The Newfoundland group makes a great big sound

 by A.V. Staff of the Milwaukee Decider

While Great Big Sea’s songs boom with the desire to make earnest pop, the Newfoundland group also manages to weave in Celtic-Canadian sounds with convincing enthusiasm. All three main members sing, and all play both conventional rock instruments and traditional ones, including the bouzouki, fiddle, whistles, and bodhran (an Irish hand drum). The sea still pops up as a lyrical theme here and there on 2008’s Fortune’s Favour, even as the sound tilts a bit more toward the mainstream. “England” is either a traditional Newfoundland sea chantey or a very convincing attempt to recreate one, paying lusty tribute to those who “curse the cod with the fear of God.” The band plays tonight at Pabst Theater.

Hmm... Old picture for such a new article. Odd, Just odd.

~Loula