Customer Reviews

Danu - One Night Stand

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For true fans of traditional Irish music, Danu in particular, this DVD will be a real treat. Filmed live at Dublin's Vicar St., it's full of lively tunes, and haunting songs sung by the incomparable Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh. But it doesn't end there. There are extras and interviews included on this DVD. The fan is able to gain a bit of insight into the lives of these outstanding musicians. It's very enjoyable, and sometimes humorous, to watch. It also contains a few fun surprises you won't want to miss. Like Des Dillon and his wee accordion playing protege. He also has a lively dancing partner who's very talented for her age. Buy this DVD now! You won't be disappointed.

Danú's "One Night Stand" DVD is a real treat for lovers of Irish music. Each of the band members is a superior musician and brings something special to the mix. The fact that flautist and tin whistle player, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, also is an outstanding vocalist in both the English and Irish languages is an additional huge plus for the band. The DVD does an excellent job of showing the excitement of live Irish music; something that no CD can do, no matter how good it is. The highlight of the DVD is the Danú solo set in which each band member has a chance to shine alone. The DVD has many extras; the interviews with the band members are interesting and well-filmed, and the additional songs, especially "Peg and Awl" by Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, are very welcome. Are there any negatives? Well, I could have done without the dancing puppet that appeared in conjunction with a couple of tunes. Overall, this DVD is a great introduction to a great band. If you wonder why so many people are excited by live Irish music, you will know why after seeing this DVD.

Danu consists of seven (and sometimes an additional guest) musicians on stage and they've worked out excellent arrangements of traditional tunes to take advantage of all sorts of wonderful combinations of instruments, including the lovely voice of Muireann. She even sings accompanied only by bodhran on one song and it is the perfect duet. Songs are in the minority here, though; mostly the concert is a tunefest (and singer Muireann joins the mix on flute or whistle.) Other tunes feature driving bouzouki and guitar before another musician steps up to the front and joins in on flute, whistle, fiddle, or accordion. All of these young musicians are fantastic and you'll find yourself looking forward to the next featured soloist--whoever it is. They rip through jigs and reels with everyone standing out in one tune or another, then everyone clicks together as one great ensemble. The production values of the DVD are beautiful: the sound is great and mixed well; the video direction is straightforward with enough "points of view" and plenty of close-ups when you want them . This is a DVD that will make you glad you own a television!

I really want to rate this DVD 6 out of 5 stars. "One Night Stand" music was recorded in one night at Vicar St., Dublin, Ireland. For one small price, you get 27 tracks of absolutely excellent music. From very lively jigs, reels and polkas to gorgeous vocals sung by the lovely Muireann, there is no reason to skip even one track. Extra tracks and interviews are added. I was very impressed with the bouzouki (large, deep voiced mandolin) having an internal microphone, not that common in Ireland for trad music. The effect was excellent. Tom and Eamon Doorley are an excellent bouzouki and guitar team. I was also impressed with the percussion. It's hard to miss Donchadh Gough on bodhran, the big wild man on Irish drum. Interviews and tracks on band history are included. This is a must have DVD for any fan of this genre of music. In my collection, this concert DVD is a good balance to Dervish's DVD (recorded at the Sibin Pub, County Sligo, Ireland), to the Chieftain's Water from the Well DVD (jam sessions all through Ireland with friends), and to the Solas DVD (a Vermont St Patrick's Day concert).

For those unfamiliar with Danú: they rank with Altan, Dervish and Lúnasa among the very best Irish traditional bands today, building on the foundations laid by Planxty and the Bothy Band.

Their seven-person line-up permits them a formidable variety of instrumental combinations, and these are displayed to the full in this well-filmed live video, both in dance tunes and behind the singing of Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh. Particularly entertaining is the solo set, where the musicians play in turn and then walk off, leaving just Donnchadh Gough, who seems to hit the bodhrán like Bruce Lee hitting a punch bag!

There are also several well-chosen special guests.

In addition to the concert (in surround sound), there are interviews with each musician, and a segment on the band's history. The only extra I found less than fascinating was "On the Road", which is basically a sequence of home movies made on tour; but even that is skilfully put together.

Making a total of well over 3 hours, clearly a labour of love, and all for a few bucks more than the price of a CD.

I've never seen better than this. If you get a chance to see them live, don't miss it.

P.S. At the start of his interview, Dónal Clancy plays a lovely little piece in DADGAD tuning, the title of which is never given.

I had a chance to ask him: it's called "Dog Rock", after a rock he used to fish off that is behind where he's sitting in the DVD.

We were introduced to this group by the owner of a bed and breakfast we stayed at near Waterford Ireland. He had heard me say that I was interested in learning to play the bodhrun (traditional Irish hand drum) and played parts of this CD for us - especially the bodhrun solo, and my husband and I were enchanted by the authenticity and skilled performances.

Danu brings extraordinary musicianship, a nice stage presence and self-deprecating humor to Irish tradiitonal music. The concert itself features variety of instrumentation and vocals, and the extras -- interviews with the band members -- are revealing of the at once ordinary and extraordinary folks who are the band. The sound and video quality is excellent and avoids the overproduced aspects of a lot of music DVDs. if you want to hear what younger Irish traditional musicians sound like these days, this is a best bet.

I just caught Danu in concert last night at Connecticut College in New London, and became an instant and rabid fan. The band's energy is so contagious they give Restless Leg Syndrome a GOOD name. In addition to being outstanding musicians, they all obviously like each other, love the music, and love playing together. They also enjoy sharing the Irish musical tradition with their audiences. All of the songs and tunes they selected were outstanding. The recent addition of a Scotsman, Martin O'Neill, on the Bodhran adds a dimension I haven't heard before in a traditional Celtic band -- I have heard Bodhrans in many bands, but never have I heard so many tones evoked from one. Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh has a fantastic voice, which she really knows how to use, and the harmonies by Oisin add a perfect depth and texture. The group has a strong personal presence, and I got the feeling I'd enjoy knowing them all personally and sharing a pint at our local Pub. My wife and I bought two of their CDs, and I suspect we'll be fighting (good-naturedly, of course) over whose car CD player in which they spend the most time. One of my next purchases will be their DVD, "One Night Stand." If I'd had a couple of Scotches I would have come away feeling as if I'd been at a ceilidh. I HIGHly recommend these folks.

I bought this DVD based on other reviews in Amazon.

The performance is excellent and those guys are excellent musicians. Sadly the quality of the DVD is more VHS-like. Sound and video are just OK. Luckily the camera work is fine and the takes are right where the action is.

If you pay more attention to the music and the musicians than on the quality of the production itself, you'll be happy with this concert.

The DVD starts out strong and only gets better. Simple traditional reels and jigs that grow into virtuoso performances. Highest quality filming and recording put this DVD into a class of its own.