Ground-breaking KÍLA make welcome return
Few acts down through the years have opened Irish traditional music up to outside influences with the relish and enthusiasm of Kíla, whose gig at Monroe’s Live on Sunday, May 4, comes as an unexpected treat to Galway fans.
A couple of years have passed since the Dublin traditional group last played around these parts, as the band members have been engaged in a variety of diverse projects as well as recruiting new members.
It’s been eight years since they collaborated with Japanese musician Oki for Kíla & Oki, one of the most eclectic Irish albums ever released and their appeal extends well beyond traditional music circles.
Formed over a quarter of a century ago by the Ó Snodaigh brothers and Eoin Dillon, along with several musicians who would later go on to form The Frames, Kíla have been firm favourites at Irish festivals down through the years.
The heartbeat of the band comes from the furious bodhrán playing of Rónán Ó Snodaigh, who released an album with a band called The Occasionals late last year.
That album, Sos, recently chosen as the RTÉ Radio One Album of the Week, is an eight-song collection completely ‘as Gaelige’ which includes some wonderful guitar work.
American guitar player Pete Pamf adds an unusual dimension to Sos, some of which could be compared to the upbeat African funk of 1980s African heroes The Bhundu Boys.
Funkiest of all is Anam Ionam, a track which could be defined as ‘World’ (rather than ‘Irish’) music. Title track, Sos, is trance-inducing, while Seod sounds like it has come straight out of Africa rather than West Kerry – where the band recorded most of the album.
Unfortunately, the music from Sos will not feature at next weekend’s Monroe’s Live gig – it really would be a treat to see O Snódaigh return to Galway with The Occasionals at some stage.
But, given that Kíla have been one of the most eclectic of Irish bands for two and a half decades, that should not matter when they perform a full live show at Monroe’s.
Indeed, albums such as Tóg é Go Bog é (1997), Lemonade & Buns (2000), Gamblers’ Ballet (2007), and Luna Park (2003) are among the finest traditional releases ever recorded, while Kíla & Oki (2006) – which drew on the Japanese Ainu tradition – is one of the most innovative collaborations in Irish musical history.
Kíla play a full show at Monroe’s Live on Sunday, May 4, at 9pm. Tickets, priced €10, are available online at monroes.ie or on the door for €12.