ALTAN - State College, PA (Feb 11, 2007)

[wgority]

This is the third time I've seen Altan, and they are tighter than ever!

The first time was in Dublin not too long after they'd started gaining some popularity and while Frankie Kennedy (God rest his soul) was still with them. They were an amazing band then.

The second time was in Pittsburgh during the Horse with a Heart tour in 94-ish and they were better still.

This was their best performance ever! The the twinned fiddles of Maireaghd ni Mhaonaigh and Ciaran Tourish are a great sound. Ciaran Curran's bouzouki sings! Maireaghd ni Mhanaigh's voice.......so sweet.

If you can catch them during this tour, do so!

[Erisianmonkey]

AARGGHHH! They're not getting close enough for us to go see them. I will give this warning on seeing an Altan show: There is no recording device yet available that can accurately reproduce the beauty of Mairead ni Mhaonaigh's voice. Your Altan CD's will sound dull and flat compared to the live sound.

That being said, I got to see Altan when they played at the Music in the Mountains festival in Durango several years ago, and did in fact get to meet the band afterwards. Mairead's personality and manners match perfectly with the beauty of her visage and her voice. If you live in any of the cities they are visiting on their tour, and do not go see them, you will regret it for the rest of your life.