Those who have experienced New York's CMJ Music Festival in late October know that the air in the city turns vibrant, humming with more electricity than it normally does. On this brisk fall night in late October, that is especially true at Paddy Reilly's Music Bar on 29^th and Second, where the Prodigals are about to take the stage. Among the most successful Irish rock bands to come out of New York City in recent years, The Prodigals have enjoyed an ongoing waltz of  touring and performing across the U.S. and Ireland for more than ten years. They've recorded seven albums, a substantial body of work, which has received significant critical acclaim.

In a city which can arguably be at times frantic and harsh, the opposite is true tonight; the atmosphere at Paddy Reilly's is undeniably warm and festive, resembling the energy at one of those legendary family reunions or neighborhood block parties that run late into the night, fueled by music and wine and topped with laughter and dancing. As they take to the stage, The Prodigals transform from a group of friends into a live wire or, as John O'Regan puts it, a "Molotov cocktail of Irish music and rock 'n' roll." Their dynamic chemistry is palpable on stage and their smiles reveal friends who, both on stage and off, are disarmingly gracious. The Prodigals are: Gregory Grene on vocals and button accordion; Dave Fahy on vocals and guitar; Chris Higginbottom on drums; Ed Kollar on bass; and Darren Maloney on banjo.

As lead musician and bandleader for The Prodigals, Grene is a musician's musician whose record on stage as well as off, speaks of a music lover who has been true to his heart (and his ears) every step of the way. By day, he is Director of Music at DraftFCB, a powerhouse multi-national ad agency with headquarters in Manhattan. As music producer for over the last ten years, Grene has had his finger on the pulse of new music ever since he can remember. He's part of the reason that ad agencies today are regarded as important tastemakers (similar to select video game developers) versus just followers who jump on the bandwagon of the hottest music, and license it to sell more Coca-Cola. Grene has negotiated music contracts with heavyweights ranging from the Beatles to Goldfrapp; he's supervised recordings with acts as diverse as top reggae singer Abija in Kingston, Jamaica and a 60-piece orchestra in the historic Abbey Road studios.

Grene and his fellow band members blend traditional Irish melodies and rock music in a way that is both viscerally engaging and organic. This helps drive The  Prodigals' longevity and success. Most recently, two of their tracks, The Open Reel and Bunch of Red Roses, were featured in New Line Cinema's "Pride and Glory," released in theaters nationwide in late October. Thanks to Grene's initiative, The Prodigals came under the radar of music supervisor for the film, Nic Harcourt, the venerable West Coast DJ and Music Director at KCRW, who is responsible for putting Coldplay, Damien Rice, Moby and Norah Jones, on the map.

The Prodigals will release a 'Best of' album in early January 2009.  They continue to prove that they have staying power by pushing the boundaries of their sound, continually tapping fresh sources of inspiration, and maintaining a wholly unique personality and spirit. For more information about the band, visit www.prodigals.com.

< Previous Entry

Next Entry >