Leahy: Musical and Familial Harmony

Erin Bannen
Marketing Intern

Leahy is impressive for a number of reasons (6 albums, international tours, numerous awards), but what gets me is that everyone in the band is related. They're siblings. If my brother, sister and I tried to start a band, my brother (who D.J.'s at the Inferno) would play Orbital on his turntables, my sister would blast Pippin, and I would frantically try to pick up an instrument because despite five years of voice lessons I still can't carry a tune. We'd try to one-up each other in a synthpop/musical theater/badly played banjo cacophony until my sister or I started crying.

What I mean to emphasize here is that not only are all eight members of Leahy able to sing, dance, and play numerous instruments flawlessly, they transcend familial dynamics to run a band (and therefore a business) that has resulted in over half a million C.D.'s sold and annual international tours. I find this astounding.

What I find even more astounding is this: every year, the band hosts a 1-week music camp where they do their best to simulate what it was like to grow up in a family of diverse and exciting musical talents. Not only is there professional dance, musical, and vocal instruction from both Leahy and the renowned musicians the band has worked with, but there is also a "'Music Room," to try new and different musical instruments, and regular jam sessions where musicians of all genres and ages play together."

What might that music room look like? Check out the video below. You'll see master fiddler Donnell Leahy challenge his fabulously talented guitarist sister to a play-off. The technical skill of these two is fantastic, but what's so endearing to watch is how playfully the two challenge one another with harder riffs, more difficult harmonies and complex key changes. This is how I imagine the Leahy Music Camp Music Room. After the technically proficient lessons, you get together, challenge, hang, and jam. Oh and stick with the film until the ending; there are some wicked dance steps you won't want to miss.