Mohawks, knit hats and graphic tees. These aren’t the typical items one would associate with a Celtic rock band. But nothing about the Tartan Terrors’ performance at Elon University Sept. 18 could pass as typical.
The Canadian-based group performed in McCrary Theatre to a full house of families, senior citizens and students. With a medley of song and humor, accompanied by a traditional step dancer, the audience roared with laughter and clapped in rhythm for the entire two-hour set.
The band’s instruments ranged from fiddles to guitars to bagpipes, and its set list was even more eclectic. The Terrors played songs that one might expect from a Celtic group, with strong instrumental melodies that pumped through the air. But they also covered more well-known songs, from Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” to The Monkees’ “I’m a Believer,” the latter as a tribute to Scotland’s famous movie character, Shrek. The band even did a perverse version of “Scotland the Brave”, a parody entitled “Scotland Depraved.”
Giving a synopsis for each song’s origin and inspiration, from poems they had read to real-life events that inspired them, the Tartan Terrors provided a relatable context that not all music groups do, making each song as meaningful to the audience as it was to the band.
While there were plenty of references to whiskey and beer, some of the songs delved deeper than one might expect. The song “When Pink is Just a Color Again” is based on a poem written by a Canadian poet about breast cancer. The band has been giving part of its latest album’s profits to breast cancer research, thus the song’s greater meaning.
The group’s frontman and the night’s emcee was the group’s cofounder, Ian Wilkes-Irmisch, who went to any lengths for a good laugh. But his bandmates, who all exhibited the same high energy, supported Wilkes-Irmisch’s irrepressible spirit. The amount of stomping, clapping and bouncing on stage was an obvious sign of a time well had.
But what the group fed off most was interaction with the audience. From choreographing dance moves for the audience during “Scotland Depraved” to asking for people to repeat certain lines in “Mary Mack,” the band constantly craved participation and reaction from the audience.
The Tartan Terrors owned the McCrary stage, bringing a comedic and Canadian twist to the classic Celtic rock genre. They were in sync, both musically and personally, engaging the audience in an entertaining and unparalleled musical experience. And best of all, they did it in kilts.