The volume was high and the Levee was far from dry Thursday night as the New York band Black 47 played two hours of their energetic Celtic-infused music to a packed house.
Black 47, no strangers to bar crowds, hit the stage at 9:30 p.m. to the screams and enthusiasm of students and non-students alike.
Masses of underclassmen cluttered the area around the band’s gear, while the more reserved finesse of those over 21 ruled at the bar.
After running through two barnstorming songs, lead singer Larry Kirwan asked the crowd in a thick Irish brogue if anyone knew how to step dance.
When a few brave souls replied, the band rolled into a thick pipe-fueled jam. The dancers didn’t hesitate to fulfill their duties, dancing in front of the band as the crowd swelled and cheered.
Students at the concert were blown away by the band. “I’ve got some of their records at home and I’m a big fan,” said Mark Montaruli ’07. “For live music, it doesn’t get much better than this.”
“Tonight was my first Black 47 experience,” said Melissa Nowicki ’05. “This has been a really amazing show. I wish they’d play here next week, too!”
Matt Dinnan, associate dean of students, was working the door the whole night and he predicts that around 400 people attended the concert throughout the course of the night.
Bill Bordak, a graduate assistant who was working the bar area, says the concert went off without any major incidents of bad behavior.
The band is made up of several Irish immigrants who have made their home in New York City after moving to the U.S. Proclaimed “The House Band of New York City” by many critics, the band mixes rock and reggae rhythms with the tin whistle and pipe sound that is embraced by Celtic bands everywhere.
On any given Friday night in the summer, you can catch them playing at Connelly’s Bar and Grill in midtown Manhattan, where they have a long running residency.
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