Byrne After Eating
Donna Byrne holds court at The Mad Monkfish on Saturday, 7 December 2024.
The quartet began as a trio for a few songs, warming up the room before Donna Byrne stepped on stage. It was a full house in festive spirits for the early set of a two-set night, launching around 7PM or so. The dinner hour, which is always the double-edged sword at The Mad Monkfish, Central Square’s favorite jazz haunt. The food brings in warm bodies, but all that chomping, and chugging, and slurping can distract from the performance…
That’s life. I recommend the duck soup.
When Byrne arrived on stage, she shouted out the holiday decor: “I think that Santa looks like Krampus. A scat Santa Claus. Had to get that out of my system.” I have no doubts, though I never located the Krampus in question. Maybe in the other room? The Mad Monkfish has some wicked Halloween decorations as well, including a life-sized witch that is lifelike enough to warrant a doubletake now and then. Spooky.