Customer Reviews

The Chieftains - Live Over Ireland: Water from the Well

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Failte! (Greetings.) When couples tell me they have been married for over 35 years, I think it is awesome. When six fellas say they been together for 35 years, I'm appalled. What has been even more appalling is they all still get along wonderfully. Six Grammys later, and they are still going strong, but without their long time friend and Celtic Harp master, Derek Bell. He died shortly after a recent recording of the Old Plank Road album, and this DVD has his last interview. With typical good natured talk of his astrologer and wanting to be playing actively until his death, Derek got his wish. Other members take you to their hometowns and across Ireland. Paddy Moloney's tour of his "House Conroy" is the well of all wells for Irish Culture. This is his grandparents' house he visited in the summers as a boy. Kevin Conneff takes you bouncing through the Ballyfin Polka on Irish Drum. As usual, he keeps a frantic pace while maintaining a perfectly relaxed smile and demeaner. This is the Irish style of dancing that inspired American Square Dancing. Paddy plays the Ballyfin Slide on the Tinwhistle. His Uncle was a Piper, and Paddy can recount that you either loved or hated the pipes after the experience of living with someone that practiced. He ended up loving the Ullienne Pipes and is now one of the living masters. The Kilfenora Set is played with the Kilfenora Ceili Band, including legendary Tommy Peoples in a set of four fiddle players. We get to visit Matt Molloy's pub where oceans of Guinness have passed with countless jam sessions involving Ireland's finest talent have taken place. This is the highlight of the DVD for me, with three tunes starting with the famous "Dusty Miller." Matt contributes excellent Irish flute. The Dingle Set is played fast, with Ashley McIsacc dancing a jig and playing fiddle simultaneously by the end. The Donnegal Set is a shared project with Altan. This is also a favorite highlight of the DVD. This is a shared four fiddle lead. The lovely Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh's obvious delight and her laughter through the set makes this a real gem. The Chieftains also venture into Spanish music with Los Lobos. As usual, the Chieftains are pioneers in moving Irish music ahead, this time onto DVD. So what is the trick to staying together and getting along for 35+ years? They all love the music, their Irish roots, and you can't find a set of 5 more good natured fellas in Ireland. "Go raibh mile maith agaibh" (Thank you very much, if I can remember me Gaelic ).

This amazing "behind the music" DVD is a treasure for Chieftains fans, fans of Irish music, or fans of great music in general. Their humor, candor and willingness to press the limits of their music not only makes this CD great viewing, but also helps explain their endless longevity. It was a lump-in-the-throat to listen to Derek Bell, recently departed, speculate that he had perhaps 20 more years to live (gone much too soon -- rest in peace, dear friend). I can't recommend this wonderful DVD highly enough.

I bought this DVD for myself a while ago. I bought it for me Irish mum for Christmas this year. I love this DVD and so does me mum. She is difficult to buy for and doesn't watch a lot of TV. But she loves traditional Irish music. There is a lot of that with in this DVD. There is also some of the Cheiftans collaboration. The landscape is fantastic. I would call it part documentary, part scenic, part music video.

This is a great video. It is musical journey which takes you back to the Chieftains musical roots revisiting places in Ireland. Gives you the history of each band member and has lots of traditional Irish music. If you like the Chieftains you will like this video.

If you buy one Chiefatins DVD - this is the one to buy. The music is fantastic. The photography incredible. Features many of the artists from ther album and given full artisitc exposure. They got it right with this DVD.

Cannot recommend this enough. A pint of Guiness is the only thing you need to go with it.

This DVD is not a concert but seems more of a vague anthology of their music and quest to deliver the traditional but expand and except changes in the music they love. It's a rather choppy offering but educational. There are many artists not identified during their own music segments. Tommy Peoples of the old Bothy Band is among these. There are others who get lost in the crowd. It would have been nice if there was a way to identify guests during this DVD. I would add it to my personal collection if I just had to have every Chieftains album or video. I would not if I wanted to introduce this band to my friends.