One Night at Kells

Kells Irish Pub is the place to come for a genuine good time; you cannot be disappointed. The atmosphere is unequalled and the music fits perfectly into the ambiance of the night. The act on Monday was Tom May, a figurehead of folk music. He is the producer and host of River City Folk, a nationally broadcast weekly radio program in its 23^rd year now, as well as a singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Originally from Nebraska, he now makes his home in the Pacific Northwest. May is known for founding (and continues to organize) Winterfolk, an annual charity event and Portland’s largest acoustic music concert. May is also a regular at Kells, often performing for a week each month. His Monday set had an Irish focus, playing many traditional songs. It is easily the next best thing to being back at a pub in Ireland, if not better due to his skill and professional experience. May enthralls listeners with his broad baritone voice as he sings Irish ballads such as “The Spanish Lady” and “A Walk in the Irish Rain.” As a prelude to another song, May even took out his Irish whistle and played a tune with as much skill and style as I’d seen in my last eight days through Ireland.

Kells has an authentic air about it. There are scores of Irish whiskeys proudly displayed behind the bar, validating the class of the pub, but don’t be frightened of the pub food either: it is a mix of authentic Irish and local favorites, and the kitchen does a great job. The acoustics of are great for a venue like this; speakers hung above the stage project clear and evenly, and the volume can always be the right level depending on your seating. Kells was not packed on Monday by any means, but I was surprised at the overall number of patrons; tables were at least half full throughout the night.

It may have been the mood of the night, but May showed an inclination towards the deeper and serious songs such as “Black and Tan”, a song about the suppression of the Irish independence revolution, and “There Were Roses”, recounting the murder of the writer’s friend in a senseless act of religious discrimination. Between some of these songs, May talked specifically about the much improved political condition of Northern Ireland and his hope for the future, which gave these songs all the more meaning. These songs are really some of the most beautiful, and May gives a wonderful and heartfelt rendition. That isn’t to say that the traditional drinking songs were completely neglected. After a quick “Happy Birthday” to a party up front led May into a rousing “Drunken Sailor”, completely changing my concept of it as humdrum pirate tune. He also sung a Scottish love song to the well-loved beverage “O whiskey, whiskey, Nancy Whiskey / Whiskey, whiskey, Nancy-o.”

May has a vast knowledge of songs, from Irish and Scottish, to American and his own folk-inspired work. He performed a few of his own songs Monday night, including the title track off his new album Blue Roads, Red Wine, a song about his own travels with his favored drink. He also played his signature song, a tribute to one of his favorite places in the country, “Just Another Night at Kells.” After twelve full albums, various compilations and over 33 years of experience, you can be sure that Tom May knows his music and is a regular worth seeing at Kells.