Special C. at full strength - and then some

The BIB editor reports:

Special Consensus has been known for a long time as a pool of talent, and several band alumni have gone on to high positions in the bluegrass world. Since the band began coming here in 1995, it has had five different mandolin players, six bass players, and seven guitarists. All but one of these configurations of the Special C. have been to Ireland;* everyone who has enjoyed seeing and hearing the band here will have favourites among past lineups, and I'm no exception.

But even competing with these memories, the present Special C. (on last night at the Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre in Naul, Co. Dublin, and tonight in the Shannonside Winter Music Weekend) is a real treat to see and hear. I enjoyed the band at Naul as much as I've ever enjoyed a Special C. show, which is saying a lot.

Making all allowances for the location (the band clearly enjoyed being in Naul, and the audience were very clearly glad they'd come), the Special C.'s own excitement at making powerful music together was infectious. Greg Cahill has expressed his own enjoyment at picking with his current band - 'they all love to play and sing and write songs, and even rehearse' - and it shows. I specially recommend any bluegrass enthusiasts there may be in the Dublin city area to hear the band at the Mercantile Hotel on Tuesday. You'll hear plenty of Special C. classics, plenty of classic bluegrass, and plenty of fine new material. Oh, yes - there are some subtle treats for instrument freaks, as well.

*We did not see the 1997 version with Clem O'Brien on guitar, though Clem has played with the Special C. by invitation at shows in Ireland since then.