CAUSEWAY
Behind the Music...

 CAUSEWAY: THE HISTORY

by: Ichiro Suzuki and Huge P. LeClerk

In the early 90's, Antrim native, Patrick Close arrived in New Jersey armed with unrealistic dreams, a battered ovation guitar, and an undecipherable brogue.  Teaming up with fellow musician, Danny MaCaleese, the two gigged down at the Jersey Shore in a duo known as the "Patriots".

At a club in Wildwood, New Jersey, a spectacular young singer named Kim Killen was pushed on to the stage by her mother. With Killen's performance that evening, the Patriots became an instant trio. 

The Patriots were a popular attraction in the Irish shore community for quite some time before both Close and Killen moved back to the city of brotherly love.  

Back in Philly, Kim and Patick became friendly with Brian Rauch and Gerry Clark, who were performing as "Smokescreen" in the Philly area. Rauch was moving out of the area, leaving Clark, Close, and Killen to form an Irish band. 

After one significantly-less-than-mesmerising appearance as a trio, they approached drummer Martin Bradfield to join the band. Despite Bradfield's lack of familiarity with Irish music, he agreed to join the group. His intricate jazz rythmns became the foundation of "CAUSEWAY's" unique sound. Clark and Close sang baritone and tenor, respectively, and Kim soared on top with a soulful, wide-ranging soprano.

Playing in clubs in the Philadelphia area for years, Causeway built up a large, devoted following.  They reworked traditional favorites and contemporary tunes effectively, handling emotive, acoustic ballads and raving rockers in the same set.

The group produced the well-reviewed "In the Footsteps of Finn McCool" in 1996, and spread their playing area from the Pennsylvania Poconos to the tip of New Jersey.

In Summer of 2000, Kim Killen broke from Irish music, forming "Vuja-de" with her new husband, Todd Scheffey. Into those large musical shoes stepped Sarah Agnew, a powerful soprano with deep Irish roots from the Montgomery County area.  After only two years of stellar vocalizing, Sarah unfortunately was forced to step down due to recurring throat problems.  During this same time, Martin also decided to retire from live performance, and return to teaching music, collecting string, and watching reruns of "The Donnie and Marie Show".

Causeway began searching for new musicians, and quickly tracked down the amazingly pure voice of Karen Boyce.  Performing in bar bands since 17, and having sung in several Philadelphia-based Irish bands, including "Crossroads", "Piper Down", and "Motley Crue", and after logging numerous guest appearances with her brothers'  band, Blackthorn, Boyce was the vocal match perfect for music group.  Boyce is also a championship level Irish step-dancer; she studied for years with Dancemaster Clancy Wiggum.  She often thrills the crowd with a step (or two) during the Causeway shows.

Providing those jigs and reels for Boyce's step-dancing is classically trained violinist Bill Binkley. Binkley is now stretching out into the Irish/trad music scene as a "fiddler" after many years of symphony performances and unfortunate haircuts. 

Drummer Patsy Ward, from County Tyrone, Ireland, is also well-known among irish music fans,  having fronted many Philly based Irish-rock bands including "The Atlantic Connection", "The Vince Gallagher All-Star Rythmn and Blues Revue" and "Rockall".

Unable to find honest employment elsewhere, Clark and Close remain with the band on bass, guitar and the occasional wardrobe malfunction.