Hailing from the lower decks of the movie Titanic, Gaelic Storm shows audiences why they were cast as the “party band.” Gaelic Storm has continued to perform more than 125 shows each year and their record, What’s the Rumpus, debut No. 1 on Billboard’s World Albums chart. The numbers speak for themselves by the sheer volume of people at the House of Blues.
Gaelic Storm turned the House of Blues into the biggest Irish pub I’ve ever seen! The crowd was friendly and ready to sing along to every word of each tune. The scene made me think of my junior high talent show filled with middle-aged white folks and old Aunt Gladys. Gaelic Storm presented a show that was fit for all ages. They’re able to tell great stories through music and accentuate the characteristics of Irish music that people love: bagpipes, accents and words that are simple enough to sing along with when you’re drunk.
Bagpiper and auxiliary percussionist Pete Purvis, along with fiddle player Jessie Burns accent the band to a joyous melody while playing a tune so contagious that it seems to beckon concertgoers to dance their own versions of an Irish jig. Singer Patrick Murphy walks the stage like an actor portraying his soliloquy from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, allowing the perfect timing for each word to be heard and sung to. Steve Twigger accompanies Murphy’s lyrics well through playing the guitar, other various stringed instruments and vocally. Percussionist Ryan Lacey lays a beat on two-hand drums that provides a great pulse for the band to follow. Overall, Gaelic Storm is extremely entertaining and they put on a great show. So grab your Guinness and your dancing shoes, and see Gaelic Storm when you have the chance.