North Sea Gas ~ 2019 October 1 ~ Jonathan Bourne Public Library ~ Bourne, MA
Ronnie MacDonald (bouzouki, guitar, vocals); Grant Simpson (fiddle, bouzouki, vocals); Dave Gilfillan (guitar, banjo, bass drum, bodhran).
Videos
When We Go Rolling Home
Coming Home
Review
I had seen this three-man band from Scotland a couple of years ago at this same venue, my local library. That time they didn't make it onto this website since I took no pictures or videos. I went to this show expecting to just sit and listen again, but they were so good I couldn't help myself. I didn't have my real camera, but the iPhone was adequate in this well lit function room.
These three guys have been playing traditional Scottish and original tunes together for a long time, and they are a fine tuned music machine. Harmonies are just terrific. They traded off instruments, which included a bouzouki as well as the more expected guitar, banjo, and Celtic percussion.
Their songs ran the gamut from very serious to very funny. Their easy rapport on stage and good natured interactions ("taking the piss" said Concert Going Partner) had the audience laughing, and of course singing along. A few times they referenced the merch table with CDs to buy, and after a while it became a running joke. They do have a good selection of recorded music, and I've been listening to When We Go Rolling Home since seeing them live.
Kudos to the staff of my local library for hosting such a topnotch concert series. Booking a band like North Sea Gas, who are a very popular band in their native Scotland, shows the library knows their stuff when it comes to music. When on these shores they tend to play smaller, intimate venues, and it's obvious they haven't lost a bit of their love for their music and for engaging with a new audience.
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