BEACHLAND BALLROOM Ohio welcomes Prodigals to 'home away from home'

The band recorded its first live album at the venue.
By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
The Irish are coming. The Irish are coming. And more importantly, Northeast Ohio can't wait.
With the recent influx of Irish talent coming to the surface in alternative and singer-songwriter music -- names such as the Frames and Damien Rice come to mind -- more and more Celtic rockers are making sure the Buckeye State receives proper tour attention.
This was the case with the Prodigals, who just over a year ago recorded a first live album at the Beachland Ballroom. What is it about the area that has created this love affair between the New York City-based act, which returns to the scene of the crime Friday, and Ohio?
"Absolutely, Ohio generally is the scene of our crime, which is a great thing," said Gregory Grene, calling from his Big Apple home. "It's funny, I don't know why one place has a certain kind of alchemy to it and another place could have a good crowd with a good intention and just not quite the same thing happening, but the Beachland definitely is one of those places where the alchemy thing happens."
Granted, this shouldn't be that much of a surprise considering the great reputation the intimate Cleveland venue has acquired over the past years. In fact, it's about time some act gave the Beachland its due in concert recording history alongside such famed concert recordings sites as Budokan and the Hollywood Bowl. But what becomes truly astounding is the decision leading up to the Prodigals' choice of recording at the Beachland.
"We do a regular New Year's Eve show in Dublin, Ireland, and the question was whether we record the one in Ireland or the concert at the Beachland," Grene said. "And for a couple of reasons, we went to the Beachland. One of them was because of the alchemy thing. And while going to Ireland is taking it back to our roots, in another way, it's about a band and its odd, illogical home away from home in Ohio."
Latest project
Continuing the band's good will to Northeast Ohio, the members of the Prodigals are using their upcoming show as an unofficial CD release party of sorts to showcase new material from its new studio project, "Momentum." The 14-track disc is quintessential Prodigals, folkish rock delivered with a Celtic kiss.
Despite the recent Irish trend, which Grene proudly attributes to Michael Flatley's decade-long reintroduction of Irish dancing and music to North America, the singer is pragmatic regarding the Prodigals success and future.
"I don't expect our band to become U2, but it sure would be great if we were something between Morphine and the Pogues," Grene said. "That kind of niche audience where you're not going to fill Madison Square Garden but you are going to do a pretty good job in the Beachland Ballroom."
He added, "I don't have any aspirations other than loving what I do. If we keep on getting bigger and bigger, fantastic, but I'd be playing if I was just in a pub or a session."