The McMorrows
Arizona's Premier Irish Band
THERE is little doubt that the McMorrows are the most influential Irish band in Arizona. John and Jerry McMorrow
started playing at Irish events as children and their band has been
playing since the early '90's.
 Over
the years, the McMorrows came to define what Irish
music is to the people in the Phoenix area. This is obvious when
their selection of pub standards are covered by the other area pub
bands due to audience requests. Certain variations on pieces such
as their add-on chorus to the song "Irish Rover" are used
by all the local bands. Less obvious is the fact that virtually
every local pub band has a fiddle and mixes fiddle tunes in with
the vocals and caters to dancers. This is not necessarily the case
in other cities.
Like most pub bands, the McMorrows made their reputation by doing
rousing sing along standards and up-tempo instrumentals. But a key
to their success has been their ability to provide variety in volume
and tempo. They are able to mix in slower material while keeping
their audience's attention. This is not small feat and only elite
bands seem to be able to pull this off.
It takes a special skill for vocalists to really deliver on the
slow material and the McMorrows clearly demonstrate this in their
latest CD, Ireland on My Mind. The CD has some
great up tempo material such as "When The Boys Come Rollin
Home", "Golden Jubilee", and their original "Paddy's
in Hell" along with some great fiddle tunes performed by guest
fiddle player Sheila Maguire (most recently touring with Lord of
the Dance).
Perhaps the most emotional piece is a reading of a poem called
"The Last Alarm" from the perspective of the son of firefighter.
It is read by John McMorrow with the tune "Boolavogue"
being played in the background. After 9/11, I suppose everyone has
a greater appreciation of firefighters, but even so, the fact that
John is himself a firefighter gives the piece an extra sense of
meaning.
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