Susan Swinehart
Review Finbar Wright tour
February 2010

I feel so lucky right now. I had the opportunity to travel to Ireland to see Finbar Wright's solos in Waterford, Cork and Limerick. It really was extra special to me to be there. 2009 was not the best of year for me and I needed something to lift my spirits and that is exactly what these concerts did.

To see Finbar bound, and that is the correct term, out on stage alone would have been enough, but then to sit through two hours of the most wonderful concerts imaginable. Finbar gave life to all the songs he performed. Be it from Strangers In The Night that was the first song to Blaze Away they all had the audiences yelling for me.

Finbar seemed so at home on stage, kidding with his musical director Andy O'Callaghan, to telling stories and of course showing off his new footwear. I think he should wear the sparkle shoes always, but I am not sure about the sparkling tie - but if he was happy that is all that matters. I do have to tell you he referred to the shoes a lethal weapons - they had needle pointed toes, in TX they would call them shoes that you could kill cockroaches in corners with. Now the socks he wore, I am not sure what the pattern on them was, but someone reported that on Valentine's Day they had pink hearts on them!! Finbar seemed so proud of his shoes and did say that Andy got them and they were too small for him and Finbar was dared to wear them and wear them he did. I think there is a good reason that Finbar is from Cork - The Rebel County.

Finbar told a sweet story about the first song he knew all the words to. It seems at least in Waterford he told, a farmhand was heard singing in the field and Finbar learned the words to South Of The Border from him, but then in Cork it was a seaman in Kinsale that he learned the song, and then again in Limerick it was an artist painting in Kinsale that stopped painting and sang the song - where ever he learned the song, it is sure a favorite of the audiences always.

Finbar worked hard on getting the right mixture of songs, from slow quiet love songs that made your heart sing, and maybe dream too, to rousing Spanish melodies that have you dancing in your seat and really everything in between and we were taken on a journey of pure joy and that no one wanted to return from.

I have been asked about the length of Finbar's hair. I am sure he didn't figure when he got back to doing solos one of the main topics would be his hair. Ladies I have to tell you, as we call it, the poet look was what he was wearing. A little shorter on top but tumbling to soft waves and curls to his shirt color.

I have to interject here that Finbar has some of the best musicians with him in the business. Also a trio lead by Colin McClean is part of the musicians and over the years we have seen Colin mature into one of the best classical guitar players ever.

Finbar's voice seemed stronger than ever - he was holding notes for so long that the audiences, and I am delighted of the fact, that they had to wait to show their thrill at the end of songs while that last note of the song echoed through the venue. You sure can tell he has been working long and hard at making sure he gave his best.

I have to admit that I have an old nickname when it comes to talking about Finbar. I used to be called Gusher. This concert tour by Finbar deserves to be gushed over. You cannot use too many superlatives when it comes to FINBAR Wright!!

Finbar Song List February 2010

Strangers in the Night, The Way Old Friends Do, Sway, Parlami d’Amore

Sentamiento (Colin McClean Latin Trio)

Love’s Old Sweet Song, Vino De Amor, Sweet Sixteen

Tango—"Por Una Cabeza" (from Scent of a Woman) by violinist Carol (?)

You Were Always on My Mind, The Contender, Unchained Melody

Intermission

I Can’t Stop Loving You, South of the Border, Dance Me to the End of Love

Loco Por Ti (Colin McClean Latin Trio)

Besamé Mucho, Bright Blue Rose, Let It Be, Whatever You Believe

Diablo Rojo (Colin McClean Latin Trio)

Blame it on the Bossa Nova, Volaré, Can’t Help Falling in Love

Encores:

La Bamba, Blaze Away

PS: Finbar who is the last Prince of Cork has a special place in everyone's heart and even though he could have been a King, he is happy and isn't that what we all want for him.