but they haven't. Those that come close would include Lunasa, Solas and Dervish. But there are probably lots of bands around that I haven't heard, so who know?
PS For some reason I don't consider Planxty to be a "trad" band. And the Bothy Band is still the best.
# Posted on May 15th 2006 by lysaghtm
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Ptarmigan you are one lucky bastard!...pangs of jealousy kicking in as I write this
Do you or does anyone else have any idea as to why on earth they decided to call it quits? This issue was especially perplexing for me since everything that Frankie's put out since, particularly that album with Shannon and McG., doesn't hold a candle to anything he did before with DD. As far as my fav. DD lineup...definitely the one with Frankie and Mairtin O'Connor but they were all great (once you programmed most of the damn songs out on your CD player 
)
And as for the Bothy Band, yeah I'd put them 2nd. As lysaghtm says they're often imitated...can't even count how many times I've heard ppl in sessions play set lists straight off their albums (this is both good and bad but more often bad from my exp).
# Posted on May 15th 2006 by dtb
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
The Bothies were brilliant, of course. Never equaled at their game. Still, for me, the De Dannan lineup with Johnny Moynihan was the greatest.
# Posted on May 15th 2006 by Bob himself
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Altan (no doubt)
Beginish
Sliabh Notes
... and then Danú and Lúnasa
# Posted on May 18th 2006 by Toni Ribas
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
we already know why . . . or should do . . .
but simply, on 'trad bands' the Bothy tops my list _followed by De Dannan, Planxty (certain bits), early Clannad, Sweeney's Men, and with original ''main-streaming'' drive, Flook
on global awareness, The Chieftions _but not my cup of tea . . .
# Posted on May 19th 2006 by lisaniska
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
I have to admit, I'm a great fan of mixing different music together, and so the bands that I truly enjoy are not what you'd call a trad band.
I love the Chieftains, of course, and the Bothy Band, but also enjoy Lunasa, Kila, Peatbog Faeries, Martyn Bennett, Enter the Haggis, and I love what Sinead O'Connor did on Sean-Nos Nua (I'm aware that's libel to have me hung drawn and quartered.)
# Posted on May 24th 2006 by cloudbuster
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
The Bothy Band has not been bettered in Irish instrumental bands. They sorted the whole instrumental thing out: great sets of tunes; great accompaniment; unbelievably close playing at speed; great arrangements. The argument that has not come up is the Tommy Peoples v Kevin Burke one. Was the BB better with Peoples or with Burke ? I think it was better than all the rest with either of these fiddle players in the line up, but Peoples is very sparky. BUT I'd like to put in a plug for the Boys of the Lough, especially in their 4-piece line up when Titch Richardson was alive and playing guitar. Very direct, very musical, and a very wide variety of music. No other band was playing music from Shetland, Ireland, Northumberland and Scotland. They produced some beautiful music.
# Posted on May 30th 2006 by Nick Spencer
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
A bit more in the Scottish element; but Silly Wizard and the Cunninghams' later incarnation in Relativity match any of these. Fantastic wit and irreverance don't cover up the fact that chop for chop, the musicianship in both the groups matches or beats any of the groups above; and at their best there is no one that could touch the combination of inspiration, flair and sheer technique of both. Astounding stuff. And Johnny's sense of harmony and musicality played a very significant role in producing Solas, which is cited above, though he is not...
# Posted on May 31st 2006 by ggrene
Re: Whats your favourite trad band and why?
Tannahill Weavers are also right up there too...Dancing Feet is a pretty flawless album, by any measure...
# Posted on May 31st 2006 by ggrene