Celtic Thunder fans looking for a straight-ahead collection of slick, shamrock-kissed versions of traditional ballads and classic pop songs done in the group’s signature grandiose fashion may come away disappointed with 2011’s
Storm. However, those looking for something more akin to
Riverdance will likely find more than a few new favorites on this 15-track musical theater piece that follows a fictional cultural clash between Gypsies, settlers, and highwaymen. Recorded live at Arrow Hall in the International Centre in Toronto,
Storm blends music, mythology, and dance, relying less on golden-throated crooning (though there is some of that) and more on an expert ensemble that includes the acting, singing, and dancing talents of Ryan Kelly,
Keith Harkin, Deirdre Shannon, and Caroline Torti, along with a host of others. ~ James Christopher Monger