LIAM O’Brien and Brian McCann are known for golden pipes and hard graft in craft, O’Brien through Bottom Dog primarily and McCann in London’s West End. Longstanding friends, on Saturday March 28 they bring a new show to Dolan’s Warehouse, accompanied by musical director James Doughty (UK) on piano.
Meet ‘Two’s Company’. With advance PR suggesting a touring show possibility, O’Brien agrees in principal. “We are using [Dolan’s gig] as a showcase, a first outing for a new concept. We are getting away from The Rat Pack and concentrating on duets for male singers, sort of blue-eyed soul”.
Appositely, there’s a brown-eyed melancholy to O’Brien that amps his tuxedo’d success in performances such as Crooning for Christmas, which began 10 years ago with himself and piano only. Now he is Yuletide homecoming for many, the sill to Christmas consolation with guest stars and a four-strong band.
He is clear that “‘Two’s Company’ is not the operatic stuff, not The Rat Pack. My Dad, God rest him [Tim O’Brien, PR supremo], if he were alive now in his 70s, would love it. He was a huge fan of music such as The Righteous Brothers and The Elvery Brothers”.
That influence fused when himself and McCann went to Fuerteventura, boys scouting for the nearest karaoke. Renditions of what will be polished to perfection this Saturday 28 were received joyfully there by holidaymakers.
Brian McCann’s work in London is stellar, reaching to lead part in ‘Phantom of the Opera’. This Limerick concert is sweet release for a slow burn: “My late father actually toured and sang with The Righteous Brothers, so to be able to sing their songs as well as classic songs by favourite artists with my oldest friend, in my hometown, is very exciting”.
Now touring Britain with ‘Wicked’ and its musical director James Doughty, Doughty is arranging the duets for ‘Two’s Company’ and “he’s a superb pianist, another exciting collaboration”.
