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THE MICHAEL O’BRIAN BAND

The Michael O’Brian Band consists of Michael Zerbee and Brian Anderson. They met in the mid-seventies and have performed together in rock bands since 1976. Then in 1998, they had the opportunity of hearing live Celtic music and were inspired by the amazing spirit of the music, and decided to perform Irish music themselves. Searching for a moniker to convey they were an Irish act, they struck on the idea of using their first names and formed, “The Michael O’ Brian Band”.

The band spins an audience-participation show laced with humor and Irish pub songs, but also includes ballads and rebel tunes. The emphasis is always for the audience to enjoy their time with the band.

The music is simple with Michael’s guitar work as the foundation, and Brian adding the flute, penny whistle and Bodhran. The final touches are the rich vocal harmonies.

What really makes the act is the cohesive chemistry between the performers. An interesting chemistry, some twenty years in the making, that says to the audience, “These guys are having a good time. Let’s join the fun”. Although you will most often hear their performance in Pubs (Irish or otherwise), their brand of entertainment appeals to all ages and has been seen at a variety of events including:

• Johnstown Folk Festival
• Johnstown Heritage Festival
• Thunder in the Valley
• State College Arts Festival
• Allegheny Portage National Historical Site
• Holiday Valley Resort in New York
• Fire & Ice Festival in Somerset

Some Pubs they like to frequent are:

• Shananagan's in Johnstown
• Shan Nicols Irish Pub in Hollidaysburg
• The Phyrst in State College
• Johnstown Brewing Co.
• Mullhany's Harp & Fiddle in Pittsburgh

They've recorded 4 CD's (all live to try to capture some of the essence of the show) and are working on a fifth.