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OPERA HOUSE 22.10.10
The Cork Opera House was once the hopping headquarters of the Cork Jazz Festival but, after an enforced summer closure, found itself in opposition to the ubiquitous jazz this weekend. And more or less direct opposition at that ss the new management staged a mini-series of one night music events.
Rumours of Fleetwood Mac were there on Friday night and the audience was definitely hit by the Guinness powered jazz fest. For all that, neither the band nor the crowd that did come in were in any way fazed and a terrific night of entertainment ensued.
The band were as professional and engaging as any I've come across and, before the end, had the audience rocking in the rows, some of us creaking (it has to be admitted). And I ain't telling you no lies, sweet or otherwise.
CORK OPERA HOUSE (13.12.09)
OPERA HOUSE
Back to the Opera House on Sunday night to see Mexican duo, Rodrigo y Gabriella (who regard Ireland, where they got their big break, " as our second home") in fast guitar action, the show started by the feisty Wallis Bird.
Not so fast at the start though. The gig, scheduled for an 8.00pm kick off, didn't start until 8.30pm. And neither the house announcer nor any of the acts gave any reason for the delay to the paying public. Mobile phone cameras were hardly in evidence on this occasion but there were quite a few camera flashes, Mickey Mouse guns dying after five or six rows but still annoyingly eye-catching in the dark.
By the end though, after close on two hours high paced playing by the Mexicans, that wasted half-hour was forgotten about.
CORK OPERA HOUSE (10.12.09)
A big downside on a recent visit to the otherwise excellent Cork Opera House was the amount of people who insisted on using their mobile phones (and, to a lesser degree, cameras) to record bits of the show. The mobiles may not have disturbed the artist but people sitting behind were certainly inconvenienced by the bright screens.
Time the Opera House got heavy here; they do make a very polite annoucement before each show. But nothing is done about the problem; maybe is is time to send a bit of beef up and down the aisles. And latecomers shouldn't be so easily accommodated when there is a genius at work on stage.
Guitar genius Joe Bonamassa turned it on for close on two hours there last night. He is described as a blues player. He is that, but much much more, all demonstrated in a brilliant dazzling stamina sapping performance.
Has been playing since he was a toddler and recalled that his dad used collar him to do music on Saturday afternoons. And on one occasion, the study material included a VHS cassette of Rory Gallagher at the Cork Opera House.
The show was opened by a fresh faced Sandi Thom (I wish I was a punk rocker, 2006) and her band. They weren't half bad and got a fine reception. But then the adults came out to play. Two non stop hours of WOW!!
It is easy to book your tickets for Opera Hosue shows, either at the office or online. A multi-rise car-park, open 'til midnight, is in nearby Paul Street.The seats here are comfortable and there is decent space between the rows.
