Music really wasn’t Kevin McKrell’s thing.
Growing up, his passion was art. But when a buddy suggested they form a band when both were about 19 or 20, McKrell was game.
He started singing and we just threw some stuff together, McKrell said. `It was just something to do until something else happened.`
What happened was McKrell got a rush out of being on stage.
`I fell in love with performing,` he said. `I love the energy of being in front of people, the spontaneity.`
McKrell never abandoned his love of art — he’s a painter who has had several shows throughout the Capital District — but he quickly got serious about music, too. He and his buddy, Jeff Strange, founded an Irish folk band called Donnybrook Fair with David McDonnell and toured the country. When McKrell had a daughter, Katie, he brought her on the road.
He never pushed music on her — `He’s definitely not a stage dad,` Katie said — but she fell in love with it, too.
Some 30 years later, McKrell is still performing and Katie is still at his side. About two years ago, the duo formed their own band, The McKrells, performing mostly Irish music. They’ll stage `An Irish House Party` Saturday, March 14, at Home Made Theater in Saratoga Springs, followed by a St. Patrick’s Day show at the Parting Glass in Saratoga Springs.
Both of the McKrells are prolific songwriters. Their shows generally include some of their own numbers, as well as traditional Irish tunes. While both write and perform other styles of music ` Katie has her own album of `indie folk` songs in the works ` Irish music has always held a strong appeal, and not just because both grew up with it.
`It’s the stories,` Kevin said. `The songs evoke politics, freedom, love. They’re not just verse, chorus, verse, chorus love songs. They’re told to pass along stories.`
Because Irish songs tend to emphasize storytelling, Kevin’s quick to admit he doesn’t have a great grasp of the technical side of music. In fact, he doesn’t even know how to read music ` he plays by ear.
`It’s like hieroglyphics to me,` he said. `I just fuddle along.`
Katie, on the other hand, has studied music theory, and in her formative years, she spent a lot of time listening to the likes of Joni Mitchell and Simon and Garfunkel. Harmonizing is one of her strengths.
One of her dad’s strengths, she said, is simply his experience. When he makes a suggestion, Katie knows he knows of what he speaks.
At the same time, her dad is flexible enough to respect her suggestions, she said.
The result is a musical collaboration that’s free of power struggles.
`We’re really good at the things that cause bands to break up,` Katie said. `We naturally ` maybe instinctively ` just get along. He didn’t even realize it, but he raised me to be the perfect band mate.`
For his part, Kevin said performing with his daughter is `an enormous amount of fun.`
`It’s like doing it for the first time myself,` he said.
The two have shared the stage not only locally, but as far away as Italy and Scotland. Kevin has also traveled and performed extensively in Ireland.
At this time of year, they both always look forward to the Home Made Theater show, an annual event held in the Spa Little Theater in Saratoga Spa State Park.
`Home Made Theater is a gem of a theater,` Kevin said, noting the venue’s outstanding acoustics. `I’ve played some great theaters around the world, and that’s one of them.`
The Parting Glass, where Katie works, has its own selling points. Billed as `Saratoga’s original Irish pub,` it always draws a packed house on St. Patrick’s Day.
`It’s a full-contact day,` Kevin said. `It’s very crowded and everyone has a beer.`
`It’s a laugh riot,` Katie said, adding that her dad is `the king of the sing-along` and often gets one side of the room to compete against the other.
The McKrells, with special guest Brian Melick, will perform at Home Made Theater in Saratoga Springs Saturday, March 14, at 7:30 p.m. For tickets or information, contact Home Made Theater at 587-4427 or [email protected]. The McKrells will be at the Parting Glass, 40 Lake Ave. in Saratoga, beginning at noon on St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday, March 17.
“