Join An Dochas for a Celtic Christmas show at The Met

An Dochas has been packing the house so consistently at its live shows that the band has rented The Met for back-to-back concerts this week.

Not bad for a group of 20-something relative newcomers to the intimate local Celtic music scene.

“It’s really flattering. We’re on the young end for the Celtic scene, but we’re getting a larger following,” said guitarist and An Dochas founder Mellad Abeid, 26.

An Dochas rocks The Met tonight for the second night, as a part of its Irish Christmas concert.

The show features Irish tenor, former Riverdance on Broadway star and current lead vocalist for the orchestra tour of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, Michael Londra. Showtime is 8 p.m. Advance tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for those 18 and younger, college students and seniors, through TicketsWest (325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).

The Celtic rock quintet has appeared onstage with New York’s Londra across the United States including in repeat performances in Spokane.

During tonight’s concert, An Dochas will perform originals as well as traditional Irish Christmas carols with Londra and will be accompanied by the Irish Haran Dancers.

An Dochas – Abeid, David Shulz on uilleann pipes/penny whistle/

traditional wooden flute, James Fish on fiddle, his cousin Ryan Fish on drums and hand percussion, and Jeremy Oswin on bass guitar and bodhran – began as an accompanying band for the Haran Dancers, a troupe started by Abeid’s late mother, Deirdre, and is now run by his sisters Caitlin and Claire.

Since moving to the foreground, largely because of the guidance of Spokane’s Celtic Nots, An Dochas has sparked a surge through the undergrowth of regional Celtic rock.

While groups like the Nots have nailed the authentic Irish sound, An Dochas brings a refreshing dose of funk, pop, jazz and rock to the traditional melodies.

“None of us are from Ireland, but we are all part Irish,” said Abeid, who is part Irish and part Lebanese. “We all grew up in Colville. This sound is natural for us because it’s the funk, pop and jazz music we listen to and study.”

The fact that Fish is able to stick with An Dochas despite moving to Los Angeles a couple of weeks ago is more evidence of the group’s success.

“Luckily, we’re making enough money that we can fly Ryan up for big shows,” Abeid said.