Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. February 2nd 2011.

For some, the divisions between poetry and music are so entrenched that they, no matter what, should never be crossed. However for Mike Scott and The Waterboys and a full house of appreciative fans of W.B Yeats, the genre was not only blurred but redrawn and redefined. Billed as an Appointment with Mr. Yeats, the band pushed the realms of performance art with their reading of the Irish poet’s familiar poems set alongside some of the most stunning music to grace the Philharmonic Hall.

The night kicked off in fine style as the band performed poems with their own particular twist that included Hosting, Wandering Aengus, the sensational White Birds and a poignant and beautiful Let the Earth Bear Witness which had the images from the protests of the Iranian demonstrations in 2009.

Alongside stalwart of the band Mike Scott was the outstanding Kate St. John on cor anglais, sax and oboe and the sensational Katie Kim on vocals, who alongside the rest of the band gave a performance of such meaning that it would have broken the heart of even the most stoniest and grim faced member of the public.

The band at the end of main set all came to the front of the stage and stood quietly as the light went down as if mourning the end of the great man’s life, a very touching moment for all that witnessed it.

Mike Scott and the band finished the evening in tremendous style with a cracking rendition of their 1985 top thirty hit The Whole of the Moon which they dedicated to the real star of the evening W. B Yeats, who in fine cinematic tradition, was shown on the screen above the band in all his glory.

One of the astounding and original live music experience the city is likely to witness for a long time. It does also beg the question on why other bands have not thought of combining national poetry heroes to music.

Ian D. Hall