If
you hadn’t seen the word "Tribute" on the posters
outside the venue you’d swear it was the man himself! He
has the look, the voice, the guitar, the eyes, the black vest,
the songs, the humour, the stories, the bodran, the intensity
of the singing, coupled with the fury of the strumming, mother
of God he even sweats like him! And the hair is none too plentiful
either!
Wexford
native, Liam
Byrne, has been performing
his show "Ordinary Man - A Tribute to Christy Moore"
since the year 2000. It all began in the Bridge Tavern in Wicklow
town and since then Liam has been criss crossing Ireland, performing
to thousands of people at venues both large and small, playing
all the hits from "Nancy Spain" and "Ride On"
to the hilarious "Joxer goes to Stuttgart" and "Delirium
Tremens".
It’s not just another "one man band’
standing in the corner gig. This is a full concert clocking
in at over 2 hours most nights and no cigarette breaks half
way through either.
Christy fans take note however, Liam doesn’t stick
religiously to the songs of the Kildare troubadour and during
most shows he can be heard performing self penned numbers such
as "Christy’s Black Vest" (preceded by a hilarious
story of how Liam and Christy went shopping in Cork for the
aforementioned garment!), "Roy Keanes Dog" (this one
just has to be heard) and for all the ladies a tune called "Living
in a field in Avoca" (a parody of Ricky Martins hit living
La Vida Loca which Liam claims strongly resembles his tune which
was penned first!). On top of all this one of Christy’s
most popular songs "Lisdoonvarna" gets a make over
most nights and you could hear anything from Joe Dolan’s
"Good Looking Woman" to Liam’s version of Johnny
Cashes "Walk the Line" thrown into the middle of it.
Liam Byrne has an ability that not many artists have
these days namely the ability to hold his audiences attention
for the duration of the concert and have them looking for more
and more! He can have you singing Joxer at the top of your voice
one minute and then bring an audience to silence with his version
of "Black is the Colour" which leaves the hair standing
on the back of your neck!
It’s a show not to be missed and to be thoroughly
enjoyed and .............. YES FOLKS, THE BAR STAYS OPEN!
