New York Town
Bandleader Larry Kirwan arrived in New York City from County Wexford, Ireland as a fiery-haired boyo with a bone to pick. Spleen has since replaced youth, but he has remained sharp-eyed, pissed-off, and hilarious--refreshingly devoid of the irritatingly complacent middle-aged hindsight that sometimes passes for philosophy. Ably assisted byRosanne Cash,David Johansen,Suzzy Roche,Eileen Iversand other renowned guests, the band updates some hits ("Livin' In America--11 Years On") and moves on, tousled barroom poets with plenty of heart, as raucously alive-in-the-moment as a toothache. Kirwan's New York is an immigrant's melting pot of five boroughs; he inhales Arabic perfumes along Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn and hangs with salt-of-the earth Staten Islanders. A tribute to Mychal Judge, a priest who died giving last rites on 9/11, seems to remind trend-obsessed poseurs that if Manhattan is the Promised Land, it's a short walk to Ground Zero. --Christina Roden