Press

Dominion Post Thursday 28 November
Jacky Tar's back and sounding inspired

Review

WHAT: Jacky Tar
WHERE: Bodega, November 21
REVIEWED BY: Simon Sweetman

Jacky Tar is back from 4 months touring Europe and it is as if the band has never been away; its infectious melding of Celtic, rock, pop, folk and almost every other musical genre fills Bodega.

The crowd is not big but largely attentive.

The strength of Jacky Tar, in many ways, is its compositions - flexible enough to include extended jamming and variations in speed. From slow rock-plod to fast jig, yet tight enough to work as simple song constructions.

Jacky Tar mixes originals with some fine re-workings of traditional Celtic fare such as Lanigans Ball and Hogties Reel.

The band members are clever musicians whose songs can sound totally rooted in Celtic tradition and also completely removed from it - often within the same tune.

Grant Shearer (pipes) and Nick Swan (mandolin/banjo) provide the main Celtic melodies, the rhythm section of Manu Scott (bass) and Mo (drums) offer a crisp funky feel the lifts the often one-dimensional sound of a Celtic reel up and into the 21st century.

Andy Kerr's vocals and acoustic guitar anchor the tunes - this man owns a mean Irish voice.

Jacky Tar offers a healthy and imaginative alternative. Years of playing in only Irish bars has not been its downfall. Rather, this band has used the experience to branch out, create originals and tour the world. Welcome back

-ooOoo-

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