Christy Moore

The Shelter, Dublin, Sept 10 2001

Christy Moore officially returned to performing live on Monday night last inVicar Street and from the opening numbers 'One Last Cold Kiss' and 'Ordinary Man', you could see his appetite for live performances has never diminished.

"Close your eyes and imagine it's 1981" he said. "Monday Nights in the Baggot" before launching into 'Santiago Bay' and 'Mattie' with regular sidekicks Donal Lunny and Declan Sinnott.

Material from his recent chart topping album 'This Is The Day' was well received, and included his next single 'A Stitch In Time', 'Cry Like A Man', 'Companeros', and 'So Do I' amongst others. The Larry 'Maith An Fear' Goodman-influenced 'Boning Halls' had the crowd jubilant, while 'Hiroshima' and 'Black Is The Colour' brought us the best in all musicians, notably Declan's guitar solo on the latter.

'Reel In The Flickering Light' required a second take. The first one consisted of the first verse followed by Verse 3, which according to Christy "was caused by this auld off-beat clapping, I only get to sing these songs once every six months or so, so let me sing them" he joked. The sound of a fallen beer tray provoked him to comment "I hope that tray was empty. There's nothing worse than seeing a tray of pints coming at ya, and then coming quicker at ya".

Other favourites followed in the form of 'Biko Drum', 'Yellow Triangle', 'Go Move Shift', 'Johnny Don't Go', and - one of my all-time favourites - 'Continental Ceili'. Christy then spoke of the recent small gigs they'd played in Clonakilty and Dublin, "so we said f**k it we might as well play Vicar Street, and I'm glad we did".

As the night wore on the requests continued to be hurled up from the floor at him one after the other. "Jukebox Night at Vicar Street" he said. 'Irish Ways' shouted one fan. "Join the queue", said Christy, "there's a lady down here at the front who wants to hear a song, a song that I WANT TO SING" and he did in the form of Victor Jara. He ended the show with 'How Long 'and 'Ride On'.

There was always going to be an encore, consisting of 'Before The Deluge', 'Well Below The Valley' (complete with bodhrans) and finishing up with the crowd pleaser 'Lisdoonvarna'. As the three men exited the stage, the crowd showed their appreciation by giving them a well earned standing ovation. There was however to be one more song. Back they came to cover the Jimmy McCarthy number 'Jack Doyle'.

A singer, a songwriter, an entertainer and a comedian, all rolled into one. He's no ordinary man.

Mick Lynch

Check out a review of Christy Moore Live with Declan Synott, Donal Lunny & Luka Bloom at this hometown venue in 2004.