Concert Review
June 30, 2006
Fort Worth Central Market

Burgers, Bock, Kilts and Fun
Killdares Rock Central Market


    A rock and roll concert at a grocery store? What’s wrong with this picture? Nothing, if the grocery store is the gourmet paradisio, Central Market, and the rock and roll is served up by the Metroplex’s most unique rock band, the kilted quintet known as the Killdares.

If you haven’t been to one of Central Market-Fort Worth’s “Burgers and Bock” concerts held on summer nights, brother, you’ve missed the big boat and have been left at the dock! Central Market has a HUGE concert pavilion and even rolls out a couple of grills to sizzle some juicy gourmet burgers that would make Star Jones salivate until next Thursday. And if burgers aren’t your cup of spiced tea, then wake up and smell the coffee, Mary Jane, you’ve got a gourmet chef’s case and a cooler section of beer and wine just a few yards away inside good ole Central Market.  

Back on stage, the band is getting prepped for the gig. Tim’s thumping his bass drum, while Jim’s thumping his “E” string. Matt’s blowing the last few flakes of Scottish oatmeal out of his highland bagpipes, while Roberta’s carefully applying minute particles of dark, amber rosin (probably flown in from the secret rosin forests of British Columbia) to her rosewood bow. Being the Grand Master Fiddle Champion of the free world, Roberta knows about crap like secret rosin forests. Hey, and who’s that dude sharpening his ax in the corner? Don Johnson? No, it’s Brek “5 O’clock Shadow” Lancaster, making sure his guitar is ready to blast both young and old. With the band primped and pumped, it’s time to get the show on the road.

As the music unfolds, the crowd focuses and the Killdares get down to the business of rocking the masses. The band plays a mix of original tunes (mainly pulled from their latest album, Any Given Element) along with a few rock covers to keep everything jumping. All night the capacity crowd is digging the show and people of all ages are seen dancing at the foot of the stage. As “Blitzkrieg Bop” is announced, the show heads for a climax complete with fans raising rebellious fists and chanting, “Hey, ho, let’s go!” It was reported that the Killdares drew more people to Central Market and kept them at the store later than any previous band; a record they will most likely break on their next visit to CM.

Friday’s concert at Fort Worth- Central Market wasn’t the first time the Killdares have ventured westward from Dallas lately. The band played a late night slot on May 11 at 8.0 in Fort Worth’s Sundance Square to the evening meet and greet set, as well as performing for the Main Street Days Festival in Grapevine on May 20th. At Main Street, hundreds of fans packed the concert area up to an hour before the show. By the time the music was in progress, the crowd was “wall to wall” and the evening proved to be one of the best concerts ever for the Killdares.

So by this time, dear reader, you’re probably asking yourself, how do I, ordinary Joe or Josephine, get a chance to see the Killdares live in concert? The answer’s simple, merely use your vast computer skills (and you know that you have them) to visit www.killdares.com and check out the band’s show schedule. Take it from me; you’ll be glad you did!

Another perspective:
By: Kirk deCordova
dallasmusic.com