FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1999. All Rights Reserved
| Music by Martin Kemp Seanachie Sitting in a local coffeehouse with Gordon McCulloch, it is clear that in addition to his bottomless cup of coffee, the Edinburgh-born singer/songwriter has an endless supply of stories just waiting to be told to whoever is around. As the primary songwriter for Calgary-based Celtic band Seanachie, McCulloch has a penchant for telling historical tales, as well as stories about the here and now. And in a pinch, I’m pretty sure he’ll even make stuff up for you. With a passion for storytelling in his blood, McCulloch says the need to tell tales is imbedded deep in his roots. "In Scotland, my mother’s people, and women in general, are considered to be the keepers of the oral history," he says. "They can tell you when so-and-so was born, and when so-and-so got engaged, married and died. It is stuck in their heads; they couldn’t get rid of it even if they wanted to. "I sometimes wonder what will happen when the old ones are gone. My dad died a few years back and he is not going to be able to tell anybody what happened in Normandy, which was a crucible for him. "What happens if nobody writes down the stories and then they’re gone?" he asks. "What happens if you have a photograph of a family hanging on your wall and nobody living remembers who they are? "Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be. As a kid you get stories told to you all the time – you’ve got your mom or dad reading to you, you’ve got Sesame Street, and whatever else. What about adults? People don’t really tell us stories anymore." Aptly named after the Gaelic word for "storyteller," Seanachie released their debut CD, Telling Tales, in 1996. The group has developed a strong audience base in Calgary, which McCulloch laughingly attributes to "a complete, total and utter lack of competition." On a more serious note he adds, the Celtic scene around here is growing, as it seems to be doing everywhere else, and there are a lot of young bands that are coming into their own. With the release of their new CD, A Quarrel With Whiskey, Seanachie certainly seems to be one of the bands who are coming into their own. The 12 tracks on the album not only highlight McCulloch’s storytelling ability, but also the musicianship of the four other band members. According to McCulloch, it is a diversity of musical backgrounds that makes Seanachie an interesting listening experience. To see what he means, look no further than Ann Gray, the group’s award-winning piper, who has made an name for herself around the world with her music. "Annie comes from a grand heritage and very strong piping tradition in Nova Scotia, and she has a Masters Degree in Celtic Studies. Robin Tufts is a jazz drummer, so he is going to bring that to the mix, and bass player Diane Kooch has been playing punk and funk and everything else." Jackie Bell, who comes from a strong folk background, rounds out the band on vocals, violin and accordion. "When you get all of these backgrounds coming together," says McCulloch, "I can present a traditional tune to the band and it has to become a Seanachie tune. There’s no point in doing a traditional song the same way everybody else has done it or the way somebody else has made it famous." As the group prepares to launch A Quarrel With Whiskey, McCulloch is proud of what Seanachie has accomplished in their four years together. "It’s been four years of hard work to get from there to here," he reflects. "And now the band has really come together on this album." |
| Back To This Issue Table of Contents | Back To Main Index |