Search - Silly Wizard :: Live Wizardry

Imagine the Roof Top Concert of Let It Be

o dubhthaigh | north rustico, pei, canada | 12/22/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was the swan song, a final farewell for the group that had taken the Celtic Revival sparked by Christy Moore and blew it into an uncompromising Firestorm that swept all before it. The incendiary virtuosity of Johnny and Phil Cunningham, the protean songwriting and mellifluous voice of Andy M. Stewart, the rock solid rhythm fretwork of Martin Haden and Gordon Jones were unparalleled at the time and set the bar so high that only Altan has ever surpassed them. And the case can well be made that there would be no Altan without Silly Wizard. This December, founding member Johnny Cunningham passed away, and thus an incredible part of Scots culture has left us.
You must remember that this band was formed by Cunningham in 1972 when he was 14 and Phil was 12. every significant Scottish musicians in the 80"s and 90's was impacted by Silly Wizard. Most of the really important ones were either briefly associated or absolutely inspred by SW's accomplishments.
As you can tell from the customer reviews, all of the CDs were sterling efforts. This one though has all the bittersweet elements of a fond farewell. Like The Beatles, there had been a feeling that they had covered the waterfront and it was time to move on. A tour was launched and perhaps the best playing of their career was delivered. The humour on stage was more accurately captured on the Green Linnet video, but this is a remarkable document of a band who quit at the peak and left all of us forever wanting more.
If you have nay Scots blood in you at all, you will find yourself full of pride in these remarkable men. If you have an avocation for this music, it simply does not get any better at all. 5 stars is somehow far short of just how incredible this disc is."

Great music, like having a fiddle in your back pocket!

o dubhthaigh | 07/18/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Live Wizardry" is the penultamate presentation of the five members of Silly Wizardry. SW sounds a bit like "clan na'geal" or "Seven Nations" but unique in their own.From the first song "Queen Of Argyll" a tale of a lady of exceeding beauty and charm, but out of reach, Andy starts a melodious exploration of new and traditional Scotts music. You can see the smoke coming off the violins (being played so fast and hard) in many of the songs on this collection."The Parish Of Dunkeld" brings people back to the roots of Religion, reminding people that it's the folks who make the church, not the walls."The Valley Of Strathmore" is a ballad of a heartbroken man wishing one last day with his departed love. Eerily romantic, tears of joy can be felt through the lyrics, and the voice of the instruments."The Ramblin' Rover" is a lyrical journey across the faces of the people that one could meet in on! e's life. Just as the journey is made, so is the song. This is a rare instance of acapella from Silly Wizard."Donald McGillavry" is a swirling mix of Scottish and English. Just as the notes toss on a sea beaten into a froth, so do the lyrics as the group sings about every townsfolks nightmare. "...and maggots wouldn't eat 'im" and you know this is a tough guy! Brush up on your Gaelic, or visit some of the web sites for the translations of the songs."Golden, Golden" and "The Broom of the Cowden Knowes" bring us back to the tender side of the group. Some say that the heartbroken man gets his day (and more) back with his love lost in "Valley Of Strathmore"A complete success from start to finish, this is one album that you can listen to in ANY mood, and it can take you to any other mood before you know it. This is Silly Wizard's finest hour, and to have it be a live album just tops it off. There is a video of this av! ailable, and Silly Wizard knows how to play the audience, t! elling about the group, and cracking jokes in between songs. A must have!"

Silly Wizard - Live Wizardry

o dubhthaigh | 11/13/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Great CD! Perfect pub music. Ramblin' Rover is one of the best. Their live album even has audience in it when recorded in Boston. A great buy."