Shanneyganock

The name Shanneyganock, according to scores of unofficial biographies online, means “creatures of the night” in Gaelic. On Friday night at the CFC, it wasn’t hard to see that this band, in their 15th year and with seven studio releases, are used to late night parties where their music is the reason people are staying up late!

As Suze Casey mentioned in their introduction, some of the other venues the band has played in Calgary have tended towards the rowdy side. During their two sets on Friday night, Shanneyganock certainly displayed many markers of a pub band: they were loud, lusty, and lively but their focus on traditional music and flashes of virtuosity won the hearts of the CFC audience who sang along to every song and roared at every joke.

Musically, the band are seasoned professionals and their performance contained some brilliant moments: Chris Andrews’ vocals were gritty and captivating and his version of Stan Rogers’ “Northwest Passage” had people murmuring in astonishment. It is rare to find a voice that can live up to the challenge of Stan Rogers song. Andrews’, in my opinion, did it and then some. Bob Pike on vocals and bass and Mike Clarke on drums showed that no matter the key change, tempo shift, or break into a new time signature, this band was as tight as a bodhran and as polished as a penny whistle. Perhaps the most alluring element, musically, however was the instrumentation of Mark Hiscock on accordion (and occasionally mandolin and banjo).

Showcasing the proudest and most virtuosic of Newfoundland traditions on his squeezebox, Hiscock elevated the arrangements of many of the band’s songs to the level of the sublime. A calm and almost still presence on stage, Hiscock’s fingers skipped, capered and gamboled across the buttons of his instrument. It was a joy to behold and a gift for the ears.

The bottom line: the audience was delighted with Shanneyganock and responded with a standing ovation. You didn’t have to be a Newfoundlander to laugh at the comedy, mourn the passing of a way of life, or applaud the irrepressible spirit portrayed by this band. The last number, “Mussels in the Corner,” is the traditional Newfoundland dance tune, almost an anthem. While most of the crowd chose not to join the enthusiastic rug-cutters to the side of the stage (literally in the corner!) it seems as if everyone was dancing in their hearts. Shanneyganock was certainly a good reason to stay up late.

INTERSTING SIDE NOTE: In 2005, 989 accordion players gathered in St. John’s at the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival to “Mussels in the Corner” simultaneously.