An evening with the Irish

Celtic Thunder press photo

Five lads from Ireland packed the State Theater in downtown Minneapolis last night, bringing Christmas greetings from the Emerald Isle. They're Celtic Thunder and they're in Des Moines tonight.
Black Friday crowds had thinned, we parked for five bucks, wending unimpeded through the skyways and pausing over the Nicollet Mall to enjoy Fireworks, which seems to be the poor substitute for the now defunct Hollidazzle Parade.
Early for everything now, we gazed at the intricate, gaudy interior of the restored State Theater, nodding knowingly and commenting, of course, that "they just don't make 'em like this anymore."
Three chatty beer-drinking broads eased into the seats next to us, ready to party and enjoy the Irish hunks made popular by PBS. The virile good-looking quintet has great voices, but the program was too much Santa and not enough Celtic for us. Katie O'Rolfsrud melts for the Ava Maria, and she did again last night.

In honor of Ron Letnes, Stan took this discreet,
forbidden shot of the interior of the State Theater.

Local musicians provided a marvelous, rich backdrop to the performers, a full-orchestra led by the animated Celtic Thunder conductor we so loved to watch, dancing and wringing every drop of Irish soul out of the local pros, introduced as "The State Theater Orchestra." The Thunder arranger mixed cellos and drums, french horns and electric bass, strings and rock and roll in a creative holiday musical montage. Twenty-six numbers later, the boys donned kilts for their finale, and everyone stood and sang a rousing pub version of the Rugby Anthem "Ireland, Ireland, Forever Standing Tall." It was great fun.
Outside, it was a warm evening by Minnesota standards, so we took the sidewalks, now singing bits and pieces, imbued with the Christmas spirit, trying to think of a Christmas song we hadn't heard.
All we could come up with was "O Tannenbaum." (Yes, they did include "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.")
Katie is still singing as this is written.