Gaeilge Thalamh an Éisc.
The Gaelic name for that distinct dialect known as Newfoundland Irish, it is said that 80 per cent of those from “The Rock” are of Irish descent. Newfoundlanders are also part of the four million Canadians of full or partial Irish descent living across the country, so it’s no wonder that green is the national colour in Canada come St. Patrick’s Day.
One Okanagan band will be rolling out the shamrocks along with the Newfoundland flag on the release of its sophomore album.
Vernon’s Cod Gone Wild holds a Maritimes-style kitchen party at the Performing Arts Centre Sunday with numerous friends from around the community.
Featuring two new members, fiddler Anjuli Otter and bassist Roy Kawano, the Cods will spend the first half of the concert playing the tunes off its brand, new album The Traveler.
Recorded at the band’s house in Coldstream, lead singer/guitarist Andrew Mercer says the album is not only an ode to his Newfoundland roots, but also features his bandmates’ individual influences.
“These are songs we’ve played for a while and it’s important as we are a Celtic-Maritime band to have that Newfoundland influence, but we all have our own influences,” said Mercer, adding the band’s drummer/graphic designer Chad “Rhino” Carter has a background playing in rock/funk bands. “We also perform a lot of traditional songs, but have made them our own.”
A classically-trained violinist, Otter recently returned to her hometown of Vernon after spending five years living and working in India. She’s also a self-admitted fan of bluegrass and Celtic music, so joining the Cods was a no-brainer.
“It has been a bit of a culture shock after being in India for so long,” she said. “While I was away I was playing in some orchestras, a fusion of Indian and classical music, and when I got back here I got a call from Roy to see if I wanted to join Cod Gone Wild. It’s been a fantastic way to be back here and get into music again.”
Mercer also knows about being away from home. A native of Bay Roberts, Nlfd., he came to Vernon three years ago, and relates the experience on the title track off the new album.
“It’s about a Newfoundlander going west. It’s for the many of us who leave and then realize there’s nothing like home,” said Mercer, adding the song just got some airplay on CBC Radio in St. John’s.
“To have that appreciation back home even though I live out west is cool.”
Mercer is also quick to point out that although The Traveler is a Celtic album, there’s a rock feel to most of the songs.
“We are an upbeat, energetic show band, but we like to keep the folk aspect to our music, and welcome other genres,” he said.
The band is also known for partying “Rovers” style, and recently had audiences jigging in a frenzy at the Winter Carnival Irish Pub Night, which won the trophy for best adult Carnival event.
“We did a DVD from the performance, which has great footage and live sound, which we put on YouTube,” said Mercer. “We want to take the model of Irish pub nights right across Canada.”
But first they’ll start at home with a St. Patrick’s Day party like no other.
Besides leading the Cods, Mercer is also a music instructor and conducts the Argyll Celtic Choir, which features 25 members, at Coldstream’s Argyll School of Celtic Arts.
The group will perform two songs on their own at the Vernon concert, with accompaniment by former Cod, keyboardist Betty Ann Northup, and will also join the band for two songs, said Mercer, who has also lined up the Coldstream Elementary School’s 100-member choir, led by Ann Dorval, to join the show.
“I’ve been going to the school the last several weeks to rehearse. We have the whole class who now know the words to the old English folk song Drunken Sailor,” laughed Mercer. “All are really excited about singing it.”
Also performing will be local musician Bob Oldfield, who played mandolin and bouzouki on The Traveler, as well as the Argyll Highland Dancers, led by Janet Hackman, and Dorval’s drum group Jabulani.
“It’s so important to have all these people supporting and joining us on stage,” said Mercer. “We’ll have lots of things happening with people coming and going.”
Cod Gone Wild and Friends take the stage at the Performing Arts Centre Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students, available at the Ticket Seller, 549-7469, www.ticketseller.ca. Part proceeds will go to Sun FM’s Have a Heart Telethon for the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation.
