Meet "the house band for New York City"
oconnell7 | 10/30/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
""On Fire" is the second live recording from the Irish-American rock band Black 47. However, this album goes beyond serving as a follow-up to "Live in New York City." It was recorded at Wetlands Preserve in New York and captures the raw energy of a live Black 47 concert. The band has a new lineup with Joseph Mulvanerty replacing Chris Byrne on uillean pipes. He sets himself apart from Byrne with a free, improvisational style rarely heard on pipes. The interplay of the sax and trombone is a highlight of this album. Tracks include unreleased material and bold new arrangments of classic Black 47 songs. Lead singer Larry Kirwan's black humor and socio-political ideals are represented here. Add this to your collection if you're a Black 47 fan, or introduce yourself to 'the house band for New York City'"
Play it again, Larry--LOUD!
William R. Nevins | Albuquerque, New Mexico United States | 03/22/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If the Clash came back they'd be Black 47 and why the hell wouldn't they be proud and glad to be? Rebel stance, laughing good hearts, brave enough to take a bullet and keep rockin'--these lads don't mess. Fans love them enough to catch dozens of shows a year, beauties in the front row lipsynching every word while the uileann pipes wail and the brass section soars. Hey, you have to see and hear them to really get it--and they play everywhere from Shea Stadium to Times Square to Argentina, the hardest working band in America!
This second live cd brings you close to the Black 47 gig. You can taste the whiskey burnin'down as you shout back at Larry Kirwan--"Where the hell are ya now?"! A wonderful roiling roistering party of a record. Get it and play it, you'll play it again. And again and again after that. Loud. Guaranteed."
Not a "greatest hits package"
T. murphy | east rockaway, new york United States | 11/24/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
"most live albums either serve as a introduction for the non-fan or for fans who have never heard the band live. seeing black 47 live is almost a religious experience, and you can't get on a cd what you get from seeing them live. it comes pretty close. the first black 47 live album, "live in new york city" was phenomenal and covered many of the "hits" such as james connolly, funky ceili, maria's wedding, etc. none of those songs, which are their best songs are on this album. there are still plenty of good songs on this album. our lady of the bronx was a great choice, along with big fellah, and american wake. but they really miss chris "seanchai" byrne. doing rockin in the bronx and those saints without chris' raps aren't very good. they could have included something else instead like "back to the west," which still isn't on a black 47 album. all in all it's not a bad album, but if you're looking for a better introduction to the band, get "live in new york city" or try to find the very rare greatest hits album "ten bloody years.""