Cutthroat Shamrock kicks it up a notch !

Last night's show at the Valarium saw both Jon Worley and Cutthroat Shamrock improving on a good thing. The Fox Hunt played a great set, but didn't add anything new since last time I heard them. ( I'm not suggesting that they need to do so, I'm just noting that they didn't. ) Worley played a good ( if short ) set, but this time brought cello and oboe into the mix. It was a good sound for him. When it was time for Cutthroat Shamrock to come on I felt like I was back in Boston for the 2003 or 2004 Dropkick Murphys shows. Just before the band took to the stage the lights went down. Then the bagpipes sounded. That's right. They added a piper. They also played many favourites ( old and more recent ), a few Irish traditional tunes and more Pogues than I've heard them do in a night before, including a great version of " A Pair of Brown Eyes. " It was definitely worth the cover and more. They have new merchandise, too, including sturdy pint glasses for $5 each.