Battlefield Band

[AL-58]

Anyone familiar with Battlefield Band? They are coming to Atlanta on the 18th of this month, but it will cost $22.50 to see them. I am wondering if it is worth that much.

Here's their website: http://www.battlefieldband.co.uk

Seen them last year, absolutely must see.

Al

[gilmore]

For those who must see them, here are their tour dates for March and April:

3rd Mar 07 Bath ME Chocolate Church (207) 442-8455
4th Mar 07 Cumberland RI Blackstone River Theatre (401) 725-9272
5th Mar 07 New York NY SOBs (212) 243-4940
9th Mar07 Pomona NJ Stockton Performing Arts Center (609) 652-9000
10th Mar 07 Sellersville PA Sellersville Theater 1894 (215) 257-5808
11th Mar 07 Charlottesville VA Gravity Lounge (434) 977-5590
14th Mar 07 Charlotte NC Neighborhood Theatre (704) 358-9298
15th Mar 07 Southern Pines NC Sunrise Theater (910) 692-3611
16th Mar 07 Greenville SC Handlebar (864) 233-6173
17th Mar 07 Raleigh NC Tir Na Nog Irish Pub (919) 881-8336
18th Mar 07 Atlanta GA Red Light Café (404) 874-7828
20th Mar 07 Houston TX McGonigel's Mucky Duck (713) 528-5999
21st Mar 07 Austin TX Unv of Texas, Cactus Café (512) 475-6515
22nd Mar 07 Fort Worth TX MacHenry's (817) 377-0202
23rd Mar 07 Tulsa OK Tulsa Performing Arts Center (918) 596-7111
24th Mar 07 Tulsa OK Tulsa Performing Arts Center (918) 596-7111
25th Mar 07 Memphis TN Memphis College of Art, Callicott Aud (901) 276-1527
May 2007 UK
2nd May 07 Aberdeen Music Hall 01224 641122

3rd May 07 Bury The Met 0161 7612216

14th May 07 Cardigan Theatr Mwldan
01239 621200




You can check for last minute schedule changes in North America at Folklore

from http://www.battlefieldband.co.uk/tourdates.htm

[gilmore]

I saw them tonight, and was disappointed. They are very good instrumentalists and play quite tightly, but that is about it. They don't take any chances. The melodies are rather predictable, not that there is anything wrong with that, per se, most Celtic music is. But if a band is going to rely on that primarily, it needs a bit more pazazz than just putting itself through its well-rehearsed and well-executed paces. It was more like a student recital than a show. They are talented musically, and would probably make great studio musicians, or a good back up band for a strong vocalist, or maybe even great stage musicians in the hands of a good arranger.

The vocals were weak. Neither of the 2 singers has a really outstanding voice, but this could have been helped through well done harmonizing---or any harmonizing--- which never happened. They both sang solo for the most part, with a bit of backup on the choruses. They made unfortunate choices in some of the material, doing songs by Tom Waites, Woody Guthrie, Robert Burns and traditional folk songs that have been covered extremely well over the decades by singers with truley awesome voices, so that comparisons were inevitable, and not at all to the band's advantage.

Stage presence was close to non-existent. Before most every song, it was announced what the song was about, and what to expect. I guess they were concerned with surprising the audience with something outside its frame of reference. The patter was mostly self-referential and sounded rehearsed, the jokes were not that amusing nor told well. They didn't connect with the audience very well. I think there was clapping along with only 2-3 of songs.

The cost was high, $22.50. There were 2 sets of about 45 minutes each.

Maybe I am spoiled. Atlanta has long had a lively club scene with bands that know how to work an audience, who really seem to enjoy performing, and show it. These guys just went through the motions in comparison.

[Arlen]

They're actually from just up the road from here. (Literally, I went to the same high school a few years later.)
I'd say they're definately worth the money.

[gilmore]

They're actually from just up the road from here. (Literally, I went to the same high school a few years later.)
I'd say they're definately worth the money.

You are probably thinking of former members of the band. Now, only one is from mainland Scotland. The others are from Lewis, Ireland and Los Angeles.

[Arlen]

You are probably thinking of former members of the band. Now, only one is from mainland Scotland. The others are from Lewis, Ireland and Los Angeles.

Wow. They must have gone through a lot of changes since I last seen them.
Now I'm wondering if they'd be as good live.

[###KILTEDKIWI###]

great band

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I've had the pleasure of seeing them live. One of my favorite Scottish bands. I'd definitely go. Wear the kilt -- when they played Maggie Valley up here they were giving away free Irn Bru to any man in a kilt. :-)

--Edit. Sorry, I didn't see this thread was nearly a year old. I normally catch the dates when an old post gets resurrected, but missed it this time. Sorry you didn't enjoy the show, Gilmore. Still one of my favorite bands.

[annie777]

Anyone familiar with Battlefield Band? They are coming to Atlanta on the 18th of this month, but it will cost $22.50 to see them. I am wondering if it is worth that much.

Here's their website: http://www.battlefieldband.co.uk

TRULY a bargain and worth every single penny. This band is one of the best EVER