Celtic music in the Desert Southwest? Just last fall my husband Wayne and I had traveled to Scotland and Ireland in hopes of finding new musical experiences, but an opportunity was happening almost in our own backyard. I received a Facebook post advertising a house concert for the Celtic band "Old Blind Dogs" to be held in our neighboring city of Las Cruces, New Mexico, about an hour's drive up the road.
House concert? What could that be? Who else would be attending? How should we dress? A phone call made our reservations. The price? Oh, about $20.00 or $25.00 per person, the young lady on the phone said. "Take cash," she suggested.
Our GPS located the house address in an attractive Las Cruces neighborhood. Although Las Cruces is near my home city of El Paso, Texas, it differs enough in architecture, gardens, food, and social life to provide a brief escape from everyday life. We rang the bell of a southwestern style house. not knowing exactly what to expect. Another guest joined us at the door and assured us we were in the right place.
A hostess welcomed us and offered food on one table and drinks on another. Oops! No one told us the house concert was also a pot luck. Ah well, we will know to bring a dish or a drink next time. We deposited our cash entrance fee in a small box in the entryway and located a front row seat.
The living room had been cleared and chairs set up, with a few prized seats on sofas or cushioned chairs. The hostess introduced the "Old Blind Dogs" as being one of her favorite bands. They are a Scottish musical group that has been around since 1990, although many changes have occurred in the line-up during those years. They are part of a revival of Scotland's roots, and are currently on a five week tour of the United States.
The present configuration of the band consisted of four members; one played the pipes and whistles, another fiddled, a third played a stringed instrument (a type of mandolin perhaps?) and did vocals, and a drummer.completed the band.
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| Old Blind Dogs,, Las Cruces, NM, March 2016 |
They were lively, friendly, and energetic. The band played two forty-minute sets with a twenty-minute intermission. What a treat it was to be sitting very near the band members where I could watch their faces and observe their musical techniques. A truly intimate setting.
The atmosphere of the entire evening can be summed up in one word-relaxing. No demands, no expectations, no moments of social discomfort. I'll be on the lookout for other house concerts in our area. This new experience had a very happy ending.
To watch a Youtube video of a former "Old Blind Dogs" band singing one of my favorite Scottish tunes, "To the Beggin" I Will Go, " click here. https://youtu.be/5biSoW1926I .
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