Wee Bag Band Returns In Time For St. Patricks Day

JOINT TASK FORCE GUANTANAMO, CUBA

03.18.2016

Story by Sgt. Chelsea Garcia 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

“It’s very kind to be invited back; we believe it is the first time that a band has been invited back three times,” said Paul Strummer, a guitarist with the Wee Bag Band. “We were kindly offered to tour with the AFE three years ago and we have been touring with them ever since.”
The band kept O’Kelly’s full of lively music for hours on end. Joint Task Force Guantanamo Troopers sang along with many of the songs, and more often than not tapping their feet along with the energetic melodies of the Irish tunes.
“We had a really good turnout,” said Ansley Childree, the special events manager for GTMO. “We didn’t expect people to be up close to the band and singing along. It looked like everyone had a really good time.”
It is always a treat when Troopers can enjoy a live band.
“I really enjoy having live music,” said Joshua Hanna, a Navy corpsman with the hospital here. “It’s good music, I really like it.”
Strummer said there are three genres to Celtic music: traditional, which consists of
the old tunes of long ago, popular Irish music and contemporary Celtic music. The Wee Bag Band strives to play a mix of all the genres. On the bands website, it states, “The charm of Irish music lies in its ability to appeal to people of all ages.” This is an essential part
of its spirit and allure.
“People enjoy Irish music,” said Strummer. “We would like to say our music is non-generational. It covers all ages, they (the audience) come to enjoy it and dance, and if they do, it encourages us to go harder and faster.”
According to the band’s website, their music is “Thrash Paddy meets Jed Clampit.” These gentlemen are lively and full of laughs. They are obviously very passionate about the music they play and are more than happy to share it with their audience.
The band normally plays in smaller venues with the crowd up close and singing along. They were definitely more comfortable in O’Kelly’s than when they played on the stage of the Windjammer Ballroom the last time they were here, said Childree.
The band performed into the late hours of the night with the audience singing along, and cheering after every song. The night was full of enjoyment, which suited this week’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
“As long as people enjoy them (the songs), then we do,” said Alan Basher, the
Percussionist of the Wee Bag Band.

• Date Taken: 03.18.2016
• Date Posted: 08.23.2016 07:37
• Story ID: 207535
• Location: JOINT TASK FORCE GUANTANAMO, CU