HUNTSVILLE — Con O’Brien has never seen anything like it.
He’s the leader of Newfoundland’s high-energy group The Irish Descendants and they just finished playing the best gig of all — the 2010 Olympic Games.
The vibe was intense.
“It’s overwhelming, but in a good way. I’ve been to Vancouver many times over the years, but I’ve never felt a city with so much electricity … it’s one of the most electrifying experiences of my life,” he said.
Now the group is preparing for a seven-city tour in Ontario to celebrate the week of St. Patrick’s Day and they’ll be at the Algonquin Theatre in Huntsville on March 13.
“I’m looking forward to rekindling my memories of Huntsville,” said O’Brien.
This is the band’s 20th year playing music inspired by both their east come home and the Irish roots of their ancestors.
“I think it’s a bit of both with some odds and ends thrown in for good measure. We come from Newfoundland and our ancestors came from Ireland and our music has the influences of the other cultures that came: the English, the French and the Scottish. It all gives our music its own flavour that’s unique,” said O’Brien.
The band released their 12th album last fall, titled Encore: The Best of The Irish Descendants Vol. 2, and expect to release a studio album in 2010 with Universal Records to celebrate their 20th year.
O’Brien and the boys are looking forward to playing for the Huntsville audience.
“We’re really lookin’ forward to seeing them all come out. We love to make you laugh, make you cry and make sure you get a nice dose of Irish in anticipation of St. Patty’s Day,” he said.
The band has sold more than a half-million records and won Entertainer of the Year at the East Coast Music Awards, as well as a Juno Award for Best Roots/Traditional Artists. The band has toured extensively throughout North America, headlining Celtic festivals in Chicago, Boston and Cleveland. They have performed at The Smithsonian in Washington and have played with many of the nation’s best symphony orchestras. They appeared on stage at The Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto in the theatrical production of Needfire and headlined The International Festival of the Sea in England.
When Newfoundland celebrated its 500th birthday, the band was selected to play at the festivities, entertaining European royalty and heads of state.
Their live show boasts familiar tunes and thunderous harmonies coupled with a down-to-earth sense of humour that tugs at the hearts of both expatriots and wannabe Newfoundlanders everywhere. See The Irish Descendants at the Algonquin Theatre on Saturday, March 13 at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $38.