Biddy's Survives The Move!
By John Diehnel
Warm, dark, intimate, friendly, and Irish with great traditional music;
that is what this writer found and more at Biddy McGraws on N.E. Glisan
at 60th.
Biddy's built a reputation on Hawthorne Blvd. as one of Portland's
most authentic Irish pubs. The new pub on Glisan is still providing
that flavor. Biddy's has the Irish atmosphere, a good selection of beers
and spirits, great service, friendly people, complete with live music.
There is a rule in the restaurant business that says a club is unlikely
to survive a move to a new location without losing a significant part
of the essence of the original. Biddy McGraws is an obvious exception
to that rule. The move from Hawthorne to 60th and Glisan has clearly
been a success in every way for the pub. The only things missing are
the peanut shells on the floor and the map of Ireland painted on the
wall.
The move has inspired several noticeable improvements. Biddy's has
added a wider selection to the bar menu of Irish beer and a limited
but adequate selection of spirits. It was a treat to see so many real
Irish ales and stouts in one place in Portland.
Biddy's books a wide variety of excellent local and out-of-town bands.
The music schedule includes reggae, rock, funk, blues, and, of course,
a lot of Irish. Friday night's show, featuring O'Hanlin, Fitzgerald
& Connoley, was certainly up to expectations.
Danny O'Hanlin has put together a great traditional Irish group. The
band is made up of Danny O'Hanlin on guitar and vocals, Brendan Fitzgerald
on fiddle and Johnny Connoley from Dublin on button accordion. Together
they make lighthearted, toe-tapping music. You know the music is good
when the floor fills with people dancing traditional Irish jigs and
reels.
The band started the night with Fitzgerald leading several traditional
Irish tunes. He has a very crisp and lilting touch on the fiddle. He
plays a wide variety of styles and plays them all very well.
Connoley then took the lead on a few songs on the button accordion.
He is just as versatile as Fitzgerald. The two combine for a great lead
sound on the tunes.
Danny O'Hanlin comments, "I like to play in this group because
it gives me a chance to concentrate on the guitar and vocals."
His guitar backup for the fiddle and accordion provided just the right
sound to round out the performance. Unfortunately, he did not get enough
opportunity to show what he could do on vocals. This writer would have
liked to have heard more.
All three musicians put on a listenable and danceable performance reminiscent
of many memorable evenings in pubs both here in the United States and
in Ireland. Hopefully, they will stay together and keep doing their
music for a long time to come.
So, as the smoke curls up to the ceiling between dances, you sip your
Guinness, nibble on your food, chat with your friends, and just for
a moment you think you really are in Ireland . . . when outside the
fire truck sirens bring your reverie back to reality just in time for
another round of jigs.
Aaaaah, life Is good!
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