Mike Boyce, Seamus Kelleher, John Boyce, John McGroary, and Mike O'Callaghan

Ok, I get it now.

For years, I’ve been hearing about this local Irish rock band called Blackthorn that inspires an almost religious fervor among their fans. I know people who make motel reservations in Wildwood in April for the annual Irish Weekend in September because Blackthorn always performs at Moore’s Inlet Club (now known in the parlance of real estate agents everywhere, as “luxury condos and townhomes”—this year’s event moves to The Bolero Resort). My 19-year-old son, who wears an Iron Maiden belt buckle and hasn’t missed Ozfest in three years, likes them. So does his girlfriend’s mother. And her mother too.

But I never heard Blackthorn perform until a few weeks ago, when they played a benefit for the Philadelphia Police and Fire Pipes and Drums in the Octoberfest tent at Canstatter’s in Northeast Philadelphia. It was pouring Ernesto outside, but inside, it was an Irish rock frenzy. Imagine the best ceili, the best concert, and the most awesome wedding reception you’ve ever been to and you’ve got a Blackthorn performance. This band is so likeable, even their sound guy was smiling most of the night (and I figured he’d heard it all before).

So now I get it.

The crowd at Canstatters had so much fun that for a while most of the tables were empty, except for a smattering of half-drunk beers and piles of dirty napkins. Everyone from babies to seniors were up on their feet, dancing. Even the entire membership of the local Red Hat Society was working up a hot flash on the dance floor. And I’m pretty sure I spotted some law enforcement types doing the lambada.

Whether they’re playing their own compositions, or doing a cover of The Proclaimers’ "I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)" or the de rigueur pub sing-along, "Whiskey in the Jar," this band knows how to keep a magical hold on its audience, literally orchestrating the mood with intuitively chosen material. But there’s a less than supernatural explanation for it. Aside from being musically talented, they clearly have such a great time performing that their energy is as contagious as a cold at preschool.

“A lot of times we’re laughing at some inside joke as we go on,” says lead singer Mike Boyce, the youngest member of a band that was founded 16 years ago (when Boyce was still in high school). “It makes it a lot easier to play when you all get along.”

And, as I discovered, these are funny guys who all get along. At one point, as original band member Johnny Boyce (older brother of Mike) was talking about his computer software business, Galway-born guitarist Seamus Kelleher decided to embellish the story. “He’s the president and only employee,” Kelleher said, his eyes glinting with amusement. He configured his hand into something phonelike and held it to his ear. “Hello, Innovative Micro Solutions,” he said in a light falsetto. “Mr. Boyce? I’ll connect you.” He paused. “I’m sorry, Mr. Boyce stepped out. He’s gone for a haircut. It will only take a minute.”

Boyce, who was laughing, rubbed his sparse spikes.

They do this kind of thing all night.

But the comedy doesn’t eclipse the music. These guys have chops. Kelleher, for example, has been a professional musician for 30 years. He played with the Sean Fleming Band (in venues like Carnegie Hall, which resembles Canstatter’s ... in absolutely no way whatsoever) after coming to the U.S. in 1976 with the band, Rock & Roll Circus. The other Irish-born band member, drummer Mike O’Callaghan from Tralee, County Kerry, got his start at 9 in the Christian Brothers School Band, and by 12 he was the drummer for a country band called The Country Hillsiders. Later, as a member of the group, Clutch, he once shared the bill with U2, another Irish band.

The Upper Darby contingent includes the Boyce brothers and button accordionist, John McGroary, whose original compositions belong in the repertoire of every good trad player. John Boyce started playing piano at 5 and switched to piano according three years later. The son of Irish immigrants (Donegal-born Barney and Carmel Boyce), he became a student of well-known ceili accordionist Jimmy Early, and later took lessons from Martin Mulvihill, who ran one of the most famous Irish music schools in New York (and did itinerant teaching in Philadelphia’s Irish community). By the time he was 15, he was playing and making recordings with the Vince Gallagher Band. His youngest brother Mike, started his piano lessons at age 9, and by the time he was 15, was playing with the Shamrox, another Vince Gallagher band.

Likewise, McGroary picked up a button accordion at a young age, but his first band gig was with his musically gifted family—who were part of the Inver Og Band. In the late 70s and early ‘80s, he competed in many Irish music competitions in the U.S. and Ireland, winning Fleadh Cheoils in New York and Chicago, and placing second in the All-Ireland duet competition with his sister in Buncrana, County Donegal, and second and third in button accordion competitions in both Buncrana and Listowel, County Kerry.

Blackthorn has recorded five CDs, but none, I think, approaches their latest, "Push & Pull," which has been playing nonstop in my car for weeks. Entirely original, it features songs as diverse as Kelleher’s poignant and poetic September Skies which recalls 9/11 images of North Jersey train stations filled with cars, waiting for those who would never come home;  McGroary’s polkas and reels that sound so authentically old school you’d swear they were handed down;  and that pub song waiting to become a standard, Worst Best Time, which tells the story of a night out with the gang when the craic gets out of hand, written by the entire band (whom, I suspect, lived it).

If you’ve never heard these rockers, you can get a hefty dose of Blackthorn next week when they headline at The Bolero Resort for the famed Wildwood Irish Weekend. You can still get tickets and accommodations at their website. Also on the bill, possibly the only Irish act that has the same atom-smashing energy as Blackthorn—Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul.  Ivers, who grew up in New York with Cherish the Ladies Joanie Madden, has trad roots that grew into a different plant altogether. The New York Times once called her “the Jimi Hendrix of the violin.” If it weren’t the New York Times, that would be “fiddle.”

And if you really like Blackthorn, you can travel to the Bahamas with them in November for their annual Blackthorn Bahama Bash. For $799 all inclusive you get to laugh, drink beer, boogie board, water ski, golf, swim, and sit in the hot tub with the lot of them.

If you ask me, it sounds like the makings of the worst best time you’ll ever have.