Derina Harvey Band rock Celtic music for full house

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Celtic bands always equal a good and often drunken time. So transplanted Newfoundlanders, Edmonton based the Derina Harvey Band did not disappoint as they brought a maritime Celtic kitchen party to the Slice, Saturday, Jan. 28.

Derina Harvey and Matt O’Connor playing the Slice, Jan. 28. Photo by Richard Amery
 The place was almost full with an enthusiastic crowd of dancers and high pitched whistlers who couldn’t get enough of the affable Derina Harvey, who punctuated a set full of energetic Celtic Rock and traditional co Celtic tunes with calls of “Sociable.”


 They played beloved classics like  Whiskey in the Jar,” and put their own stamp on the Pogues’ “Dirty Ol Town” and “The Night Pat Murphy Died,” plus the more traditional tracks of their new CD “Rove and Go,” and the more rock tinged debut CD.
 All of the songs featured a lot of impressively fine fiddling from Matt O’Connor and absolutely perfect guitar solos for Scott Greene.


She got the crowd to shout along with her on “You’re Always Welcome At Our House,” which was a highlight of the first set as was “Right Up Your Kilt,” one of several songs that had the s audience shouting along.
They played much of the new CD including the title track “ Rove and Go,” a hot version of “Sarah,” and a fun version of my favourite, the Arrogant Worms’ “Last Saskatchewan Pirate,” which was one of several songs which had the crowd singing along.


 By the time they played Last Saskatchewan Pirate, much of the audience was whirling around in front of the stage and dancing in between the tables, mostly to the more upbeat numbers from their debut CD like “ Wild Rover, “ Excursion Around the Bay” and Mull River Shuffle.”
 Though they also slowed down for a handful of slow dancing ballads including a new song “Fisherman’s Daughter.”


They went country for a moment by covering “Folsom Prison Blues,” which featured a lot of fine fiddle playing and Greene digging in for his guitar solo.


 They ended that set with O’Connor showing his chops on a hot version of fiddle opus “Orange Blossom Special.”
The second set featured more uptempo tracks, opening with “Shipping Up to Boston,” and included the Night Pat Murphy Died and “Rove and Go” as well as put their own twist on Ron Hynes’ “ Sonny’s Dream.”
The picked up the tempo with more hot fiddle playing on “ The Devil Went Down To Georgia.”

— By Richard Amery, L.A. beat Editor
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 February 2017 10:54 )