Moya Brennan, Ashley Davis make beautiful music together

Ashley Davis had a lot to celebrate last month. She was not only getting the opportunity throughout the East Coast to air the beautiful songs on her new “Down by the Sea” disc, she would be doing so as special guest on the tour of her idol, Clannad’s Moya Brennan.

But fate stepped in with a cruel blow, robbing Davis of her voice and forcing her to bow out of the tour opener in Washington, D.C.

“My voice is about 80 percent there,” she whispered nervously as we stood at the bar in the back of the large banquet hall of Rory Dolan’s in Yonkers on May 21, where the Celtic chanteuses would share the stage in one of two New York area appearances in front of a small but appreciative audience.

Because of the intimate size of the crowd, Brennan stood by the merchandise table and personally greeted many of the old friends and fans that came to see her (while Davis paced the stage and prayed for the god of vocals to deliver a miracle).

Some fans broke into the Gaelic tongue immediately, much to the delight of this legendary singer. The poetry of that ancient dialect was one of the key ingredients in Clannad, and it is cultural treasure that her family keeps close to its heart.

That was evident in the DVD Brennan pressed into my hand. During the last interview we did, she promised me a copy of an Irish language documentary of the Brennan family (they not only spawned Clannad but Enya as well) that culminated in a Clannad reunion in the U.K.

This was a sweet home movie of one of the most seminal clans in our culture, which was a real viewing treat for this long-time fan. The narrations and interviews are done entirely in Gaelic, which made this reviewer thankful for subtitles! 

Before I go on, let me deliver mad props to Rory Dolan’s. Being the Jersey Shore boy that I am means that I don’t get onto McLean Avenue very often, and I must admit to forgetting what a great place it is.

Not only is the food at Rory’s great and the craic mighty, stepping into an Irish pub where everyone in the place actually has a brogue is a rare delight indeed.

Davis borrowed Brennan’s band and took the stage. “This is the same group of musicians that recorded much of “Down by the Sea” with me, so it is really a thrill to play it live again,” she announced, her face beaming.

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Nster.com