The Killdares
New Year’s Eve 2006
Knights of Columbus Hall
Lake Highlands
Rockin’ in the New Year at the K of C
While many Dallasites headed to black tie affairs or
their local watering holes to welcome the New Year, a party was
happening right in Lake Highlands that rivaled any of them. The annual
New Year’s Eve Gala at the Knights of Columbus, 799, was the site of
gourmet fare as well as some great entertainment to boot. On the
culinary side, the annual gala offered delicious lamb and prime rib
along with all the side dishes and a full dessert bar.
While the food was fantastic, the real focus of the
evening was the entertainment. Whether from a DJ or a live band, there
was plenty of opportunity to get up and show what you could do on the
dance floor. The first band that rocked the evening was a local group
called Ale Brje. This talented group played a variety of cover tunes
from rock to Latino and even disco. When Ale Brje had finished their
set, it was time for the evening’s headliners, The Killdares.
The Killdares have been around for almost ten years
now. Many people have seen them perform at the State Fair of Texas or
at countless area clubs and festivals. The band plays their own brand
of hard-driving rock with a Celtic flair. Not only do The Killdares
feature drums, bass and electric guitar, what sets them apart from the
rest is the clever addition of fiddle and bagpipes. On New Year’s Eve,
all of these sounds fused together for an unforgettable night of music
featuring songs from the group’s latest album, Any Given Element.
The band played three sets during the gala, but the last set was the
one that ushered in the New Year of 2006. The Killdares brought the
evening to a climax by hammering out their own rendition of Amazing
Grace followed by a high-energy version of Auld Lang Syne. After the
clock hit midnight and the traditional kisses had been firmly planted,
the band came back for one more tune. This time, they delivered an
electrified version of Peter, Paul and Mary’s, Leaving On a Jet Plane.
A hearty round of applause capped off the evening as the DJ played into
the night. If we have the luck of the Irish, perhaps we’ll see The
Killdares ringing in 2007 at the Knights of Columbus Hall.
If you would like to know more about The Killdares and their new album,
you can visit their website at www.killdares.com
Kirk deCordova
dallasmusic.com