These five guys had come all the way from Portland, Oregon, to entertain us with their incredible old Appalachian Mountain Music, & what a great job they did. The night however, started off with club regulars Laura, Stephanie, Danielle & Greg on Concertina, Flute, Bodhran & Guitar respectively, ripping through some lively Irish Jigs & Reels, with a couple of lovely songs thrown in for good measure from Stephanie & Danielle. Then Nat Magee, his first time at the club, entertained & mezmerised us with his playing of the Hammer Dulcimer. Nat had travelled all the way up from Larne to hear the guests, & he was certainly not disappointed, & they in turn were so taken by his playing that they especially requested a few extra tunes from Nat, later on in the night.
Once the guests took to the stage, the room was filled with this glorious, warm, glowing, feel good music, which just had the whole crowd tapping their feet & grooving to their mountain music all night long. They huddled round the one Mic all night, taking turns to sing or take a bit of a lead, but unlike the Bluegrass band, Special Consensus, who took it in turns to rip into mind boggling, blistering solos, the Foghorn had a more down home approach, & they played more or less as a solid unit the whole night. Their musical talent & expertise however was never in question, and they were all mature, accomplished musicians, who didn't let their egos get in the way of producing wonderful music. So there was no egoistic head bobbing, posturing & pouting here, just musicians out of the top drawer, who had nothing to prove, & so were able to just relax & provide us with some of the tightest music we are ever likely to hear.
It was a pleasure, indeed a pure joy, to be able to witness these guys in action. I would have them back to the club in a minute, & certainly hope they call by, the next time they are back over this side of the pond.
