By Bobby Gohn,’10
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. — Celtic-rock and St. Partick’s Day cheer
will be the scene when Black 47 rolls into the St. Bonaventure University
community to rock the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on March
19. The free concert will be from 8 until 10:30 p.m. and is
open to the public.
The newly established Fr. Mychal Judge Center is sponsoring the New
York City band in honor of Fr. Mychal Judge, who perished during the
terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and was a fan of the group.
“The band was a favorite of his,” said Larry Sorokes, director of
the Fr. Mychal Judge Center. “I thought it would be fitting to have them
back to campus as we unveil the new center this semester.”
Black 47 played at St. Bonaventure a couple times in the 1990s, but
has not been back since. Black 47 has traveled the world over during
the members 20 years together, paving the way for other Celtic-rock groups
such as Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly. The band has released
14 albums; most-recently Black 47 released “Bankers and Gangsters”
alongside front man Larry Kirwan’s new novel “Rockin’ the Bronx.”
Kirwan was also a good friend of Fr. Mychal Judge, so it is fitting
his band helps open the new center. Kirwan wrote a song about Judge
and also talks about him in his book “Green Suede Shoes.”
Kirwan will visit campus again for a “Rock and Read” acoustic
session on April 21.
McCarthyizm, a Celtic-rock band from Buffalo, will join Black 47 in
the Quick Center for the Arts March 19.
Check out each bands website: http://www.black47.com/ and http://www.mccarthyizm.com/
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About the University: St. Bonaventure is in the top 15 percent of
institutions in U.S.News & World Report’s 2010 ranking of Northern
universities that offer master’s degrees. It has a history of
accomplishment and service that extends back 150 years. At the heart of
St. Bonaventure University is the Franciscan affirmation of the dignity
and worth of the entire created order. Fundamental to this vision is an
awareness that it is within relationships and community that individuals
discover and develop their
potential.