Killdares Take Palace By Storm

Killdares Take Palace By Storm Dallas-based Celtic rockers, The Killdares, made a return appearance Saturday evening at Corsicana’s beautifully restored Palace Theatre. After a block party complete with smoked sausage and libations, the crowd moved into the Palace for an evening of unforgettable entertainment. The band, which first played the venue as part of the 2006 block party, was proud to return and share their unique brand of rock and roll with a full house of appreciative fans. The Killdares consisted of a power trio of Brek Lancaster’s guitar, Jim Dawson’s bass and Tim Smith’s drums and lead vocals, while also featuring the world-class fiddling of Roberta Rast and the skillful and haunting bag piping of Matt Willis.

The concert commenced with the lone figure of a piper on stage playing a mournful solo, but the scene soon was infused with energy as all the Killdares launched into the first of two sets of music. The band mainly played original compositions, many from their latest album, Any Given Element, but the night also included a few well-placed cover tunes such as Jethro Tull’s, Locomotive Breath, and Big Country’s, Fields of Fire. While these numbers were crowd pleasers, what really brought the faithful to their feet was the Killdares’ original songs such as September, Daylight (Come and Go) and Gone West. Another rousing highlight of the evening was the lively fiddle-based tunes that featured award-winning band member, Roberta Rast, on her five-string fiddle. The crowd showed their appreciation for the music from the beginning as many in the audience rose to their feet, while others danced a jig before the stage. As the concert drew to a close, the rowdy fans gave a standing ovation demanding an encore by chanting and even pounding their hands on the Palace stage. After the fiery encore, the satisfied crowd once again made their way into the street, many stopping to chat and take pictures with the band before exiting the theatre. Killdares’ lead singer and drummer, Tim Smith, voiced his appreciation to the staff of the Palace Theatre for their excellent hospitality and hoped the band would return next year to again be part of the block party. If this year’s event was any indication, hopefully we’ll see the Killdares back in Corsicana in 2008.

-Kirk deCordova

dallasmusic.com