Music Mix sets tone for great evening with Fonn Mor

Monday, April 16, 2007
By Benjamin Smith-Theater Review

Muskegon Chronicle

Every so often I’m fortunate enough to witness a group of musicians with the courage to try something different. Fortunate indeed, Fonn Mor treated 240 West Michiganians and myself to one such experience Saturday night.

The self described “Celtic-world B group,” jigged, reeled and rocked the Howmet Playhouse in Whitehall. Using a combo of quitar, button box accordion, drums, flute, bass, fiddle and a laundry list of other instruments, Fonn Mor has achieved something many strive for, yet few accomplish: blend genres into something enjoyable.

Fon Mor’s sound is rooted in the Irish Celtic tradition, adding one heaping cup of folk, a spoonful of rock’n roll, a teaspoon of country and a pinch of just about everything else. What exactly is in that pinch of everthing else? Two words: Carolyn Koebel.

Filling the role of drummer, percussionist and backing vocalist, Koebel was remarkable. Beyond serving as the backbone of rhythm, I found Koebel’s versatility the most captivating: switching from rockish staccato drum lines to subtle and serene sound effects without skipping a beat.

And just as I’m being mesmerized by Koebel’s talent, I noticed that fiddler extraordinaire Rick Willey is keeping pace despite the fraying hairs on his bow. Scan the stage –yup- the entire troupe is following suit. No one dropped the ball, no one missed a beat.

However you want to classify them, Fonn Mor’s rhythm and tempo was wonderfully seamless on Saturday night. Although, the audience did miss the flute portion on the first song- the sound technician quickly remedied the faux pas.

But despite all the many positives, I do have one major gripe. Performance aside, it seems to me there is a certain moral wrongness to playing Irish Celtic music without providing or offering any alcohol whatsoever.

To add insult to injury, Koebel promised us refreshments during the intermission. And, of course, I thought she meant beer.

But when I went in search of those lovely refreshments, there were none to be found. So, I gently encourage the Howmet Playhoue to procure a liquor license for future Celtic music events – as soon as possible.

You can catch Fonn Mor 9 p.m. April 28, at Quinn and Tuite’s on Plainfield, Grand Rapids. For more information: www.fonnmor.com

© 2006 Muskegon Chronicle. Used with permission