The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
The Stars from the Commitments
Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy, June 17
It’s been 25 years since Alan Parker’s adaptation of Roddy Doyle’s novel The Commitments appeared in cinemas and its popular representation of Dublin’s soul music scene has endured to the present day, with this tribute act comprising members of the original Commitments band enjoying nearly two decades in business.
Starting out touring the UK, it ended up playing across Europe, the Middle East, America, Canada, Brazil and Australia.
The band used to reform 100 to 150 shows a year, says Kenneth McCluskey – bassist Derek “The Meatman” Scully in the film, now lead and rhythm guitarist in this band – but after many years with such a punishing schedule, they now stick to a couple of dozen.
“Musically, we do all the hits from the film,” he says, “like Mustang Sally and In the Midnight Hour, and we have two women who handle all the female vocals on tracks like Chain of Fools and Do Right Woman.”
He also points to their brass section, a healthy dose of audience participation and the fact they’re unafraid to shift into a repertoire of non-Commitments soul classics as indicators of the band’s breadth and quality.
“It’s just a great style of music, as it was written in the 60s,” he says.
“You can hear the drums, the bass, the keys, the brass; it’s very enjoyable to listen to and play.”
The show also features cast members Dick Massey (drummer) and Michael Ahearne (pianist), as well as trumpet player Ronan Dooney, who wasn’t in the cast but played on the original soundtrack albums.
The Commitments group in the film were recruited from the Dublin music scene of the time (Glen Hansard of the highly-regarded Irish group the Frames was a member and each of the Corrs had a small part), with McCluskey being a former member of the very successful the D11 Runners.
“I got a phone call for an audition and a screen test,” he remembers, “just like you see in the movies – where you go into a room and read a scene.
“Of course, I jumped at the chance when I was offered it. It changed my life immensely. Not just for the professional opportunity to work with Alan Parker and see how a film is made but because working with everyone in the band and the music director Paul Bushnell was an amazing transformation. They were all so talented and knowledgeable.”
After The Commitments, McCluskey studied at the prestigious Lee Strasberg school in New York and appeared in independent plays and films (including a small part in the Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman-starring Far & Away). Yet these days, he says the magic of performing is enough to keep him entertained.